Upcoming Events
Menu
Thierry Neuville – Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai), winner
“We had an incredible feeling the last couple of days and we were able to catch back the time. We have been chasing this win for a while but we showed our performance this weekend and it’s a great way to start the season.”
Sébastien Ogier – Julien Ingrassia (Toyota), 2ème
“I think we can be happy with the start of the season and starting with a podium with the new team is very good. There is some way to go to extract all of the potential from this car but I really enjoyed it.”
Elfyn Evans – Scott Martin (Toyota), 3ème
“We were happy until last night – I can’t say I have been happy today. It never really clicked really and I’m not sure of the reason. There’s some work to do but overall a positive weekend.”
After SS 12, Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin lead the Rallye Monte-Carlo 2020.
One day to go and you lead Monte Carlo, Elfyn. How was your day?
Not easy, to be honest. Looking back I’ve maybe been a bit careful at times, but at the same time we have to count our lucky stars – we were properly in ditch on last stage, but every now and then you need a bit of luck. Overall it’s been pretty solid, but it was probably our run through that second stage this morning that has put us in this position now.
That second stage was incredible. Did you surprise yourself?
Maybe a little bit. It’s very difficult, you try to balance the risk with how much you push when you know you have an ice section at the end of that stage. It’s difficult to know how much to manage. I tried to be as smooth as I could and we had a good run over the ice – but I can’t tell you if it worked or not.
There’s just 6.4 seconds between you all tonight- what do you have to do to take this victory?
We have to stay focused and keep doing everything we can. We’re not sure what we’re going to be faced with tomorrow yet. Hopefully it’ll be a little bit nicer conditions than today, but you can never tell with Turini. We know we’re going to be pushed very, very hard all of the way. There’s nothing we can do about that, we have to just keep going.
Tricky conditions coming tomorrow – what do you think you’ll do about tyres?
Luckily we don’t do it tonight, or it would be a lottery. Turini is always challenging, it’s never an easy section. I’m sure we can do well. We already had a big fight with Thierry last year, so we know the notes are proved, but the driving has to be delivered tomorrow. The feeling is good in the Yaris, I hope this can carry on tomorrow.
You have six wins on the trot here, but still you want this win so bad tomorrow…
It’s quite funny we fight so hard for this victory. Monte Carlo must be so important to win, because we know if we win this one then we know we will not win the next one – we would be in trouble in Sweden or Mexico opening the road. But it shows how important Monte Carlo is in our eyes, it’s maybe the most iconic round of the championship. I’m sure it will be interesting for the fans tomorrow and I’m sure we’re going to have fun.
Maybe a little blip this morning Thierry, but a really strong afternoon…
I don’t know if there was a blip, to be honest. We have also done quite well over the day, but Elfyn was incredibly fast on that second stage – he surprised us all I think. You just have to be cautious in a couple of places and you easily lose one or two seconds in a couple of corners. At the end of the stage you lose 10 seconds in one stage and it’s hard to catch that back. I’m really happy we were able to set two fastest times this afternoon and come back to the fight for the lead.
Everyone wants to win here?
Especially when you have been so close. We started the final stage last year with a similar gap to this one tonight and I have to copy and paste the first three stages and then do better in the Power Stage. We don’t know what it’s going to be like tomorrow, but I can tell you everybody will do their best and nobody will give up. We’re going to sweat a lot and it’s going to be hard, but it’s going to be an exciting battle.
Is Elfyn ready to step up to the fight for the title?
I think it’s not just a feeling, the proof is there – he is sitting in the middle tonight. We have already been in this situation in Corsica last year. He has a great talent and a great speed and he feels very comfortable straight away with this new car – that’s promising for him and for everybody else in the coming events, but hopefully we can have the upper hand!
Accident of the Hyundai N°8 crew: TANAK Ott (drive) and JARVEOJA Martin (co-driver) in Special Stage N°4 “St Clément – Freissinières” which took place on Friday 24th January at 10:04 am at km 9.2.
The car left the road at high speed and after several rolls ended on a road below the rally road. Both occupants exited the vehicle on their own and were reportedly free of serious injuries. They were examined by the Doctor of Automobile Club of Monaco, who arrived at the scene at 10:09. Then the Dragon helicopter, which arrived on site at 10:34 and departed at 10:36 for Gap Hospital, evacuated them. On their arrival at 11:04, the crew TANAK Ott (driver) and JARVEOJA Martin (co-driver) was taken over by the medical team of the Emergency Department where further examinations were done. The medical status is comforting but as a matter of precaution and because of the strength of the impact, the doctors have decided to keep the crew under observation until Saturday morning.
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. »
