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After SS 8, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia lead the Rallye Monte-Carlo 2020.
Séb, tell us about your day…
Overall it’s been a good day. The morning was not bad, but Elfyn definitely did better. In this case you know there’s room to improve if your team-mate is going faster. I worked at the midday service on the set-up and with my gravel-note crew. I was not having so much confidence, they were too much on the safe side and we lose time with that. But overall I’m happy with the day, we stay ahead of Thierry, it’s not a big gap, but we have to continue like this.
We saw Thierry open a big gap on stage two last night, but today shows things change quickly…
That’s the rally where a gap can happen, we know that’s possible. From what I heard there might still be some surprises coming before the end of the weekend. Tomorrow we can still have some ice, it’s not so much, but when you drive with the slick tyre it’s not easy. The feeling is good and I hope we can stay in the fight to the end.
It’s been your first full day with the team, how’s it been?
Yeah, step–by–step. It wasn’t perfect this morning, I did’t have so much confidence, especially on the bumpy section. But in the same time, like we discussed Elfyn was able to do better, and when your team-mate can do this there’s room [for you] to go faster. Sometimes you don’t need much change, we did small things at midday and I felt better in the afternoon.
Elfyn, you dominated the morning – were you surprised at the speed you showed so early on?
We knew the testing had been good, but you can never know how that will translate onto the rally. To be honest, I felt immediately quite comfortable in the car. I found the feeling from the test and that gave me confidence to drive well. I wasn’t trying to be crazy or stupid, just drive to a good rhythm. But this is tricky, this is the Monte and it never feels so safe. We’ll continue to drive well stage-by-stage. Seb turned the screw a little bit this afternoon, let’s see what comes tomorrow.
Do you have more pace?
At the end of the day this is Monte Carlo, it’s not really the rally where you take crazy risks. I have to hope to find the good feeling from the morning.
There’s a tricky stage to start tomorrow – it’s the one that caught you out last year…
Yeah, we were just discussing that. There might be a little bit more of a lift, I’ll give him [Ogier] a few tenths there.
Thierry, you had an amazing time in the second stage last night, but there’s still all to play for here?
Definitely there’s still all play for. We are still in the fight for victory. I hope for a much better day. We had the good feeling yesterday, it was a great start and I was able to drive very fast in tricky conditions. This morning was all more complicated and I struggle for rhythm and I could not find confidence. I worked with Dani to improve our language to get more competitive and each stage was starting to look a little bit better. I look forward to tomorrow.
Dani Sordo is your safety crew driver – you’re his boss now!
Dani is a very nice guy and I’m very happy the way he jumped in when Brun [Thiry] got sick. This was the only quick solution and he is one of the only guys I put a lot of confidence in. I will try to improve our collaboration, but of course it’s only for this rally. On the next rally we are competitors again.
You saw the marks where your team-mate Ott Tänak went off, that slowed you down?
That’s not what you want to see when somebody goes off at such a fast place. I thought he had restarted because people were slowing me down, so I thought he’d gone [off] again. I was told at the end of the stage he’d had a big crash. Now we have all seen the footage, it’s very impressive. It’s good to see our cars are safe.
January, Wednesday 22 – After the Shakedown
Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) – 1st
Seb, how do you feel? Good to be back?
I always feel good to be here. Monte Carlo is a special place. For some years the rally has come to Gap and this is a big chance to start the season at home. There’s a lot of support, but that brings a lot of pressure. Everybody expects that we can win, maybe we won too much in a row – everybody thinks it’s easy to win! I’m very excited, there’s a lot of change, a lot of drivers in the new cars. There’s still lots to learn to be 100 per cent confident, but definitely it’s good potential and it’s looking good for the new season.
What about the conditions?
We have seen very tricky conditions in the recce, actually maybe not so tricky – there was lots of ice so it would be easy for the tyre choice, it would be studs. But now it’s positive temperatures and its melting quick and this will be a more challenging tyre choice. Thursday night is always tricky here. I think if you measure the heart beat at the start of night stage, probably it will be higher for all of the drivers. But there’s lots of excitement at the start of the year.
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) – 2nd
Thierry so many changes, but more of the same for you. You were close last year here, looking forward to this one?
It was a very nice rally, a nice battle with Sebastien [Ogier] last year – he was a bit faster on the last stage. We were pretty close, we try to do the same again this year but we try to beat him on the final stage.
It’s a big challenge ahead this year?
The last couple of seasons have been tough. The WRC needs lot of engagement from me, my co-driver and the whole team. It’s a tough championship, rallying can be crucial but sometimes you need some luck. Up and down for everybody last year, close, hope more exciting to the finish and we can be in the fight.
Elfyn Evans (Toyota) – 3rd
Elfyn all change for you after a lot of years at M-Sport, you’re with Toyota. How’s that going?
