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Elfyn Evans (Toyota) posted the last best time of Saturday, in Stage 11, by going 1.3 second faster than Sébastien Ogier between La Bréole and Selonnet (20,48 km). He could then hit the road for Monaco in a much better mood, as the last credible rival for his team-mate. « I needed this one », Evans said on the finish line, « because I did not feel good this morning. I will try to keep on putting pressure on Seb », he added after only his second stage win of this rally. It happened on the very same road where Ogier hammered him early this morning, in Stage 9. The gap between the Toyota drivers, in favour of Ogier, was of 17 seconds, around 7 am. « The conditions have changed a lot since this morning », Ogier noted, but the 7-time World Champion was happy that he had completed a « clean stage » to end the day safely. He will start Sunday with a 13-second advantage on Evans but anything can happen on a last morning at Monte-Carlo Rally, especially if the stops are only meant to fill the tank and change the tyres. One minute behind Ogier and Evans, the last available spot on Sunday’s podium will be fought between 20-year-old Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) and 5-time vice-champion Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), the winner last year in Monaco. Ott Tänak will not be around since he retired on Saturday after finishing two stages on the rim, following consecutive punctures in SS9 and 10. In FIA WRC2, Andreas Mikkelsen, the former works driver for VW and Hyundai, holds a 2-minute advantage over Adrien Fourmaux. In FIA WRC3, a French treble is still a possibility, thanks to Yohan Rossel, Yoann Bonato and Nicolas Ciamin.
