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00:39At the end of January, in the Cafes and Bar of Monte Carlo, there is only one topic of conversation.
00:47I think Sebastian will have another great, great season. He will go for a tenth of a title, but maybe
00:552026 will be his last tenth.
00:58What do you think of Solberg after winning his turn? Now we have it fighting with the picker.
01:03I think he will win some rallies for more. He will be the man to look at this year. He's
01:07so fast.
01:08He's still looking for his first win in WRC. Can he win this year?
01:13What about Elphine? I think he will be there, but will it be enough for the champion?
01:18Let's not forget about Thierry Neuville, the World Champions, two years ago. He won the Monte Carlo.
01:25For me, Thierry will be the man to beat. That's why this season will be really interesting.
01:31I love Amsparo and Puma. Good chance for Armstrong this year.
01:36It's really nice that big teams are bringing new drivers to the championship, new blood.
01:42We are all expecting snow, ice and hard conditions.
01:47But it's Monte Carlo. It's all about playing and gambling.
01:51Until the last World Power Stage, we really, really don't know who is going to be the winner.
02:02The time for talking is over. I'm Sébastien Augier. Welcome to Rally Monte Carlo.
02:09The 2026 WRC season was officially launched against a stunning backdrop of Monaco Harbour.
02:16The locals were the first to glimpse the bold new liveries of the Toyota, Hyundai and M Sport 14s,
02:22ahead of a season promising the best rallying action on the planet.
02:28The world's most talented drivers will tackle a range of surfaces over four continents
02:33in motorsport's ultimate global adventure.
02:37There's no circuit racing on pristine tarmac.
02:40What the WRC does have is icy, treacherous alpine passes in the dark European winter,
02:47180 km per hour snow-bound forest trails on the edge of the Arctic Circle.
02:52Kenya's East African Plains.
02:56Sinuous tree-line tests in the shadow of Japan's Mount Fuji.
03:01High speed blind crests in the rainforests and on the Pacific coast of South America.
03:08Suspension smashing European gravel, all ending in the Arabian Desert.
03:19The WRC season roars into life at the 94th edition of Rally Monte Carlo.
03:25The championship's most unpredictable event remains a ruthless test of judgment
03:30and, as always, the perfect curtain raiser of the year.
03:35Nine-time world champion Sébastien Augier leads a Toyota Gazoo Racing line-up
03:40in search of a 10th crown, with Welshman Elvin Evans still chasing his first
03:45after five runners-up finishes.
03:48New signing Oliver Solberg creates a buzz after his win in Estonia last year.
03:54Taka Katsuta and Sami Piari complete the squad,
03:58both looking to convert flashes of speed into sustained results.
04:032024 champion Thierry Neville, hence the attack of the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally team.
04:09Adrian Formo returns for a second season with his eyes firmly on that first WRC win.
04:15He impressed in Monte Carlo last year.
04:19The third car will be rotated between Hayden Padden, Esa Pekka Lappi and Danny Sordo.
04:25The South Korean mark convinced that experience counts in the last season of this generation of Rally 1 car.
04:33M Sport Ford lines up here in Monte Carlo with a youthful and ambitious squad.
04:37John Armstrong moves up from the ERC to join fellow Irishman Josh McAleon, both for full seasons.
04:44Greg Waughal Munster is entered in a third Puma for Rally Monte Carlo,
04:49with Latvian Marcin Sesks confirmed for six rounds,
04:52with a seventh at Rally Saudi Arabia under consideration.
04:572026 sees a return of the team with the most decorated history in rallying.
05:02Lancia will compete in the WRC2 category and have confirmed Johan Roussel and Nikolai Gryazin
05:09as the drivers to spearhead their campaign in the Epsilon Rally 2 HF Integrale.
05:16Monaco harbour and the calm before the storm.
05:20The class of 2026 hide the nerves as the starter Rally Monte Carlo draws closer.
05:27In Monte Carlo we live for three stages and one can be just damp,
05:32the next one can be full snow and the last one can be full dry.
05:34So, it's part of the rally and you just need to make the best of it, the best of your
05:39entire choice.
05:40It's the weather that really, you know, puts the cat amongst the pigeons, let's say,
05:46and, yeah, you never quite know what you're going to face,
05:49even if the conditions seem quite straightforward.
05:51You can wake up in the morning, black ice, frost.
05:55It's never, never easy here.
