Rallye Monte-Carlo: Ogier closes on win as Tanak hits probems

S ebastien Ogier is just one stage away from marking his M-Sport Ford debut with a victory on the Rallye Monte Carlo but the podium fight has been re-ignited after Ott Tanak hit problems and dropped to third. Having assumed the lead of the event at the end of leg three after long-time leader Thierry Neuville slumped down the order after making a mistake and suffering damage, Ogier could afford to take it easy over the first two stages of the day to protect his plus-minute advantage.

Regardless, his cause has been aided by closest rival and M-Sport team-mate Tanak suffering engine problems through SS14.

Though Tanak struggles persevered through the stage at a loss of 12secs, he’d be forced to conduct repairs between he stages. Whilst the Estonian would get going again in SS15 he would lose 90secs to the pace setter and a further 50secs for arriving at the start of the stage five minutes late

His misfortunate means Jari-Matti Latvala is up to second place in the new Toyota Yaris, the Finn well placed to secure a superb result for the returning manufacturer now half a minute clear of the Ford driver.

However, Tanak’s hopes of reaching the end of the rally have been assisted by SS16 being cancelled due to spectator overcrowding. It comes after a spectator was killed on the first day of action following an accident for Hayden Paddon.

It means Dani Sordo and Craig Breen in fourth and fifth face a challenge to claw Tanak back in the fight for third place even if he is ailing.

A strong start to the day for Sordo – including the fastest time in SS14 – has seen him sneak back ahead of Breen, but the pair remain split by just two seconds with Tanak 34secs up the road.

Elsewhere, Elfyn Evans continues to set impressive stage times in the DMACK Ford Fiesta but is now in a lonely sixth place, the Welshman instead focused on tyre choice for the concluding Power Stage.

Similarly, former leader Neuville was back up to speed but is now only likely to get as high as 15th following his SS13 disaster. The Belgian was leading by almost a minute when a slight wide moment in the final stage of day three caused him to clip a kerb and damage his suspension.

Like Sordo, Stephane Lefebvre was a first-time stage winner on the rally with the quickest run through SS15, the Citroen C3 driver 11th now just 38secs now shy of ninth with just two WRC2 cars ahead

Stage 16 cancelled one stage to go

2017 Rallye Monte Carlo leaderboard after SS15 (Top 15):

1. Sebastien Ogier FRA M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC 3h 43m 53.0s M
2. Jari-Matti Latvala FIN Toyota Yaris Gazoo Racing WRC +2m 27.8s M
3. Ott Tanak EST M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC +3m 02.6s M
4. Dani Sordo ESP Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +3m 49.1s M
5. Craig Breen IRL Citroen DS3 Abu Dhabi WRC +3m 51.4s
6. Elfyn Evans GBR DMACK M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC +7m 27.5s M
7. Andreas Mikkelsen NOR Skoda Fabia R5 +9m 37.6s WRC2
8. Jan Kopecky CZE Skoda Fabia R5 +13m 00.7s WRC2
9. Bryan Bouffier FRA Gemini Ford Fiesta R5 +15m 31.1s WRC2
10. Pontus Tidemand SWE Skoda Fabia R5 +15m 34.8s WRC2
11. Stephane Lefebvre IRL Citroen C3 Abu Dhabi WRC +16m 09.9s M
12. Eric Camilli FRA M-Sport Ford Fiesta R5 +18m 44.4s WRC2
13. Quentin Gilbert FRA Ford Fiesta R5 +20m 38.6s WRC2
14. Olivier Burri SUI Ford Fiesta R5 +25m 15.4s WRC2