THIERRY NEUVILLE SEIZED A MAIDEN RALLYE MONTE-CARLO VICTORY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AFTER A DOMINANT DISPLAY DURING THE CLOSING LEG IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE MONACO.
The Belgian, driving a Hyundai i20, won all four slippery asphalt speed tests to soar from third and win a see-saw opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship by 12.6sec.
Toyota Yaris team-mate Elfyn Evans and Sébastien Ogier were powerless to withstand Neuville’s charge. Ogier, winner in Monte-Carlo for the past six seasons, overhauled overnight leader Evans in the closing test to claim second by 1.7sec.
Neuville ensured a maximum five bonus points by winning the live TV Wolf Power Stage by 0.016sec from Ogier, who took four points. Teemu Suninen was third in a Ford Fiesta to collect three points, Evans took two points in fourth and Esapekka Lappi took the final point in a Fiesta.
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