05:57I think to some high points, so if it's cold enough, if it's been wet the previous day it might
06:03get a bit icy or some snow.
06:06Even if it's not snowing or anything, with the itinerary they made,
06:10the amount of cuts and pollution that there's going to be, it's going to be a nice event.
06:14Every stage is in different places, you know, and it's going to be different weather every stage,
06:18and mud, and snow, and dry, and, you know, everything.
06:23So, and what tires do you pick? I have no clue, so let's see.
06:26What will be the biggest challenge this weekend, do you think?
06:30Generally, I think to, yeah, somehow judge the grip,
06:35because the conditions will be changing a lot, make the good tire choices as always.
06:39But, at the end, it's always all about getting the good information,
06:46making the right tire call, and having the good confidence.
06:49Current world champion Sébastien Algier leads the field over the ceremonial starts.
06:55Even as a ten-time winner here, he knows Zermonti demands humility.
06:59No stone will be left unturned in his preparation.
07:06Known as the Monti Maestro, Algier is born and raised in this region of the French Alps.
07:11He has a deep connection to this iconic rally.
07:15Everything started here for me, and more importantly, the dream started here.
07:19As a kid, watching it from the side of the road, watching those cars,
07:23and thinking I would never have the chance to do it, but still dreaming of doing it one day.
07:28And this dream grew in me, and then I find my path doing the sport,
07:32and it's still in my heart the most iconic rally of the championship, also the most difficult.
07:38At the end, it's the one I want to win the most in the season,
07:43so part of my soul, I don't know, but that's something, you know,
07:46Monte Carlo has a unique place in me, and will always have.
07:52In the lead-up to the rally, Algier's hometown GAP honoured one of their own
07:56to celebrate his ninth world championship.
08:00For sure, it's this moment where you feel something special happen out of your life,
08:05of course, but it's also a moment where I feel it's nice for me,
08:09but it's also very important to do for the people,
08:12because they've been supporting me my whole career,
08:14and I think they enjoy a lot also this moment together of celebration,
08:18and I got actually almost more positive comment from that than from a race sometimes,
08:22you know, like, oh, this show is amazing.
08:25And what has been the approach of that boy from GAP in achieving his nine driver's titles?
08:31Staying humble, always question yourself, always try to learn from mistakes, of course,
08:36but even from success, there is always something to learn.
08:39You know, coming here in Monte Carlo is a very good example.
08:41A lot of people would think, you know, after so many success here,
08:45you just need to press repeat and it will be easy,
08:47but the truth is that it's the most difficult event in the year,
08:51and I come here with, yeah, being very humble,
08:53knowing that nothing is secure here and I'll have to work hard.
08:57I think also one of the leading things is enjoying what you do.
09:02If you enjoy, usually you perform well,
09:04so you have to keep always remembering yourself
09:07that it's a big chance being here, living this dream of a job.
09:16The itinerary features 17 competitive stages
09:19over 340 kilometres of constantly changing asphalt.
09:24The weather crews will earn their money this year
09:26with snow, ice, rain and even dry conditions forecast.
09:30The challenge is to predict when and where they'll hit.
09:39Let the 2026 season commence.
09:42Welcome, everybody, to the FIA World Rally Championship
09:46and the stunning opening round,
09:48the legendary Rally Monte Carlo.
09:51Three stages will run tonight
09:52and the weather conditions are a major factor.
09:58Sebastian Auger then heads into Rally Monte Carlo.
10:02He's won it ten times.
10:04This is an emotional one for him.
10:06He wants to win every rally, but this one the most.
10:09Yeah, absolutely, Bex.
10:10It's a big event for him, isn't it?
10:11And I've got to say,
10:12I think he's been the bravest so far with the tyre choice.
10:15Four started, two super soft.
10:16This is definitely super soft conditions.
10:18This man as well, Elvin Evans, similar choice.
10:21Well, exactly the same choice as Sebastian Auger
10:23going for the started and super soft compound mix
10:26and the super soft is definitely the one to be on.
10:29It has looked a little bit more committed
10:30from Elvin Evans, though.
10:32The car looks hooked up through there.
10:34The Toyota's working well straight out of the box.
10:37Oliver Solberg has already impressed at Rally 1 level
10:40with a win in Estonia last year,
10:42but I didn't expect him to be so quick on the opener of Monte.
10:46Yeah, absolutely.
10:46Welcome to the top flight, Mr. Solberg.