The feeling in the car and the team is pretty good. It was a big change after many, many years at M-Sport. It’s nice to have a new challenge. I’m looking forward to it.
Is it your time to shine this year, Mr Evans?
Of course, we’re all here to compete and to win. It would be very nice, but we come to every rally, we’re not going to think too long term, what will be will be and we’ll do the best we can.
© Photos : Jo Lillini
Frédéric Ozon and Marjorie Glatigny win the 4th edition of the E-Rally Monte Carlo 2019 on Tesla S 75.
The DS3 Crossback E-Tense, crew Prusak-Benchetrit (n°3), and the competitors Mlynarczyck-Marques (n°8) complete the podium.
This sporting event registered at the FIA (International Automobile Federation) world championship is the occasion for the 1st public network of France in number of charges, which in the meantime has gone from 5 to 11 departments, to highlight the number and the quality of its charging terminals. The charging network is deployed by SDE 03 in Allier, Siel TE in Loire, SDE 43 in Haute Loire, Syane in Haute Savoie, SDES 73 in Savoie, SéDI in Isère, SDE07 in the Ardèche, SDED-TE in Drôme, Syme 05 in Hautes Alpes, SDE 04 in Alpes de Haute Provence and SYMIELECVAR in Var.
For this 4th edition of the E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, the eborn network offers to competitors all the terminals of the network present on the route from Valence to Monaco, along 6 departments where eborn is present: Drôme, Ardèche, Isère, Hautes Alpes, Alpes de Haute Provence and Var.
A limited edition e-card will be offered to competitors to use the terminals and all the new eborn network subscribers over the period from October 1 to October 31 will receive this version of the subscription card. A collector card to keep preciously for motorsport enthusiasts!
Beyond the media interest, this partnership is for eborn, the opportunity to test the network under an intensive use.
eborn? “It’s a competition network” It is the competitors of the E-Rallye Monte-Carlo who say it! And for all other electric car drivers, it is the insurance to find a terminal on their way with all the services that goes with: 2 charging points per terminal, booking up to 30 minutes in advance, a single subscription card for 11 departments, a dedicated smartphone app and the possibility of a contactless CB payment for non-subscribers.
To learn more about eborn and subscribe: www.eborn.fr
The Monaco EPRIX has officially started this morning at 7:30 a.m. with the first free practice. During 45 minutes, the drivers were able to test the e-car on the track. Lucas Di Grassi had the best time in 50”183. Sam Bird (50”255) and Mitch Evans ( 50”292) complete the podium. Next free practice will be at 10 a.m.
Oliver Rowland had the best time in the FP2. For the first time Monaco E- PRIX drivers complete a lap in less than 50 seconds. The Nissan e.dams pilot completed the best lap in 49”847. Jean Eric Vergne (49”97) and Andre Lotterer (49’’981) complete the podium. You can find all the drivers’ times bellow. Qualifying comes next at 11:45 a.m.
ROWLAND 49’’847
VERGNE 49’’970
LOTTERER 49’’981
LYNN 50’’042
DI GRASSI 50’’051
WEHRLEIN 50’’130
SIMS 50’’199
MASSA 50’’232
ABT 50’’263
BIRD 50’’266
D’AMBROSIO 50’’321
DA COSTA 50’’403
VANDOORNE 50’’418
MORTARA 50’’631
LOPEZ 50’’679
PAFFETT 50’’831
TURVEY 50’’831
GÜNTHER 50’’862
FRIJNS 50’’960
DILLMANN 51’’142
BUEMI 51’’176
EVANS 51’’363
After starting on pole position Jean-Eric Vergne could secure the win. He was able to defend his position even with the attacks from Rowland, Massa and Wehrlein. The Monaco E-Prix has been an entertaining race with a lot of actions. With that win, Jean-Eric Vergne gets his second success of the season – he won in Sanya in March. The French driver ended the race in front of Oliver Rowland and Felipe Massa. The Brazilian did honor to his Venturi for its home race thanks to a solid driving. It’s the third podium of the season for the Monégasque team, the first ever podium in Formula E for Massa.
Post race reactions
Jean-Eric Vergne
« This is my first podium in Monaco. I’m truly happy, it’s an incredible feeling. The race was pretty much under control, even if at the end it was very close. In the last few laps it was only a question of staying on the track and finishing the race. I had to make sure I was closing the door, but I was feeling pretty confidant. The team was stressed but in the car everything was under control. »
Oliver Rowland
« Of course Paris was disappointing, and afterwards it was frustrating with the 3-place grid penalty. We knew we had to maximise the qualifying and that’s what we did. To finish 2nd with a 3-place grip penalty is a pretty good result. It was a positive race. »
Felipe Massa
« It’s a great feeling to finish on the podium. It has been a nice race and nice qualifying. For once it was a clean race for us. Of course, it’s the best place to get on the podium in Monaco for the team, it’s our home race. It was really special because when I was standing on the podium I saw my son and he was screaming. It brings you extra happiness. »
On Thursday, 9th May pupils at the Condamine Primary School were thrilled to receive visits from Felipe Massa and Edoardo Mortara who are drivers in the Monaco based Formula-E Team Venturi.
