Defending champions Sebastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia started their 2014 World Rally Championship campaign with a bang as they came under fire from the competition at the opening round of the season in Monte Carlo. Despite having to contend with the pace of many rivals over this weekend, the French duo persevered to finish round one on course for a back-to-back title.
Amongst the challengers were former Intercontinental Rally Championship ace and privateer Bryan Bouffier, former F1 pilot Robert Kubica, former IRC champion Kris Meeke and Hyundai team mates Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo.
The competitors faces a challenging mix of surfaces as the weather saw fit, changing the asphalt to icy strips and waterlogged roads.
Kubica in his M-Sport Fiesta WRC took an early lead, whilst Neuville crashed out, but eventually started falling behind when Bouffier (a previous winner of this event) started taking control and led going into day two. But Ogier was on point, putting together a near-flawless finish to dominate the second day while Kubica crashed out and Sordo was forced to retire due to electrical gremlins.
“It’s been a tough weekend. I had it in my mind that victory was still possible when I lost a lot of time on the first day, but I’m happy the rally is finished,” a relived Ogier stated.
Behind Ogier, Bouffier took the second podium spot just 35 seconds ahead of Meeke’s Citroen DS3 WRC. Ogier’s Finnish Volkswagen team mate Jari-Matti Latvala brought his Polo WRC home in fourth, with Norwegian Mads Ostberg in fifth.
The next round of the WRC is Rally Sweden – the only event on the calendar completely made up of snow and ice stages. Rally Sweden happens from 5-8 February.
WRC STANDINGS
Driver’s championship
1. Sebastien Ogier – 27 points
2. Bryan Bouffier – 18 points
3. Kris Meeke – 16 points
4. Jari-Matti Latvala – 13 points
5. Mads Ostberg – 12 points
Manufacturer’s championship
1. Volkswagen Motorsport – 37 points
2. Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team – 33 points
3. M-Sport World Rally Team – 10 points
4. Volkswagen Motorsport 2 – 8 points