10:49And he's running a slightly different tyre package as well.
10:51Evans and Auger with the studded and super soft cross.
10:56Solberg, though, running the winter cross.
10:58It's working for him quicker than Auger, just down on Evans.
11:04Really difficult conditions now.
11:06It's changed from the opening stage.
11:08We've got snow.
11:09We've got ice.
11:11Caution is needed.
11:12You don't want to risk it all at this point.
11:16Classic Rally Monte Carlo conditions.
11:18This is where Sebastian Auger just needs to have patience, Bex.
11:21We talk about it a lot.
11:23You overstep the mark,
11:24outbrake yourself very quickly.
11:25You're off the road here.
11:28Seb, second stage today.
11:3028.6 slower than Elvin.
11:32That's so unlike you.
11:34Unbelievable.
11:37First, no chance.
11:38But how are the others making it work?
11:52We are all keen to see what this young man can do in a full season.
11:56But already on the second stage of Rally Monte Carlo,
11:59he is massively impressive.
12:01Yeah, incredibly difficult conditions here, Bex.
12:04And just look, he's just dancing with the car,
12:06showing great confidence already.
12:09And up on the split times.
12:11And it could even be a change of Rally leader here.
12:14That's to Evans.
12:15He's not far from the end of the stage now.
12:16Just his left-hander to negotiate.
12:18Being patient before he gets on the throttle.
12:20Look at the time.
12:21He's blown him away.
12:22Oliver Solberg leads in Monte Carlo.
12:25We didn't think we'd be saying that.
12:28John Armstrong now.
12:30Shane Byrne, their WRC debut.
12:32No.
12:34He stalled the car as well.
12:37He'll get it going.
12:38There's five or six seconds lost there.
12:40Now he's got to compose himself.
12:41This is where you end up making a mistake.
12:43It's his first ever, Monte.
12:45Mistakes are to be expected.
12:49Straight into a mistake.
12:52Hopefully he hasn't picked up any damage.
12:53That was a fairly big bang on that front right.
12:59It's fantastic to see the atmosphere out on the stages.
13:01Purely electric from the fans.
13:04They love it.
13:07A lot of players out there have a look at this, Cheney.
13:10A bit of low cloud fog.
13:11Yeah, the fans might love it, but the drivers won't be.
13:15These conditions are treacherous.
13:17You just can't see anything at all.
13:20Even switching off the main beams.
13:25As we look at Elvin Evans coming through the stage.
13:28Let's switch the lights off completely on the rear of the car.
13:33And it's getting worse as well, Bex.
13:35This is Adrian Formo.
13:36Look at that wall of fog.
13:38It is a wall.
13:39You're right.
13:39It's dense.
13:40I mean, he's just...
13:41He spun.
13:42He's off.
13:43I don't know if he knows where he is.
13:45He's just got lost, Bex.
13:46That's how thick the fog is.
13:49Yeah, they're going to have to call this.
13:55Yeah, being only able to see jackets, reflectors.
14:02You can see barely nothing on this stage.
14:05Back with our rally leader, Oliver Solberg.
14:10Unbelievable to be able to say those words.
14:12Solberg is in the lead of Rally Monte Carlo.
14:18It's looking like another great stage from Solberg in that Toyota.
14:24And he will lead going into tomorrow.
14:30Stage three was red flagged over safety concerns.
14:34Could this be the moment Oliver Solberg announced himself as a title contender?
14:39Early leader Elvin Evans is second.
14:41Auger third.
14:43Neville is the best place Hyundai.
14:45Armstrong drops from third to fifth after struggling through the fog.
14:50And nominal times are signed after that red flag.
14:53I have to say myself, it's an incredible, incredible start, incredible night.
14:58I was, I need to breathe a little bit because the most difficult night of my life or day so
15:06far.
15:07But yeah, no, it's been a really, you know, good fun, you know, challenging, good fun.
15:13It's been absolutely everything tonight.
15:14So I'm just happy to be here first of all.
15:16But yeah, in this position, it's amazing.
15:20Two of Solberg's fellow young guns both felt the full menace of the Monte.
15:25Josh McAleon and Sammy Piari out on the same corner.
15:29They'll return for Friday's action where OJ, Evans and the Hyundai's will focus on bringing Solberg back down to earth.
15:51Early Friday morning in the Gap Service Park, and it's a hive of activity at M Sport.
