Many unknowns at the Monte-Carlo Rally but one certainty is certain: the talent of Loeb and Ogier. Two great champions who battled to the end and, remember, both joined by two new co-drivers.
But not only. The “Monte” was the first race for the Rally1), the hybrid rally cars that were able to give great emotions with traverses and high speeds. In the end, the victory went to Loeb-Galmiche in a Ford Puma, followed by Ogier-Veillas in a Toyota Yaris and, to close the podium, Breen-Nagle also in a Ford Puma.
How did the race go
Immediately, the 90th edition of the Monte saw two protagonists on two cars of different brands: Loeb on Ford Puma and Ogier on Toyota Yaris. The two French drivers fought for seconds until Sunday, when there were only two tests left at the end of the rally. At that moment Ogier had accumulated an advantage of over twenty seconds on his direct opponent but the rallies are not over until you get to the finish line. In fact, the reigning world champion, a few kilometers from the end of Ps 16, the penultimate of the rally, had to deal with a puncture that cost him a delay of 34.1 seconds which in the general classification meant an advantage of 9.5 seconds in favor of Loeb.
The last test, the Power Stage, was won by Rovamperä on Toyota Yaris and the gap between Loeb and Ogier increased by another second to the advantage of the former.
The important delays behind Loeb and Ogier should be noted. The third step of the podium went to Breen (Ford Puma) with 1: 39.8 from the first. Important gaps also among the other positions: fourth Rovampera at 2: 16.2 followed by Greensmith (who won for his first test in the WRC) at 6: 33.4 and sixth Neuville at 7: 42.6.
The debut of Rally1
The Monte-Carlo 2022 rally was the first round of the season and the debut of the new Rally1s.
The first impressions are positive, especially in terms of safety: Adrien Fourmaux, Ford M-Sport driver, had a bad accident on timed trial number three, the first on Friday. His Ford Puma Rally1 rolled off an embankment for several meters and the airframe held up very well, allowing the crew to get out in full swing. And not only that, the batteries also had no problems; in fact there have not even been fires.
The magnificent Seb
Two legendary men who are writing important pages in the history of rallies. One is Sébastien Loeb, a French driver born in 1974 who in his career won nine consecutive world championships from 2004 to 2012 always accompanied by his trusted co-driver, Daniel Elena. And, remember, Loeb not only raced in rallies, but also raced in Le Mans, in the Rally Cross championship and in raids, not least in the Dakar 2022, positioning himself in second place overall.
The other Sébastien, Ogier, a French driver born in 1983, has won eight world titles flanked by his faithful co-driver Julien Ingrassia.
Both drivers, united by a great steering talent, also share the fact that they are making their debut at the Monte with a new navigator, Isabelle Galmiche for Loeb and Benjamin Veillas for Ogier. To underline the merit of these two co-drivers who were able to masterfully navigate these champions, bringing them both to the podium and making a race on their own, giving over a minute to the third classified.
Well the Italians: Miele wins the Wrc2 Master
Excellent performance for the Italian crews: sixteenth overall Gamba-Gonella, seventeenth overall and first in Wrc2 Master the Miele-Beltrame crew, both crews on Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo. In nineteenth place overall Gino-Michi on Hyundai i20 R5. The only Italian crew on a two-wheel drive car, the young Daprà-Guglielmetti at their first participation in a world championship race that with their Ford Fiesta Rally4 finished 32nd overall and third in the Rc4 class.
Next appointment with the Wrc
After the first round of the thirteen scheduled, it’s time to think about the second: the Swedish rally scheduled for February 24-27.