As in the first pass earlier this morning (SS12), Monte-Carlo Rally leader Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) clocked the best time in Stage 14 between Puget-Théniers and La Penne (12,93 km), improving his time by five seconds only on a less slippery road. He just needs to manage safely the last 15 km of the Power Stage (SS15) and he will win his favourite rally for the 8th time in his career, setting a new record ahead of former arch-rival Sébastien Loeb. His Welsh team-mate, Elfyn Evans, has given up on putting pressure on the 7-time World Champion, just like Thierry Neuville. The Belgian driver is ready to bring back a good stock of points for Hyundai, which will be added to Dani Sordo’s points for 5th, at the end of a disappointing rally for the Korean firm. Ogier now holds a 28-second safety net over Evans, 1 min 08 on Neuville, 2 min 30 on young Finn Kalle Rovanperä in the third works Yaris, 2 min 52 on Sordo and 6 min 24 on Japanese hopeful Takamoto Katsuta, 6th and very happy of his intensive learning week-end in the French Alps.