According to Reuters, Elfyn Evans from Toyota took the lead at the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, winning the first two stages on Thursday due to his correct tire strategy. As the team leader in the absence of world rally champion Kalle Rovanpera, Evans was 15.1 seconds ahead of Thierry Neuville from Hyundai at the end of the night. The Welshman was the first on the road.
“Conditions were very, very mixed. Some bits good, some bits not so good,” said Evans about the challenging conditions.
Sebastien Ogier, an eight-time world champion from Toyota, was in third place, 21.6 seconds behind the leader. He is aiming for a record 10th Monte win but found the unusually ice and snow-free asphalt roads in the French Alps challenging.
“It seems that it’s difficult for us but we expected that a bit,” said Ogier. “With these conditions it’s better to be at the front. We had a decent run…but the road is getting very dirty very quickly.”
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak, who returned to the team after a year at M-Sport Ford, was in fourth place, 1.2 seconds behind Ogier despite facing issues with a sticking throttle.
Friday’s first full leg will include three stages in the morning, repeated in the afternoon and evening.
Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ed Osmond
