Elfyn Evans led Rallye Monte-Carlo after Friday’s second leg – but the Welshman was under severe pressure from angry world champion Sébastien Ogier. Ogier’s recovery was remarkable as he drove that last stage with an unbalanced mix of three Pirelli winter tyres and one studded tyre on his Yaris. “I’m here to win this rally – so I’m going to win it,” said Ogier. Conditions were very difficult with a lot of rain and we had to carry a studded tyre on the car. Conditions changed all day, making tyre choice complicated. Evans was never outside the top three times, and won the penultimate test, but a damaged wheel meant he drove the final stage with the same unbalanced tyre mix as Ogier. He slid into a field early in the penultimate test but recovered to demote Thierry Neuville to fifth in the closing stage.

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