Rally Monte Carlo: Loeb wins duel of the alpha dogs 🎥
RECORD CHAMPION BEATS WORLD CHAMPION The 2022 Monte Carlo Rally was dominated by the two multiple world champions and winners in the Principality. The epic duel was decided in favor of the older driver in the Ford Puma Hybrid.
The highlights of the final leg, which ended with Sébastien Loeb's eighth Monte victory.
The 90th Rally Monte Carlo 2022 delivered what was expected of the affiche. The two Sébastiens - Ogier in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 and Loeb in the also new Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 - fought a terrific duel for victory right from the start on Thursday evening. None of the world-class drivers from the three manufacturer teams were in contention for it under normal circumstances.
In a class of its own
On Thursday evening, world champion Ogier set the pace with fastest times on the first two classic stages. Loeb, who only had a few days after the Dakar Rally (2nd) to completely adjust to the hybrid vehicle with a good 500 hp and the climate, only lost a small amount of time.
On the second stage, the nine-time world champion showed all his class and experience and took the lead with four consecutive best times in six SS. At the end of the day, Loeb was just ten seconds ahead of the younger man. Only Ford regular Gus Greensmith was able to make an impression with the first WRC best time of his career.
Early start instead of miracle
On the third day, Ogier turned the tide in his favor again. With a difference of 21.1 seconds after 13 of the 17 stages, things seemed to be going in favor of the world champion, who will not defend his title in 2022. However, the final tally is made at the end of the day.
On the 16th SS, which Ogier had tackled with a 24.6-second lead over Loeb, the leader suffered a slow puncture. With a 34-second gap, his time loss was limited, but with his rival 9.5 seconds ahead of him before the final stage, he could only hope for a miracle to claim his ninth victory at the "Monte.
When Ogier (gallery, left) was given a ten-second time penalty during the final Power Stage for jumping the gun, which shouldn't happen to a multi-champion, it was clear. Loeb saved a half-second lead on the road to the finish, and in the end it was 10.5.
Title fight opened
With his new co-driver Isabelle Calmiche, the soon-to-be 48-year-old Alsatian celebrated his 80th victory in a WRC race. This makes them the first winners of the new WRC hybrid era.
Irishman Craig Breen made the M Sport Ford World Rally Team's triumph all the sweeter. M Sport Ford WRT leads the makes/teams World Rally Championship after the season opener. Taking into account that Loeb and Ogier are still competing sporadically at best, Finn Kalle Rovanperä, who is third in the standings, is the first WRC leader in 2022 thanks to the five additional points for winning the final Power Stage.
In the race, Rovanperä (Toyota), Gus Greensmith (Ford) and Thierry Neuville (Gallery right), who set the only SS best time for Hyundai, took the next places below the podium. Vice world champion Elfyn Evans (Toyota), who is seen by many as a potential successor to Ogier, finished 21st overall and scored only a few championship points. A ride out cost him a lot of time. Ott Tänak (Hyundai), the 2019 world champion, retired after two punctures without a spare wheel for the liaison stage.
Senior podium for Olivier Burri
The two Swiss teams did respectably. Olivier Burri did not have anything to order in the WRC2 Open for previous R5 cars and current Rally2 vehicles. However, in the WRC2 Masters Cup, the sub-category for drivers over 50 years of age, the man from Belprahon in Bernjurassi took second place at the wheel of a Volkswagen Polo.
Gritting his teeth, Burri had to acknowledge that he had no chance against the Italian Mauro Miele in a Skoda Fabia. Only on SS13 and SS17 was he able to wrest at least two best times from him and the Belgian Freddy Loix (former WRC works driver), whom he relegated to third place overall.
In the 15-team RC4 group, Sacha Althaus and Lisiane Zbinden took a good fourth place in their Renault Clio Rally4. They were more than four minutes off the podium, but the duo can still be satisfied.
