Sébastien Ogier continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of rallying. The Frenchman claimed a historic tenth victory at the Monte Carlo Rally, one of the most iconic races in the World Rally Championship (WRC). At the wheel of his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, the Gap-born driver once again demonstrated why he is a living legend of the sport, dominating a competition that tested both teams and machines.
The 2025 Monte-Carlo Rally, which marked the start of the WRC season, took place under conditions typical of the French Alps, with asphalt roads covered in snow, ice and mud. Ogier masterfully handled these difficult circumstances to remain at the top of the overall standings for most of the race. Together with co-driver Vincent Landais, he finished his participation with a total time of 3 hours, 19 minutes and 6 seconds, beating his closest rival by 18,5 seconds.
A quality podium
Second place was taken by Elfyn Evans, also a Toyota driver, who was involved in a thrilling battle on the final day. Evans finished the race just 7.5 seconds ahead of third-placed Adrien Fourmaux, who made his Hyundai debut with a solid performance.
Adrien Fourmaux surprised by securing third place on the podium in what was a promising first performance with the Hyundai team. His work was particularly notable in the Saturday stages, where he managed to close the gap with his rivals and consolidate himself as one of the drivers to watch this season.
Moments of tension and mechanical challenges
It wasn’t all in the favour of the favourites. Reigning WRC champion Thierry Neuville saw his chances of repeating victory in Monte Carlo disappear due to mechanical problems with his Hyundai i20N Rally1. During the early stages of Friday, Neuville suffered a significant time loss due to a suspension failure, which dropped him to sixth overall, more than five minutes behind the leader.
Other top drivers, such as Ott Tänak and Kalle Rovanperä, also faced significant challenges. Tänak had to overcome several setbacks, including damage to his car after hitting a telegraph pole. Despite this, he managed to finish fourth, ahead of Rovanperä, who finished fifth after showing some bright moments in some stages.
Ogier's absolute dominance
With this victory, Ogier breaks his own record of ten wins in Monte Carlo., easily surpassing the eight victories of his compatriot Sébastien Loeb. Since his first victory in this race in 2009, the Gap-born rider has demonstrated his mastery of the demanding stages of the French Alps.
Speaking after the race, Ogier highlighted the challenges he faced on the final day, including the uncertain weather and tricky tyre choices. “It was a special race and I can’t put into words what this win in my home region means. All the dedication and teamwork is reflected today,” said the emotional driver.
Official results and classification
The final times and positions of the top five drivers in the Monte Carlo Rally were as follows:
| Position | Pilot/Copilot | Team | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 3:19:06 | |
| 2 | Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +18,5 seconds | |
| 3 | Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria | Hyundai i20N Rally1 | +26 seconds | |
| 4 | Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja | Hyundai i20N Rally1 | +59 seconds | |
| 5 | Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +1 minute 4.3 seconds |
This victory not only reinforces Ogier's legacy as one of the greatest drivers in WRC history, but also marks the start of a season that promises to be exciting and full of challenges following the elimination of the electric part in the cars of the top category.
Images | toyota
