Sébastien Ogier celebrated a record ninth triumph at the Monte-Carlo Rally, confirming a lights-to-flag victory at the opening round of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship on Sunday afternoon. Rovanperä reduced that deficit to just 16 seconds heading into Sunday’s finale, but Ogier, who was denied glory by a late puncture a year ago, kept his cool to maintain the buffer throughout the final four speed tests. Rovanperä finished on a high by winning the Wolf Power Stage to add five bonus points to his tally. Heavy tire wear prevented Hyundai i20 N driver Thierry Neuville from making any gains on Rovanperä. Were it not for a rear puncture which cost the Welshman over 40 seconds on Friday, a 1-2-3 finish for Toyota could well have been on the cards. T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris +3min 32.6secDrivers’ championship points (after round 1 of 13):1.

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