The new WRC highs Neuville reached to defeat Monte master Ogier

Even with reigning World Rally Championship winner Kalle Rovanpera sitting out the first round of his partial season for Toyota, the Japanese manufacturer could still call on nine-time event winner Sebastien Ogier as it sought to begin 2024 on the front foot. But Hyundai's Thierry Neuville was on inspired form to deny Ogier and send notice of his intention to contend for the title

Motorsport is renowned for its never-ending desire for perfection. And to beat the king of Monte Carlo Sebastien Ogier on his home turf, it’s a prerequisite.

This is what Thierry Neuville achieved to score perhaps the greatest of his 20 World Rally Championship victories to date. The Hyundai driver delivered a statement win to defeat Ogier in a gripping head-to-head at the time-honoured Monte Carlo season-opener, sending a message to his rivals that he is very much a contender to take Kalle Rovanpera’s crown.

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Author Tom Howard

Tom Howard is a News Editor working across both Autosport.com and Motorsport.com websites. Starting out as a sports reporter in local newspapers, Tom focussed on motorsport covering several national championships in the UK, including the BTCC.

After a period working as a freelance journalist, Tom moved to Australia in 2013 landing a job at leading Australian motorsport news outlet speedcafe.com, covering international motorsport events including F1, WRC and Supercars. Progressing to Editor in 2017, Tom was named Motorsport Australia Journalist of the Year for his work. He is also a two-time winner of Supercars Journalist of The Year (2017,2019) and a Supercars Championship Media Award winner in 2019.

Tom moved back to his native UK in 2020, firstly working in BTCC, before joining Autosport and motorsport.com in 2021.