WRC: Rally Monte Carlo (2014)

Steve · Jan 18, 2014

News from the halfway point, final day.

Monte Carlo day three update #2 (WRC.com)

18 Jan 2014

Rallye Monte-Carlo reaches its climax tonight after four stages including two runs across the infamous Col de Turini. Here’s what’s a making the news on the final day:

SS13: Hirvonen makes progress

Mikko Hirvonen breathed a huge sigh of relief as his fifth-fastest time was enough to finally edge him past his less experienced team-mate Elfyn Evans. The Finn took the place by two seconds.

Evans couldn’t challenge because of a lack of confidence. He said: “I struggled to carry any speed. It’s no surprise that Mikko has come past.”

Sebastien Ogier was fastest again, beating Kris Meeke by 3.5s. The VW ace was revelling in the heavy rain, but admitted he also had one eye on the second run through the stage, which will be used as the Power Stage. “We changed a couple of notes just in case we push for some more points on the power stage,” he joked.

Even more drama in the WRC category as the head of the leaderboard in WRC2 changed once again. Lorenzo Bertelli overtook Robert Barrable to re-take second place. The Irishman had lost time with a windscreen that wouldn’t demist properly. “I couldn’t see the corners or the lines after one kilometer. It was horrible,” he said.

SS12: Ogier dominates in the wet

Sebastien Ogier set the fastest time on the opening stage across the iconic Col de Turini. But he left it late.

He trailed VW team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala by 4.1s after the final split, but pulled out an advantage of 0.3s at the finish line. It was the mark of a world champion. Only 0.5s covered Ogier, Latvala and Bryan Bouffier in the top-three places.

All of the front-running drivers took studded winter tyres on the opening stage to cope with the snow that their weather crews had reported. But, the snow wasn’t as extensive as many feared and made the driving conditions challenging.

Bryan Bouffier said: “When we went through the snow, it was not easy because there was mainly slush. There was maybe only about 500 metres of hard snow.”

Citroen’s Kris Meeke was beaming after driving across the Col De Turini in a works DS3 for the first time. “I really enjoyed it in there,” he said. “This is just awesome. As young boy I grew up dreaming of days like this.”

The battle for second place in WRC2 failed to materialise. Robert Barrable was expecting Lorenzo Bertelli to challenge him hard, but the Italian’s Ford Fiesta R5 lost the drive to its rear wheels at the start of the stage and he dropped 40s to his Tunnocks World Rally Team rival. That increased Barrable’s advantage in second place to a minute.
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Steve · Jan 18, 2014

Stage 14, the second run across the Turini, was cancelled mid-run. Lots of snow and more falling. First driver got stuck, held up others. They got going again after a few minutes but then the stage was flagged. Ogier and many others didn't even start. And it was supposed to be the Power Stage. I think they cancelled one running of the Turini last year as well. One stage to go.

Steve · Jan 18, 2014

Kris claims first WRC podium finish (krismeeke.com)

18 January 2014 - by Site Admin

Kris has scored his first podium finish in the World Rally Championship with an excellent third overall on the first round of the 2014 season, the Rallye Monte Carlo.

The Northern Irishman and his co-driver Paul Nagle brought their Citroen DS3 WRC safely through one of the most chaotic days in recent WRC history, with one of the leg’s two stages held in appallingly wet conditions and the other run in deep snow.

In the end, Kris was among several drivers who received a notional time for the penultimate stage, and he and Paul negotiated the final, ultra-wet test to finish just over half a minute behind second-placed Bryan Bouffier, and just under two minutes off rally winner Sebastien Ogier. The result makes Kris the first British driver to stand on a WRC event podium since Richard Burns did so in Australia in 2003.

The Citroen pairing also scored a late bonus by taking third fastest on that final test. It was the ‘Powerstage’, so Kris gets an extra world championship point for his efforts.

Speaking to WRC radio’s Colin Clark at the finish line of the final stage, Kris said, ‘What a rally this has been – so crazy. I’ve never witness anything like the snow in the Col du Turini. And then in this last stage, there was just so much water on the road, everywhere; I don’t think I’ve ever driven so slowly.