15:57Teams routinely have two tyre options on a rally, soft or hard compounds.
16:02But Monte Carlo is no routine event.
16:04Here, crews have four different compounds to choose from.
16:08Supersoft being the fastest tyre.
16:10So the Supersoft compound is specifically brought for this event because we have to deal with such cold temperatures.
16:17Anything from about plus five degrees or under, you're now in the range of our Supersoft tyre.
16:23Anything from about zero to five degrees and above, the recommended compound is our soft compound.
16:29The same pattern as you see in our Supersoft, but the compound is just a little bit more robust.
16:35There's a little bit more stiffness to be able to deal with more heat generation in the tyre.
16:42Hankook have shipped more than 4,000 tyres for the service parking gap, including studded tyres for treacherous icy terrain,
16:50200 tungsten tips biting into black ice, and the winter tyre, deeper grooves to disperse snow, slush and ice.
16:58Improved this year to offer better performance.
17:01We've opened up the grooved areas a little bit just to improve a little bit of that snow and slush
17:07evacuation.
17:08And also due to the slightly smaller tread blocks that you see on the centre part of the tyre, it'll
17:13allow those blocks to move just a little bit more.
17:15And so that'll improve the warm-up speed so that the drivers can get temperature into the tyres faster so
17:21they can build that confidence faster.
17:24Those are the tyres, but it's well known that none will be perfect for an entire loop.
17:29Monte Carlo's menacing weather demands special measures.
17:33Rally teams employ dedicated weather crews.
17:36Those who prefer a nine-to-five routine need not supply.
17:39I was here at six o'clock this morning, set up the car.
17:46I was rooting up a crew, doing some brake testing.
17:49So, yeah, I then had to walk one kilometre towards the start and then two kilometres towards the finish, in
17:55a total of two kilometres, taking photos as I go along of the conditions.
17:58Also, as well, I'm taking temperatures of the road, of the air, so obviously then the engineers are making a
18:05decision on what tyres to use, whether it's OK for studs, super softs, and what compound to use on the
18:10tyre.
18:11There's black ice in places, and it's crucial for me to get that information back to the crews.
18:17So, I've just sent the photos to the service group, just telling them where we are.
18:23Stage four, 14.3 to 15.3.
18:25Black ice on the first couple of photos, which is over the bridge.
18:30And that's Heinrich just saying that they have now received the 12 photos that I have sent, so I can
18:36go and get a cup of tea.
18:40So, there's snow on these first ones?
18:42Yeah, there's quite a bit of ice.
18:43It's really nice.
18:44It's downhill here, things like.
18:46It seems like there's quite a bit of ice and snow out there, especially stage six.
18:52But also, there's loads of potentially tarmac, whether it's damp tarmac, or getting a bit more dry.
18:58So, you either play it safe or you have something in the package where you can potentially have a cross.
19:04But you just have to trust what the information is coming in from the weather crews and the route-nought
19:08crews.
19:09For him, yeah, he was pretty confident in what he wanted.
19:13He opted for the six studs.
19:14He wants to be safe.
19:15He wants four studs for the last stage, where we know there's quite a lot of snow.
19:22Good morning, everybody.
19:24Welcome to the second day of competition here at Rally Monte Carlo.
19:29We're kicking off with Labarel to Chauvet-Glomontault this morning.
19:33And we have heard that the conditions in here are varied.
19:37You can see snow on the stages.
19:39And for Solberg, that is not impeding him at all.
19:42He is picking up exactly where he left off last night.
19:45Yeah, this is superb from Oliver Solberg, just manipulating the car a little bit on the handbrake there.
19:50And dancing on the pedals, just working the differentials to try and keep the car going forward without losing any
19:55momentum on the snow and ice.
19:57A masterclass from Oliver Solberg.
19:59He's going to blitz Elvin Evans' time through here as well, Bex, and go quickest.
20:02Oliver, another incredible time for you in there.
20:06Is it time for some caution?
20:08Well, I am cautious, but I'm having fun.
20:11You know, the gravel crew did an amazing job in there to have exactly where everything was.
20:16And I could trust it 100%.
20:18So, good job.
20:20There are so many different facets to Rally Monte Carlo to make things work.
20:24Being able to choose the right tyres being one of them.
20:27There are Route Note crews.
20:28There are Meteo, the team, the driver's decision.
20:31John Armstrong played it safe with studs here.
