Rallye Monte Carlo 2018 WRC round 1

It all kicks off again this week.

Seems to be plenty of snow and ice but guess its going to be the typical Monte lottery. My money is on Ogier however if Hyundai manage to make their suspension and steering out of something other than twigs Neuville could nick it. Anybody from here going out to watch?

As a Fordie I would love M-Sport to win again but I would think Hyundai for the Manufacturers title and probably Neuville for the Drivers...

seems no time at all since end of last season, happy days!! i see motorsport tv are showing the whole championship, and thats on freesat for those who have it...
my hopes for kris are same as every year, that he settles for consistency in well placed finishes rather than pushing too close to the limit and risking a dnf....not sure its in his dna though lol

Found this on the BBC pages I guess from Irish TV?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/42808906

A few photos from the good old days..

#F1 https://t.co/YR0W7lo5m2
(https://twitter.com/latimages/status/955425684469506048?s=03)

Chris

nice pix from the monte chris, good to see kris aiming at the title, though it would take a combination of many factors for his goal to be achieved...

Hyundais looking quick in Shakedown

You know if it's dry then the Citroens might just shade it...

So far Ogier sailing away with it. Neuville had an off last night as did Kris who now seems in a fit of depression. Breen was showing good pace but hit a rock this morning and now having brake issues. Mikkelsen out after the alternator belt failed. Toyota looking good with Tanak leading their charge in 2nd...

POS DRIVER TEAM CAR GAP
1 Sebastien Ogier, J.Ingrassia M-Sport Ford WRT Ford 2h07m15.4s
2 Ott Tanak, M.Jarveoja Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota 14.9s
3 Dani Sordo, C.del Barrio Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai 59.7s
4 Esapekka Lappi, J.Ferm Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota 1m09.9s
5 Jari-Matti Latvala, M.Anttila Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota 1m10.1s
6 Kris Meeke, P.Nagle Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroen 2m45.5s
7 Bryan Bouffier, X.Panseri M-Sport Ford WRT Ford 3m34.6s
8 Elfyn Evans, D.Barritt M-Sport Ford WRT Ford 4m01.7s
9 Thierry Neuville, N.Gilsoul Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai 4m04.1s
10 Craig Breen, S.Martin Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroen 5m06.6s

1 Sebastien Ogier, J.Ingrassia M-Sport Ford WRT Ford 3h30m30.9s
2 Ott Tanak, M.Jarveoja Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota 33.5s
3 Jari-Matti Latvala, M.Anttila Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota 1m32.7s
4 Esapekka Lappi, J.Ferm Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota 4m38.5s
5 Kris Meeke, P.Nagle Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroen 4m40.1s
6 Elfyn Evans, D.Barritt M-Sport Ford WRT Ford 5m00.2s
7 Thierry Neuville, N.Gilsoul Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai 5m33.6s
8 Bryan Bouffier, X.Panseri M-Sport Ford WRT Ford 5m43.4s
9 Craig Breen, S.Martin Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroen 8m49.0s
10 Jan Kopecky, P.Dresler Skoda Motorsport II Skoda 14m04.4s

That didn't take long

jeepers!!

Not exactly the hardest decals to do being very similar to last years?

Great win for M-Sport/Seb but i think they might regret Neuville nicking 5th from Evans on the final stage by 1 sec AND picking up a haul of powerstage points. Toyota looked competitive as well.

kris not at all happy with his weekend which I think is a bit out of order...fourth is a lot better than a dnf and he leads the citroen team so i hope he calms down and accepts what was a good result to start season, if not earth-shattering...

Ogier as expected but the likes of Neuville, Evans & Meeke made decent points out of a difficult weekend, the first two were a long way back on Day 1.

As you say points make prizes, and some points are better than nothing at all

Chris