‘It’s a great result for us, and I really have to thank Yves [Matton, Citroen Racing Team Principal] for the faith that he’s shown in me. If I can finish this rally with no mistakes then I really think I can do it anywhere.’
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Justa Jim · Jan 18, 2014

Fantastic. The only thing that would have made it better, would have been Kris, driving a MINI. Good for him.

Crashton · Jan 18, 2014

A grand finish for Kris. I think Kubica will show us what he can do this year, he showed fine form. Quite a challenging rally for all.

Steve · Jan 18, 2014

Kubica’s Monte debut the best yet, says Wilson (maxrally.com)

by Richard Rodgers / 18th January 2014

Malcolm Wilson reckons Robert Kubica’s performance on the Monte Carlo Rally was the best yet from a rookie on the traditional WRC season-opener.

Although Kubica took part on the 2010 Monte, engine failure on the prologue stage meant he never got to tackle the rally proper. And while his challenge this year ended when he crashed out on stage nine on Friday, the ex-Formula One racer led after winning the opening two stages, an effort that left Wilson awestruck.

“He was unlucky to go out and he’s really beaten himself up but what a performance,” said Wilson. “I never expected him to be leading the rally, especially not by that margin when they were all on the same tyres [on Thursday morning]. He genuinely just wanted to finish and that’s what he’s so upset about because he understood he needed the experience for next year. There really is a lot more to come from him but to lead Monte Carlo hast to be one of the most impressive debuts.”

Kubica’s stage-winning performance on the Monte follows on from his victory on the ERC-counting Jannerrallye in Austria at the start of the month, his first drive for M-Sport since his close-season switch from Citroen.
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Steve · Jan 18, 2014

Ogier shows his Monte magic (WRC.com)

19 Jan 2014

Sebastien Ogier kicked off the defence of his World Rally Championship title in style after winning Rallye Monte-Carlo on Saturday night.

The VW Motorsport driver won seven out of 15 stages to take victory by 51s from privateer Bryan Bouffier.

But Ogier was forced to draw on all of his world championship-winning experience to make it to the head of the field after suffering a nightmare first day.

Running first on the road, he encountered the worst of the weather conditions and an altercation with a bridge didn’t help his cause either. Partway through day one he was languishing in 9th place.

However, he bounced back on day two to take what would prove to be an unassailable lead. His victory proved to be his first on the Monte Carlo stages as a World Rally Championship driver.

“It’s been a tough weekend,” the Frenchman said. “I had it in my mind that victory was still possible when I lost a lot of time on the first day, but I’m happy the rally is finished.”

Bouffier impressed with an assured drive to second in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC. The Frenchman led the rally for seven stages but gave way to Ogier after he spun on SS9.

Citroen’s Kris Meeke completed the top-three and was only 35s slower than Bouffier after 15 stages. The Briton battled with Robert Kubica early on but the pressure dropped when the ex-F1 driver crashed into a ditch on SS9.

“This rally has been so crazy,” Meeke said. “If I can finish this rally with no mistakes, I think I can do it on any rally.”

Mads Ostberg completed a memorable weekend for Citroen as he finished fourth, just under a minute behind Meeke, and Jari-Matti Latvala was fifth in his VW Polo.

The Finn didn’t have the best of starts after stopping to change a puncture on day one, but he ended the rally well by taking maximum points on the rally-ending ‘Power Stage’.

Elfyn Evans was another debutant to emerge unscathed from the perilous Rallye Monte-Carlo in sixth.

Andreas Mikkelsen was the final manufacturer finisher in seventh, while privateer Jaroslav Melicharek completed the top eight in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.
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Steve · Jan 18, 2014

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV9-hczz1Ro]Stages 12 - 13: Rallye Monte-Carlo 2014 - YouTube[/ame]

Justa Jim · Jan 18, 2014

Looks like Dani didn't do so well. He is a good driver, but careful. When he takes a chance and makes a move he is just not as sure of it as Kris. I have always thought Kris was the better driver, just had some bad luck. Now he has his chance and is making good.

