Ogier ready to “take more risk” to win Monte Carlo Rally
Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier says he will take more risks to win the WRC's season-opening Monte Carlo Rally for the eighth time after his time on Friday's final stage moved him right back into contention.
Ogier had lost the lead of the event on the penultimate stage, when the front-left tyre on his Yaris WRC punctured and cost him the best part of 35 seconds in lost time.
That promoted Hyundai’s Ott Tanak up to second and handed the initiative to Ogier’s Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans, who held a 20.4 second buffer with only the run from Chalancon to Gumiane left.
However, a sensational display by seven-time champion Ogier that lit up the timing boards ensured he completed the test 16 seconds faster than Evans, and cut the deficit to 7.4 seconds in the process.
Asked what his approach would be going into day three, the Frenchman said: “I came here to win this rally and I’ll do everything to make that happen. I think we have been pretty unlucky with the puncture – there is nothing you can do about that – but the conditions have been very tricky, a lot of rain, and also with the puncture we had to carry on.
“I was really pushing [in SS7] because I was really angry with the puncture. This is Monte, so anything is possible. I am here to win this rally, so I am going to win it.
“I am always prepared to take a bit more risk here to win this rally. I really want to win this rally and, so far, we have had great pace this weekend. Take away the brake issue from yesterday, and the puncture, and we could be in a comfortable lead but we’re not, so it means we have to keep pushing.”
Read Also:
With the rally finely poised, and having produced four different leaders so far, Ogier insisted he would not get involved in the art of mind games with Evans, who he beat to the drivers’ title last season.
“I do not need any mind games,” added Ogier. “I just drive fast – that is the way we do it [win rallies]. We have good respect between each other and I think that we enjoy the fight together in the stages. And there is no leaderboard talk [team orders] for the fight.”
Evans felt that Ogier's puncture was “a shame” and that his teammate had produced a strong series of drives throughout the day. In comparison, Evans explained that he was not happy with his own performance, and struggled to find confidence in the more extreme conditions on-track.
“Not really [pleased with my performance today] to be perfectly honest,” said Evans. “Seb has had a fantastic day; it’s a shame for him that he picked up a puncture, I think the story would look a little bit different had he not had that.
“From my side I can see where the time is going; the split times coincide with where I am struggling. It is just when [the conditions] turn more extreme, more slippery, that I’m struggling for that last bit of feeling. I don’t get the confidence that I need to push in that area but hopefully we can make a few changes and be better in those conditions tomorrow.
“I am sure he has taken a bit of risk to arrive at that point. I nearly didn’t take quite enough and we know as well that there is a small advantage to run first on the road but to be fair it’s not 16 seconds.
“It’s maybe one, or two, or three – who knows – but he has driven very well today and has been difficult to keep up with. But we still have a job to do tomorrow and have a big fight on our hands.”

Monte Carlo WRC: Evans takes lead as Ogier suffers puncture
Tanak blames recce error for Rally Monte Carlo retirement

The former WRC star playing the unsung hero role for Rovanpera
Kalle Rovanpera’s 2022 World Rally Championship displays have been spectacular, with the Toyota driver benefitting from a secret weapon in his crew to win two of the opening three rallies. But while the former challenger to Sebastien Loeb won’t take credit for his fellow Finn's performances, a key bond has been formed which could prove key to Rovanpera’s title charge
How Rovanpera's Croatia turnaround sent a message to his WRC rivals
After a dominating Rally Croatia, a wrong tyre choice on the final day looked to have undone all Kalle Rovanpera's hard work and left him with a mountain to climb heading into the power stage. That he emerged the winner all the same has surely quelled any lingering doubts that the Finn is the man to beat in the 2022 WRC
How M-Sport's faith in Loubet led to a WRC reprieve after a dismal 2021
It's fair to say 2021 was a year to forget for Pierre-Louis Loubet. A maiden full World Rally Championship season offered hope but soon turned into a nightmare that ended in hospital, after being hit by a car in a road traffic accident. Now handed a lifeline by M-Sport, the Frenchman is desperate to rebuild his career
Why WRC mechanics deserve more respect
The drivers get the glare of attention, but it’s the mechanics who are key to the operation of any World Rally Championship car. Motorsport.com donned a set of overalls and joined M-Sport on a Belgian national rally event to get an inside look into the life of a rally mechanic.
The African McRae aiming to become a WRC pioneer
Taking his first step into the Junior World Rally Championship category, McRae Kimathi - named after 1995 world champion Colin - found himself in the unfamiliar climes of Sweden's snow and ice. Having impressed, Kimathi hopes to blaze a trail to the top level of WRC and help other African drivers to step onto the ladder
How Rovanpera grabbed the Rally Sweden spotlight
After a blockbuster opening act to the new era of the World Rally Championship with the battle of the Sebastiens at Monte Carlo, Rally Sweden would be the first chance to assess the next superstar of rallying. While teething issues with the new hybrid power thwarted some of the cast, Kalle Rovanpera’s display gave him headline billing
The "painful" journey behind the WRC's generational tech innovation
As the company selected to provide the hybrid kits for the 2022 World Rally Championship, the pressure was on Compact Dynamics at the Monte Carlo season opener. Needing to treat all three manufacturers equally, it wasn't a straightforward process, but its first big test was a resounding success that bodes well for the future.
The mentality shift key to Lappi’s shot at WRC redemption
He appeared poised to become the World Rally Championship’s new bright young star five years ago, but Esapekka Lappi's fortunes since his 2017 breakthrough win offer a cautionary tale of how the tables can turn. Now having rebuilt his career, the Finn is determined to make the most of his second shot at the big time with Toyota.