During the visit, both drivers talked about their sporting achievements, how they got into motor racing, the difficulties they faced along the way and the importance of perseverance, patience and diligence. The children were keen to know more about their guests and had prepared lots of interesting questions for them to answer.
The visit ended with an autograph session and a class selfie with the drivers. The children were full of energy after their visit and excited to see who will win the Monaco E-Prix which takes place on Saturday, 11th May from 7:00 am until 9:00pm.
The E-Village officially opened at 4pm on Friday. It will be available to the public until 9pm tonight and from 7am to 9pm on Saturday. It’s located on the Quai Antoine 1er and it offers a lot of futuristic activities. And of course it’s free of charges.
Get the opportunity to discover the pilot’s univers. Shoes, tracksuits, steering-wheel… You’ll know everything once you’ll have visited the E-Village.
Discover the GEN2, the new car of the 2019 Formula E season. Their battery-life are powerful enough to finish the race. The single-seater reaches 100km/h in 2,8 seconds.
Become a driver for a few minutes by testing the simulators, the VR and the tablets. There are a lot of options in the E-Village to drive virtually on the Monaco track.
Discover the world thanks to the DHL sign in the heart of the E-Village. No worries for laziest one : you’ll have plenty of rest areas.
A meeting with the pilots is scheduled on Saturday at 2.30pm. You’ll be able to get autographs, pictures and even to chat with the drivers.
Sébastien Ogier (leader – Citroën C3 WRC)
Tell me about your day Sébastien?
It’s been another tricky day, especially the first stage both times through. They were tricky and changeable conditions. We needed to stay with the studs – at least the tyres has been a bit more straightforward today. But still I am happy to be here sitting in the middle, even if we didn’t increase the gap much. Tomorrow will be another intense day.
There are some legendary stages tomorrow – what do you know about conditions?
I don’t know much yet, we will have our gravel crew tomorrow morning. It should be mainly dry, but it will be cold icy and frosty on the top – there will be places to make a difference… and a mistake! We both want to win, everybody wants win Monte Carlo, it’s a magical rally we all enjoy a lot. We have made a big difference from the rest and we both want to cross the finish line. Second could be good for the championship, but I’m pretty sure Thierry will push to the end and we will do the same.
If you won tomorrow, you would join Walter Rohrl as a driver winning this event with four manufacturers and it would be Citroen’s 100th win – does that add pressure?
Those statistics are very nice, but that’s not what you have in mind when you are driving. Of course it would be great to do that, to take six wins in row and seven in Monte Carlo. I always say if I have a bad season and I can win only one rally then it would be this one – this is why I try tomorrow. I will fight tomorrow.
Thierry Neuville (2nd at 4″3 – Hyundai i20 WRC)
Thierry, what’s the plan tomorrow?
Obviously first of all we had a great day today, it was really enjoyable in the car and we really tried to catch Seb, but it’s always difficult when we are on the same tyres on stages which we know. All in all, it’s been a good day. We look forward to tomorrow, the plan is to catch Seb and to keep the pressure, but also we must think about the championship. We have to think about this.
Thinking about the championship, does that mean the little extra risk not there?
I always try to drive without risks. Of course there are risks, but I try to be on the safe side. When we are in a fight, like in Sardinia last year you try to push a little harder. Tomorrow we have some demanding stages, we don’t know about the conditions and we have to do four stages on the same tyres.
What was the gap going into the final day in Sardinia last year?
It was 4.3! No… it was 2.8 or something. A little bit less.
Sébastien Loeb (3rd at 1’58″7 – Hyundai i20 WRC)
Sebastien, you have battled hard today, but you have two drivers chasing you hard for third…
Yes, for sure. I was struggling a little bit with my set-up. I couldn’t get the confidence from the understeer in the morning, especially with the tricky conditions in the stage. But in the afternoon I was able to get my confidence and I could push harder. I have Jari-Matti just two seconds behind and [Ott] Tanak closing the gap with every stage, so I don’t know what I will be able to do tomorrow. We are not in the fight for the win, but for the podium. I will try to find a good rhythm to stay on the podium.
And how do you feel physically?
I am always motivated, for sure the motivation is a bit different – I’m not here to win the championship, but I am here to help Hyundai take some points. I always want to fight for the victory if I can, that’s not the case here. It was a tough month of January with a lot of driving, but I enjoy driving and it’s a long time since I was here at the start in Monte Carlo. I always enjoy the incredible atmosphere on this rally.