Steve · Jan 18, 2014

Sordo actually did pretty well until his brand new Hyundai stopped working. He was competing, ironically, with Meeke, give or take. Then, in 3rd place overall and 6.1sec behind Meeke after Stage 4, his car just stopped working on the way to Stage 5. There was some sort of issue with the electrical system and they couldn't fix it so he was forced to retire.

Steve · Jan 18, 2014

No mention of Paddy...oh well.

Meeke pays McRae tribute following Monte podium (maxrally.com)

by Richard Rodgers / 19th January 2014

McRae (pictured third from the left on the Monte Carlo Rally podium in 2003) handed Meeke his first big break in rallying by helping to fund his Junior world championship campaign for two seasons and was a major influence on his early career.

â€œWe obviously know Colinâ€™s involvement in my career and for sure heâ€™s had a huge input and is still there with me,â€ Meeke said following his run to third place on the Monte Carlo Rally last night. â€œThe faith Colin and Jimmy McRae and Campbell Roy â€“ the guys who took me from nothing and put me into the Junior world championship â€“ was incredible. Itâ€™s been a long road since then with many ups and downs. This is just the beginning, itâ€™s only the first rally of the season and only third place but itâ€™s a small victory.â€

Meeke also thanked Citroen team boss Yves Matton for signing him for a full 13-round WRC campaign this season in the French squadâ€™s lead DS3 WRC after he crashed three times in two starts with the team. â€œI really have to thank Yves Matton for putting the faith in meâ€ Meeke said.
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Steve · Jan 18, 2014

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EWN4BgMPZs]Leg 3 (Turini) -2014 Wrc Rallye Monte-Carlo - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Jan 19, 2014

Take your pick, they're all good. :yesnod:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waFLbOQsqFc]82Â° Rallye Monte Carlo 2014 stage 13 day 3 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD-e3IZOvCs]WRC - Rallye Monte Carlo 2014 [HD - Pure Sound] - YouTube[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyC0Vi00pkA]82Ã©me Rallye Monte Carlo 2014 [HD] - YouTube[/ame]

minirab · Jan 19, 2014

That's why they are the best.

Steve · Jan 19, 2014

Steve · Jan 19, 2014

Steve · Jan 19, 2014

Ogier: Monte could have been so different (WRC.com)

Rallye Monte-Carlo winner Sebastien Ogier has admitted his world title defence could have got off to a very different start if his team hadn’t made some improvements to his VW Polo R WRC during the close season.

The Frenchman, who along with co-driver Julien Ingrassia picked up his winners’ trophy from the prince’s palace in Monaco this morning, came close to disaster on the first corner of the very first stage when he understeered into a wall.

He feared it was a rally-ending moment. But the strength of his car came to the rescue and he marched on to win the event by 1m 18s.

“We had a bit of luck this weekend, we have to admit that,” Ogier said. “Our race could have ended on the first corner. All the road section was very humid and then on the first corner of the first stage there was small slush on the road. We understeered into a wall.”

“Fortunately, the improvements we made on the car during the winter were quite clever because we reinforced all the steering and suspension. Now, I think that was a good idea.”

Nearly all of the crews were caught out by the unexpected wintry conditions on Thursday’s first stage and Ogier blamed his mistake on a wrong tyre choice. Just like his rivals, he was using Michelin’s super-soft slick tyre.

Ogier added: “We struggled a lot with the weather information on day one, but fortunately, everyone copied us. If someone had taken four snow tyres, they would maybe have taken a five-minute lead.”

VW Motorsport boss, Jost Capito, acknowledged that Ogier had been fortunate. “If he would have crashed like that in last year’s car, he might have been gone,” he said.
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Crashton · Jan 19, 2014

Seb is one lucky guy. When I saw that video I figured he'd have bent something. It pays to have a strong car & good luck on ones side. He drove a great rally.

Steve · Jan 19, 2014

And that wasn't his only lucky moment.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTNnLw_0QtY"]Rallye Monte Carlo 2014 SS9 Sebastien Ogier Crash WRC sorti de route VW .by nico pharel - YouTube[/ame]

Crashton · Jan 19, 2014

That was luckier than his first off. Yikes!

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