MOTOR SPORTS NEWS

Latest News

  • Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy stars in action in four different countries this weekend
  • Extreme E’s Island X Prix hosts crowning of inaugural E-Xplorer world champions
  • RAM celebrates Red Bull KTM Racing’s triumph in MX2 World Championship 2023
  • Andreas Hölzl – New KTM AG Rally Team Manager
  • Triton Showers National Rally Championship Rd7 preview: Liam Cleary Autoworld Clare Rally
  • Home
  • News
  • Dakar
    • DAKAR 2016
    • Dakar 2015
  • Cross-Country Rally
  • Notice Board
  • Rally
  • Motorbike
  • Touring Cars
  • Circuit Racing
  • Events
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Linked
    • Youtube

Ogier holds off Tänak for home win at Rallye Monte-Carlo

Jan 28, 2018


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Tweet
Defending FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier has made the perfect start to his bid to clinch a sixth drivers’ crown by mastering the elements to clinch his fifth Rallye Monte-Carlo in a row on home soil.

The M-Sport man began the final day of the season curtain-raiser 33.5sec ahead of the pursuing Ott Tänak following a sustained push from his Toyota rival, but he immediately quelled any thoughts the Estonian may have had of launching a late bid for glory by going 11.5sec faster than the Toyota Yaris driver on SS14 (La Bollene Vesubie – Peira Cava).

The tone was set, and with Tänak thereafter backing off to secure a superb second place on his debut for his new employer, Ogier could pace himself to the finish for a fifth consecutive victory in the principality.

“Rallye Monte-Carlo is a special event for me,” the Frenchman reflected. “I’ve always done well here – I seem to have a really good connection with my home rally – and I’m super happy to take another win.

“It’s been a difficult weekend. You often have to face tough conditions here, but this one was extremely tricky. I’ve never struggled so much with tyre choice. It was all about trying to minimise mistakes, and I managed to make fewer than the others.

“I need to thank the team for the best possible start to the season, but it has also shown that the competition will be huge this year. It’s wide open – and I’m looking forward to it.”

Tänak was delighted to seal the runner-up spoils on his first outing with Toyota, 58.3sec adrift of Ogier but 53.7sec clear of Jari-Matti Latvala, who made it a podium double for the Japanese manufacturer.

Although unable to match his team-mate’s speed, the Finn was consistent throughout and happy to banish the memories of the Power Stage accident that cost him second place on the final event of 2017.

The Power Stage this time was dominated by Kris Meeke, who salvaged some consolation for Citroën at the end of a troubled weekend with fourth overall – 2min 51.1sec behind Latvala – and five additional points.

Meeke’s position had initially looked like going the way of Toyota’s Esapekka Lappi, but the young Finn made a costly mistake on SS17 (La Cabanette – Col de Braus), dropping him behind not only the Ulsterman but also Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans.

Neuville was the architect of a remarkable recovery in his Hyundai i20, battling back from opening day misfortune to overhaul Evans and Lappi with a determined effort. The Belgian ultimately fell just 10.7sec shy of similarly passing Meeke, finishing 1.0sec clear of Evans overall and 3.7sec ahead of Lappi.

2011 winner Bryan Bouffier came home eighth – the Frenchman losing time in a snow bank on SS16 (La Bollene Vesubie – Peira Cava) – with Craig Breen ninth in the second Citroën C3, the Irishman never recovering from a significant time loss as the ‘snow plough’ on Saturday morning. WRC 2 winner Jan Kopecky completed the final top 10.

Leading positions:

1. S Ogier FRA Ford Fiesta 4hr 18min 55.5sec
2. O Tänak EST Toyota Yaris + 58.3sec
3. J-M Latvala FIN Toyota Yaris +1min 52sec
4. K Meeke GBR Citroën C3 + 4min 43.1sec
5. T Neuville BEL Hyundai i20 +4min 53.8sec


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy stars in action in four different countries this weekend
    Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy stars...

    Sep 22, 2023 Comments Off on Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy stars in action in four different countries this weekend

  • Extreme E’s Island X Prix hosts crowning of inaugural E-Xplorer world champions
    Extreme E’s Island X Prix hosts...

    Sep 22, 2023 Comments Off on Extreme E’s Island X Prix hosts crowning of inaugural E-Xplorer world champions

  • RAM celebrates Red Bull KTM Racing’s triumph in MX2 World Championship 2023
    RAM celebrates Red Bull KTM Racing’s...

