On Friday morning, between Andon and Le Mas (RS8, 16.8 km), the Principality, via its official team Daghe Munegu, once again placed a crew at the top of the results sheet. This is already the third time since Wednesday afternoon, after Jacques Pastor and Fulvio Gazzola (Mairie de Monaco) in a Kia EV6, and Olivier Campana-Nicolas Milanesio (BMW i4), entered by Yacht Club de Monaco and still holding on to 2nd place overall. Today it was the turn of Force Publique Monaco, thanks to the BMW i5 of Charly Minotti and Jérémy Ruiz. That’s one fireman (Ruiz) and one carabiniere (Minotti) for HSH Prince Albert II.
As always since the start of this 8th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, Eneko Conde and Lukas Sergnese (Kia EV6 GT) were at the front (2nd in this SR8), a good way to continue their breakaway at the top of the overall standings. The gap widens with each regularity stage. And the places of honour went to Guido Guerrini and Artur Prusak (Kia E-Niro), the Italian-Polish duo (3rd) still aiming for overall victory in the Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup, against Czechs Michal Zdarsky and Jakub Nabelek (Hyundai Kona), their last rivals for the world title, who had to be content with 8th place in this SR8.
For once, the Belgians were less prominent than usual. The best performers were Michel Decremer and Jennifer Hugo (VW ID3), tied for 8th with Bernard Heine and Valérie Piette (VW ID7). But the Belgian VW Club immediately consoled them, offering them a box of various victuals (photo below) in the Briançonnet regrouping park, to help them regain their strength before the next two regularity stages. Because the fight will continue until the end between the Belgian and Monégasque teams.