On Sunday January 27th, Richard Mille partner Sébastien Ogier claimed a 7th career victory in this competition. More than a race, the course proved a veritable duel between Sébastien and his rival, Thierry Neuville. In the final rankings, the new driver for Citroën finished just 2.2 seconds ahead of Neuville’s Hyundai, an all-time first for this race.
The struggle between the two drivers became epic during Stage 16, when the distance separating the two dropped to a mere 0.4 seconds. The Citroën had encountered technical difficulties on Stage 14 that caused Ogier to doubt the feasibility of victory. ‘It’s hard, the car is not running 100%,’ he confided.
Despite the setback, Ogier’s determination, and his second place in the powerstage overcame his doubts, which yielded to his victory, followed by a warm embrace with Thierry Neuville. This finale is not without recalling the 1979 victory of Bernard Darniche (Lancia Stratos Team Chardonnet), just six seconds ahead of Swedish driver Björn Waldegård (Ford Escort RS 1800), a record at the time for the closest Monte-Carlo Rally ever.
Another Richard Mille partner also attracted attention this weekend. Sébastien Loeb joining a new constructor, Hyundai, with a well-earned 4th place, 2,28 minutes behind the winner. The return to Citroën promises to be an exceptional one for Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia, who, together, just delivered the French team its 100th WRC victory.
