The duel is on: Frenchman Sébastien Loeb (M-Sport Ford) leads the Monte-Carlo rally on Friday evening after the second day of this first round of the world championship (WRC), ahead of his compatriot Sébastien Ogier (Toyota).
"
I'm happy to finish this day in the lead but it's not a big gap
," explained Loeb, who is 9.9 seconds behind Ogier after eight out of 17 stages until Sunday.
Elfyn Evans (Toyota), 3rd at 22 seconds, is still trying to follow the two multiple world champions (9 titles for Loeb, 8 for Ogier).
Read alsoRallye Monte-Carlo: Loeb greeted with smoke bombs and fireworks at night
Towards a 100% French duel
Back in the world championship (WRC) for at least this opening rally of the 2022 season, the very first with hybrid engines, Loeb is making an impression, winning four specials (SS3, SS4, SS5, ES6).
Winner of the first two specials on Thursday evening, Ogier stayed in touch with a third scratch time at sunset in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence on Friday (SS8).
Hyundai struggling
Gus Greensmith (M-Sport Ford) won SS7, his very first special, confirming a good start to the event for the Ford Puma, which replaces last year's Fiesta.
On the other hand, the third manufacturer, Hyundai, is in difficulty for these beginnings of the hybrid era: its first representative, the Belgian Thierry Neuville, is 4th at 47.8 seconds from Loeb.