20:33Yeah, he's taking six studded tyres for this loop, isn't he, Bex?
20:35Let's see if it works out for him.
20:37But as you said, it's always a compromise.
20:38Here in Monte Carlo, if you're on the right tyre for over 50% of the rally, then you've got
20:44it right.
20:46We've already seen a strong start from Elvin Evans.
20:49It's been really good to see the battle he's been having with Sebastian Oje.
20:52He's chasing down a benchmark time here.
20:55It's really muddy out there with the cuts.
20:58Oje and Evans picking up where they left off last year.
21:02It looks like it's going to be a big battle between the Toyota Titans here.
21:07And as you said, Evans just hunting down Oje.
21:13Thierry Neva, what an inconsistent start we've seen from our 2024 world champion.
21:19Oh, that's the effect.
21:20He's got a super soft on that front left.
21:22And you saw instantly, just ran out of grip, clipped a bank.
21:25Hopefully, he's gotten away with it.
21:27Up until that point, he was looking okay.
21:30Back with our rally leader, Oliver Solberg and Elliot Edmondson here.
21:35Oh, not what we want to see on the screen.
21:37An alert, tyre pressure alert.
21:38It's a front left.
21:40Yeah, that's not ideal, Bex.
21:41He's going to hemorrhage time through there.
21:43And you can actually see from this heli shot, that front left tyre is locked up completely.
21:47Done well to get the car stopped there.
21:49Bex is going to drop time through here.
21:52Still got quite a distance to go.
21:58And this is John Armstrong now, Shane Byrne.
22:03Changing the tyres around.
22:05Lots of work goes on between the stages.
22:10Definitely a lot less snow than what we were expecting.
22:13None of the first two.
22:14Okay, have you heard more from the weather crew since you left this morning?
22:17Yeah, there should be some at the start of this one, but then more dry at the end.
22:20So, we'll see.
22:23Stage six then, Sebastian Auger.
22:26Can he get to grips with it?
22:27We haven't seen the Seb that we really know and love, who can really dominate in these conditions.
22:31He's got to find something here, Bex.
22:33Still yet to find his famous Monte Carlo rhythm.
22:38Look at the conditions.
22:39So, so slippy.
22:40This is normally where he's so good.
22:42You can never rule Sebastian Auger out, though, can you?
22:47Continuing to lead the rally are Oliver Solberg and Elliot Edmondson.
22:51And they are continuing to impress stage after stage.
22:55Yeah, it's been superb from Oliver Solberg.
22:57An absolute masterclass in car control.
23:00And Bex, for me, this is even better than Estonia because the conditions have just been so difficult.
23:05And Oliver has stepped right up to the mark.
23:08Our rally leader, Oliver Solberg, doing a great job.
23:12Solberg made up the time lost from the stage five puncher to preserve his minute lead over Evans, with Auger
23:18over 35 seconds further adrift.
23:20John Armstrong's cautious tyre approach with those six studs did not pay off.
23:24But his Monte learning curve continues.
23:30Friday afternoon, Rally Monte Carlo.
23:33We've already seen really mixed conditions somewhere across pretty much every stage of the event.
23:38You're going to see that this afternoon.
23:40La Borelle is where we kick start.
23:45Let's join Takemoto Cat Sitter and Aaron Johnston now, then.
23:51Yeah, Taka having a good run.
23:52But look at his arms, Bex.
23:53He's not got any power steering.
23:55Aaron Johnston having to help him out.
23:56He's going to nip the handbrake.
23:57There you go.
23:58So difficult to drive one of these cars when you haven't got power steering.
24:04Taka's arms will be on absolute fire, particularly in these conditions.
24:08And look at the damage to the seal as well.
24:11Now, Adrian Formoa has been dropping time on the splits.
24:15Why?
24:16Oh, look on the dash.
24:17You can see there's a warning.
24:19And the handbrake wasn't working there.
24:21So I suspect that Adrian Formoa has picked up some sort of electrical problem here.
24:25And he can't use the handbrake.
24:27And again, in these conditions, it's almost impossible.
24:30What's it going to be like into this hairpin?
24:33Oof.
24:33That's a great example of where you would use the handbrake.
24:36And what happens when you don't have the handbrake.
24:38It's also a life jacket.
24:39It gets you out of trouble.
24:41Adrian's going to struggle this afternoon.
24:44Are we now finally starting to see Sebastian Ogier switch it on a little here?
