Sébastien Ogier won all three Friday morning speed tests at Rallye Monte-Carlo to charge into the lead of this opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Starting fifth and almost 17sec down after yesterday’s appetiser, Ogier climbed to third by winning the opening test in darkness from Aspremont to La Bâtie-des-Fonts. “There was a lot of gravel on the road but we were much more confident than yesterday – having brakes on the car is helping! Evans admitted he was too cautious in the tricky conditions but two second places and a third across the three stages represented a strong morning for the Welshman. The Finn, lying second overnight, took the lead after the opening test despite a brief stall.

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