True to his favorite habit, Sébastien Ozier won the Monte Carlo Rally for the ninth time in his career and set a new record.
The eight-time world champion, who races part-time for Toyota, beat world champion Kale Rovanpera by 18.8 seconds to make it 1-2 for the Japanese company.
Belgium’s Thierry Neuville finished third in a Hyundai, with Welsh driver Eflin Evans – who had lost considerable time to a puncture on Friday – making it three Toyotas in the top four.
Ozier leads the league with 26 points compared to Rovanpera’s 23 and Neuville’s 17.
Ozier prior to this success shared the record of eight Monte Carlo victories with compatriot and nine-time world champion Sebastian Loew, who won last year but was absent this time.
Ozier’s nine wins came with five different manufacturers over three decades – starting in 2009 with Peugeot and continuing from 2014-2016 with Volkswagen before winning in 2017 and 2018 with Ford, 2019 with Citroen and 2021 with Toyota.
The next race is in Sweden from February 9-12.
Driver rating
1. Sebastien Ozier (France/Toyota) 26 points*
2. Kale Rovanpera (Finland/Toyota) 23
3. Thierry Neuville (Belgium/Hyundai) 17
4. Eflin Evans (UK/Toyota) 15
5. Ot Tanak (Estonia/Hyundai) 14
Manufacturers:
1.Toyota 51 points
2.Hyundai 27
3. M-Sport/Ford 16
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