Rovanpera threatened Ogier’s ninth win in Monte Carlo

The French Sebastien Ogier (Toyota GR Yaris)eight-time world champion, faces this Sunday as the leader in the final stage of Monte Carlo Rallyalthough with the more serious threat of the current champion, the Finn Calle Rovanperadetermined to avoid his teammate’s ninth victory in the specialty’s most iconic World Cup event.

Ogier, leading from the first stage of the race, will face the last four specials of the opening test of the contest with an advantage that remains at 16 seconds over the second classified, Kalle Rovanperä. At 32 is the third, the Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20).

After his recital on Saturday, this Sunday Ogier tried to minimize the risks and paid attention to his pursuers, Rovanperä, 22, who in 2022 became the first world champion in history; and Neuville. Both are looking to get closer to the leader. The Frenchman only prevailed in the second stage of the day, his seventh partial rally victory.

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Kalle Rovanpera, who with his three best times this Saturday already has 101 ‘scratches’ in the World Championship, started the day 36 seconds behind Ogier and finished just 16. There was a 20 second recovery in the six specials a phase that positioned him as the most serious threat to the leader heading into Sunday’s closing day.

Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20)still fell short of the desired times, losing one place and entering the final day from seventh, which was 3:08.8 minutes off the race leader.

This Sunday the Monctecarlo Rally concludes with the contest of four sections: two passing through Luceram/Lantosque, of 18.82 km; and two by La Bollène-Vésubie/Col de Turini, of 15.12. The last is the final ‘power stage’ which gives extra points (5, 4, 3, 2 and 1) for the best five.