Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier recorded the fastest time in shakedown for 2020 edition of Rallye Monte Carlo: his competitive debut behind the wheel of the Yaris WRC. And two of the team’s all-new line-up featured in the top three, with Elfyn Evans in a surprising third, while young Finnish WRC debutant, Kalle Rovanperä, was seventh as he tackles his first ever WRC event in a World Rally Car.
“So far, everything is good and running like we were hoping,” said a clearly happy Ogier. “Shakedown doesn’t mean much and you don’t need to make any conclusions from the results, but it’s always a good sign if you are in the rhythm already. I’ve had the chance to have a good amount of testing already in the car before the start of the season.
“Of course, there are still some details to learn but the general feeling is there, and the sensations from the test came straight away here in shakedown. We can be confident heading into the rally, but this is probably the one rally of the season where you need to stay humble at the start as the conditions can make it so tricky.”
The traditional Monte shakedown was held on a 3.35 km stage close to the service park in Gap, with dry conditions giving the drivers a chance to test their new 2020 cars to the limit. This allowed for all drivers to be at their maximum pace using slick tyres instead of the expected studs that are sometimes needed on the mountainous event.
Ogier’s time of 1m 57.1s was recorded on his first run over the stage, with his time remaining unbeaten as most cars attempted three or four runs each. Evans was just six tenths of a second slower than Ogier with his best effort, being set on his second run. Young Rovanperä also improved on his second pass, finishing less than three seconds behind his team-mates.
“It was a really nice feeling to get started with the Yaris here in shakedown,” commented Evans. “I found a good feeling pretty much straight away. The car was working really well and I’m looking forward to getting going now. The shakedown was very dry to begin with, so I doubt it will be representative of the whole rally, but that’s typical Rallye Monte Carlo. It would be nice if we can start the first stage with a clear, dry road, but I’m sure it will get interesting after that.”
Hyundai were not hanging about either in their i20 Coupe WRCs with their two title protagonists taking second (Thierry Neuville) and fourth (Ott Tänak) places, just 0.1s and 1.2s off the pace respectively. But strangely Monte specialist and nine time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb was more than 3s off the pace in ninth place, on an event he relishes and has won a record seven times!
There was a gap of 1.1s separating the top four and the first Ford Fiesta WRC of Teemu Suninen (2.3s behind) in fifth place. The Finn was followed by teammates Esapekka Lappi (sixth) and Gus Greensmith (eighth), 0.3s and 0.8s behind him, respectively. Bringing up the rear and the final works World Rally Car was challenge program driver Takamoto Katsuta who rounded out the top 10 as he prepares for the first of eight events this season in a separately-run Toyota Yaris WRC.
Shakedown Times:
1. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Toyota Yaris WRC) 1m 57.1s
2. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +0.1s
3. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota Yaris WRC) +0.6s
4. Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +1.2s
5. Teemu Suninen/Jarmo Lehtinen (Ford Fiesta WRC) +2.3s
6. Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (Ford Fiesta WRC) +2.6s
7. Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota Yaris WRC) +2.9s
8. Gus Greensmith/Elliott Edmondson (Ford Fiesta WRC) +3.1s