24:50Because he's not been lackluster, but it's not been the Ogier that we're used to at Monty.
24:55You can see how committed he is.
24:58Ogier's got the hammer down.
24:59This is better from Sebastian Ogier.
25:02The fight back has begun.
25:09What a drive it's been from Oliver Solberg.
25:12He's just been so impressive, hasn't he?
25:14Tricky conditions, though.
25:16Keeping him on his toes.
25:20Oh, hanging the back of the car out there through the ruts.
25:25Oof.
25:26He's lucky to get away with that.
25:27Controlled it well, though.
25:29He continues to lead the rally.
25:34John Armstrong, debut rally Monte Carlo for John.
25:38He's following Hayden Padden here.
25:41He's had to stop, change a wheel.
25:42He's lost three minutes.
25:44But it might have been a baptism of fire this weekend, but he is relishing every moment.
25:48And he is getting every Monty experience.
25:54Into the dark now.
25:56Just look at the weather conditions and how they've changed.
26:00Josh McAleen first into the road.
26:01He's run wide.
26:03He's not going to get out of there without any help.
26:09Twice in one weekend.
26:11That won't come out of there without the fans.
26:13Now, we join Thierry Neuville, Martijn Vidaga.
26:17Difficult conditions on this stage as we've seen so far.
26:22We've already seen how difficult the conditions are.
26:24This is a moment for Thierry as well.
26:26He's dropped the back of the car into the ditch.
26:28Go on, bury the throttle, Thierry.
26:29Try and get out of there.
26:31I think he's out.
26:32I think he's out.
26:33He's not.
26:34He's still in the ditch.
26:34He's just tramping along it.
26:37He's got to get that car out of there.
26:39He's run out of space.
26:43And again, he's going to need the fans to get him out of trouble.
26:46Disaster for Neuville.
26:52Oliver Solberg and Elliot Edmondson have had an amazing day at Rally Monte Carlo yet again.
27:00They've astounded us with the stage times they've been setting and with a cool head that Oliver has been using
27:06to be able to deliver these kind of times.
27:09They're about to complete the stage and they continue to lead the rally.
27:14It was clean.
27:15I'm through.
27:17I extended my lead today.
27:19So it's been a fantastic day.
27:20What's the situation like with Serbis?
27:22Is he still giving you plenty of advice or is it a bit less now?
27:25He's not talking to me so much anymore.
27:27So let's see.
27:28It's a long way to go.
27:29But I'm just happy to be through tonight.
27:31My God, it's so tricky all the time.
27:33And yeah, I just want to have a new day now.
27:38Oliver Solberg continues to dominate with his lead over Evans, now one minute and eight seconds.
27:44The Welshman will be nervously looking over his shoulder as OJ, the maestro, chases him down.
27:49The world champion now just six and a half seconds further back.
27:55Solberg arrives back at the Gap Service Park knowing he is one day closer to a famous win.
28:01No sign of nerves from the young Swede.
28:03Saturday's four stages are next, finishing with a return to the classic Monaco street stage.
28:24A moment of solitude for Oliver Solberg as he contemplates Saturday's stages.
28:3077 competitive kilometres await and a blanket of snow has covered the opener.
28:37Conditions are so difficult that you need 100% focus and yeah, every stage is changing with conditions.
28:45So today we have another day of different conditions, so it's proper Monte Carlo.
28:56Day three of competition and it has been a classic Monte so far, with snow and ice making this demanding
29:05event even tougher this year.
29:09We head to Labriol to Bella Fair this morning.
29:14Our first sighting in the snow then is Josh McAleon and Owen Tracy.
29:19This is unusual to see at the Monte Carlo rally and a tough challenge for the crews.
29:26Yeah, it's more like Sweden, isn't it?
29:28Josh McAleon and Tracy first into the stage.
29:30They're acting like a snowplough for all the cars coming through.
29:33The good thing is, though, it'll be reasonably consistent grip throughout the entirety of the stage.
29:39I'd say they've had some fun in here.
29:42Oh, you guys, that's bad.
29:43Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
29:48Thierry Neuville and Martijn Vidal are now then.
29:51A mistake from them late on yesterday.
29:54I wonder what the strategy, what the plan is today and when faced with these conditions, do you have a
29:58strategy?
29:59Look how long he was on the handbrake for, just manipulating the car, setting it up into the hairpin.
30:05It's not easy and, again, so difficult to judge the grip levels in these conditions.
