The second day of Rally Monte-Carlo delivered all the hallmarks of this legendary event: unpredictable conditions, dramatic twists, and intense battles for the lead. The iconic rally, set against the icy and treacherous backdrop of the French Alps, proved challenging for even the most seasoned drivers, with several key moments reshaping the leaderboard.
Thierry Neuville’s hopes for another Monte-Carlo victory evaporated on the La Bréole to Selonnet stage. The infamous hairpin at kilometer eight of the stage became a turning point for the Belgian driver. Reflecting on his misfortune, Neuville explained, “I was punctured far before, front left from the beginning. We tried to go as far as possible, but at some point, the tyre just went. I don’t know if we should have stopped to change, but we didn’t know how much it would last.” The setback effectively put an end to his chances of contending for the win.
The day’s schedule was further disrupted by the cancellation of SS5, the Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes to La Bâtie-Neuve stage. This 17-kilometer test, which promised to challenge drivers with icy patches and tricky moisture-laden sections, had to be called off due to safety concerns. A minor landslide in the area caused an emergency situation involving several spectators, making it impossible to run the stage as planned.
Starting the day just two seconds behind the leader, Elfyn Evans seized the top spot during the morning’s first stage. Despite only setting the ninth-fastest time, he benefited from improving grip conditions that favored those starting further down the order. However, Sébastien Ogier remained hot on his heels. After a wide moment on the final morning stage, Ogier still managed to climb to second place, just 1.5 seconds behind Evans by the midday service in Gap.
The afternoon stages brought more drama. Evans set the pace in the opening test of the loop, but the following stage, notorious for its slippery and icy sections, proved challenging. A half-spin cost him valuable time, while Ogier excelled, winning his home stage near the village where he grew up and reclaiming the lead. He carried this momentum into the final test of the day, finishing with a 12.6-second advantage over Evans. Evans, in turn, narrowly held second place, just 1.6 seconds ahead of Adrien Fourmaux.
Ogier said: “That’s a good end of the day. I had to fight for that because earlier in the day I didn’t have a mega feeling, I was on the backfoot. In tricky conditions, I couldn’t find the rhythm”.
Ott Tänak’s day was marred by an incident on SS6, where his Hyundai sustained damage after hitting a telegraph pole. Meanwhile, his teammate Adrien Fourmaux impressed in his debut WRC event with the team. The Frenchman clinched a stage win and posted two second-fastest times, showcasing his potential in challenging conditions.
With Ogier in the lead, Evans and Fourmaux chasing close behind, and unpredictable weather playing its part, the rally promises more surprises in the days to come.