    Sep 22, 2023 Comments Off on RAM celebrates Red Bull KTM Racing’s triumph in MX2 World Championship 2023

  • Andreas Hölzl – New KTM AG Rally Team Manager
    Andreas Hölzl – New KTM AG Rally...

    Sep 22, 2023 Comments Off on Andreas Hölzl – New KTM AG Rally Team Manager

More in this category
  • Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy stars in action in four different countries this weekend
    Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy stars...

    Comments Off on Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy stars in action in four different countries this weekend

  • Extreme E’s Island X Prix hosts crowning of inaugural E-Xplorer world champions
    Extreme E’s Island X Prix hosts...

    Comments Off on Extreme E’s Island X Prix hosts crowning of inaugural E-Xplorer world champions

  • RAM celebrates Red Bull KTM Racing’s triumph in MX2 World Championship 2023
    RAM celebrates Red Bull KTM Racing’s...

    Comments Off on RAM celebrates Red Bull KTM Racing’s triumph in MX2 World Championship 2023

  • Andreas Hölzl – New KTM AG Rally Team Manager
    Andreas Hölzl – New KTM AG Rally...

    Comments Off on Andreas Hölzl – New KTM AG Rally Team Manager


Fleet Car Magazine

Notice Board

  • Experience the Thrills of Motorsport in Emilia-Romagna: Following the Trail of Enzo Ferrari
    Experience the Thrills of Motorsport in Emilia-Romagna:...

    Sep 01, 2023

    TweetThe northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna boasts...
  • 1983 Lancia Rally 037 Evoluzione 2 for sale at Bonhams|Cars’ Goodwood Revival Sale
    1983 Lancia Rally 037 Evoluzione 2 for sale at...

    Aug 24, 2023

    TweetBonhams|Cars is delighted to offer one of the ultimate...
  • 1963 – 2023: Automobili Lamborghini, 60 years of unique cars
    1963 – 2023: Automobili Lamborghini, 60 years of unique...

    Aug 11, 2023

    TweetFrom the 1963 350 GTV to the Invencible and Auténtica...
  • One-off ‘Opera Unica’ Huracán Sterrato celebrates Lamborghini 60th anniversary
    One-off ‘Opera Unica’ Huracán Sterrato celebrates...

    Aug 05, 2023

    TweetInspired by the vibrant blues of Sardinia’s seas and...
  • Latest Statement by Galway Motor Club Limited
    Latest Statement by Galway Motor Club Limited

    Jun 16, 2023

    TweetThe recent decision by the Council of Motor Sport...

Categories

  • Africa Eco-Race
  • Baja
  • BRC
  • Circuit Racing
  • Cross-Country Rally
  • Dakar
  • Dakar 2015
  • DAKAR 2016
  • DAKAR 2017
  • DAKAR 2019 PERU
  • DAKAR RALLY 2018
  • EV Motorsport
  • Events
  • EverGreeens: Irish Abroad
  • Extreme E
  • Forestry Rally
  • Formula 1
  • Hillclimb
  • IndyCar Series
  • Interview
  • Middle East Rally Championship
  • Morocco Rally
  • Motorbike
  • News
  • Notice Board
  • Rally
  • RallyX
  • Related products
  • Review
  • Sportscars
  • Touring Cars
  • Tribute
  • Truck Racing
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • WRC
Tweets by @IrMotSportNews

Recent Posts

Extreme E’s Island X Prix hosts crowning of inaugural E-Xplorer world champions

Extreme E’s Island X Prix hosts crowning of inaugural E-Xplorer...

Sep 22, 2023

TweetIt was yet another thrilling race weekend for Extreme E in Sardinia for the Island X Prix (16-17 September), which has ensured a five-way championship fight going into December’s Season 3...
Read More
Andreas Hölzl – New KTM AG Rally Team Manager

Andreas Hölzl – New KTM AG Rally Team...

Sep 22, 2023

ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team take victory in a dramatic Extreme E Rd 7 Finale

ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team take victory in a...

Sep 16, 2023

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price fourth 2023 Desafio Ruta 40

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price...

Sep 08, 2023

Podium for Monster Energy Honda Team on the Desafio Ruta 40 YPF Argentina

Podium for Monster Energy Honda Team on the...

Sep 08, 2023

Copyright 2016 / All rights reserved