30:13That was 27 minutes, 49 seconds, 0.1 of pure stress and, yeah, just surviving.
30:23We have a battle royale on our hands with OJ really ramping up the pressure at the end of Friday.
30:30Is this an opportunity now for more pressure on the guys in front?
30:35Yeah, I mean, look from the heli shots, OJ, you can see clearly committed.
30:39He's just dancing that Toyota Yaris down the road, trying to keep it in the lines where at least he
30:44knows he's going to be at the worst on some black ice.
30:47Get those studs to work.
30:48OJ's on it.
30:51Now, our rally leaders, Oliver Solberg, Elliot Edmondson, Swedish driver and Snow, you would think the perfect combination.
30:57He is losing time, though.
31:01Yeah, you're right, because the car moving around an awful lot on the surface of the road.
31:05Has he prepped the tyres properly on the way into this stage?
31:09You can see big understeer on the way in.
31:12He's soaring at the wheel and, as you said, losing time.
31:15This man, though, Elvin Evans, on a bit of a charge through here.
31:20Does he see an opportunity?
31:22The road's definitely evolving.
31:23It's definitely getting faster, isn't it?
31:26Now turning to slush as opposed to thick snow and ice.
31:32Riding with Oliver Solberg again.
31:34And look, Bex, you can clearly see there's a nice clean line for him to follow.
31:38There's a good opportunity for Oliver Solberg here now to extend his rally lead.
31:44Use the grip that everybody else that came before him didn't have.
31:48Oliver Solberg on incredible form and taking time out of the drivers behind him.
31:55That's the crucial thing.
31:56It's a great response from Oliver.
31:59Oliver Solberg has a vice-like grip on the rally lead.
32:03Evans and Auger are locked in an intense battle for seconds,
32:07with Evans counter-punching on the last stage after Auger had struck on the first.
32:12The nine-time world champ is as competitive as ever.
32:19Of course, the target is to keep enjoying, keep being competitive and winning rallies.
32:25And then we'll see whether we can fight for another championship or not.
32:29I think I live in the present.
32:31I think I want to enjoy.
32:32And now it's clear I'm going to be involved this year.
32:34But I have no idea what about 2027 for sure.
32:39So let's keep it open.
32:43And let's say that one thing is sure, of course, the end is closer than the start.
32:49So that's a clear fact.
32:53I think the main motivation is a pleasure I still have driving those cars.
32:57As soon as I jump in the race car, then, you know, the smile is coming back.
33:01And then the moment is still unique to drive at the limit with a world rally car on the stages,
33:08beautiful stages we have all over the season.
33:10Every rally is so different.
33:11And that's what I like.
33:12Also, the diversity of the sport.
33:14So, yeah, I think the main drive is a pleasure to do that.
33:21But I would like also to say that the results we had recently are not also a bit of a
33:26booster
33:26to see that, you know, as long as you are as competitive as we are,
33:30it's hard to say stop to that.
33:32People have learned to know me and to know that I'm someone who is very honest,
33:39always say what he thinks, sometimes a little bit too loud, sometimes a little bit too quickly.
33:44But, yeah, more important is to have the respect from the community of rally.
33:48And that's, yeah, that would mean a lot in my eyes.
34:01We head back to where we started this morning, La Briole to Belle Affaire.
34:06Let's get to it then.
34:08Let's see what Stage 12 has to offer us this time around.
34:17Already we can see with Sammy Pirie off the line, the conditions have changed as icy as it was earlier
34:23on.
34:24Yeah, it's now just slush, Bex, but you've got to be so careful of it.
34:26You can see Sammy's just understeering a little bit wide.
34:30He's trying to get it back on.
34:31I don't think, Bex, even though we could see on our camera that tree,
34:34I don't think Sammy could because of all the snow getting thrown up.
34:37He's not going to go anywhere.
34:40Hayden Padden then trying to get to grips with the conditions.
34:43It is even more difficult now on the second pass than it was on the first.
34:48Same situation, Bex, just on the slush, lost the front of the car.
34:51He slid down the bank.
34:53Fortunately, there are some fans there.
34:56Hopefully they can get the job done.
34:57Come on, boys, push, push, push.
34:59That's it.
35:03Come on, carry the momentum, up you go.
35:06Oh, it's a miracle.
35:07Back on the stage, although a lot of time lost for Hayden Padden.
35:10We join his teammate, Thierry Neuville, in these tricky conditions.
35:14He lost the back of the car there.
35:16Into a half spin.
35:18A lucky boy there, Bex, that he didn't end up dropping it off the road entirely.
35:27We're with our rally leaders now, then.
35:29Oliver Solberg, Elliot Edmondson, who've had another great day.
35:33But they need to be careful in these conditions as well.
35:35They may have a remit of wall.
35:37He's lost the back of the car.
35:38He's not going to get that turned in for that right-hander.
35:40He's off the road.
35:41Can he get it going?
35:42Come on.
35:43Right, he now needs to go up the field and get it turned around
35:46and carry the momentum back down
35:48and try and smash that Yaris back up onto the road.
35:51Come on.
35:52Good job.
35:53You can see what he had to do to get it back up onto the road, Bex.
35:56That was some hard work there and a heart-stopping moment
35:59for Oliver and Elliot,
36:01and I'm sure everyone back at Toyota's base as well.
36:05Lucky boy.
36:06Unbelievable scenes here from our rally leader.
36:09You can see how difficult it is out there,
36:11but look at the time here.
36:13Still wins it.
36:14I can't believe it.
36:15He's won the stage.
36:16Time for Oliver at 23.064.
36:19And when you exit the TC area,
36:22please check the radiator in the front.
36:25I don't know what happened there,
36:27but I was so careful through the whole stage,
36:29and, you know, I had ruts in my pace notes,
36:32so I was just trying to fold my ruts.
36:35And on one exit, there was full snow,
36:37and I didn't know.
36:39And I was lucky.
36:40What does it tell you,
36:41and what does it also tell you about the others
36:43that you still win it by two seconds?
36:45Well, it means I could have backed off more, yeah?
36:48The gods of the French Alps are smiling on Oliver Solberg.
36:52How he won that stage after his off-road excursion
36:55is incredible.
36:57Alger's struggles continue
36:59as he drops further behind Evans.
37:02Adrian Formo is fourth,
37:03despite also spinning off on stage 12.
37:09That's the mountain loop complete for the day.
37:12Next stop, the Monaco Street stage,
37:14to be run on sections of the F1 circuit.
37:17As the crews made the journey down in Monte Carlo,
37:20some lucky VIPs got the ride of their lives.
37:24Among them, Tour de France winner,
37:25Tadej Pogacar,
37:27with Hyundai's Danny Sordo.
37:29And so to a real highlight
37:31of this year's Rally Monte Carlo,
37:33the return of the Monaco Street stage,
37:36the WRC's finest blaster ground part
37:38of the famous Formula One track,
37:40for the first time since 2008.
37:44It's good to be driving in the Monaco city centre.
37:47I mean, I'm driving there very often
37:50to go and take the groceries,
37:54but this time it will be at high speed.
37:58It will be good fun.
38:00Ah, Monaco Street stage is going to be cool, you know.
38:02I used to live there as a kid,
38:03so it's special for me to drive there where you grew up, you know.
38:07And it's a cool little stage,
38:08fun little stage,
38:09and with a donut, so I'm very happy.
38:12Well, it's been an additional work to create this stage in Monaco
38:18because we had to work closely with the government
38:21and manage a lot of people,
38:25several months of preparations,
38:27but it's really a teamwork, a nice team effort,
38:30and we hope it will be a great show.
38:35Tonight, it is the Monaco circuit, super special.
38:39We've not seen this stage run since 2008.
38:43And the weather, well, it's not quite the sun
38:46we're used to in the south of France.
38:50We're with nine-time world champion, Sebastian Ogier.
38:54Full unstudded snow tires on this Toyota Bex,
38:58and easier to drive and probably the right tire to be on now.
39:01Let's see what Sebastian Ogier can do relative to Adrian Formo.
39:06Torrential now, there is standing water there,
39:08and that will also be hampering Sebastian Ogier's progress,
39:12regardless of the tire that he's on.
39:14So good to be back, taking on this street circuit here in Monaco.
39:19It looks so good, doesn't it?
39:22He's got his father's blood in him, Mr. Hollywood.
39:25And he loves a donut.
39:27But listen, Oliver, behave yourself around here.
39:29Don't get sucked into the glitz and glamour of this one.
39:31There's too much at stake.
39:32How does he approach this then?
39:34Slowly and patiently.
39:38He's through at the end of the day
39:39to lead at the end of day three.
39:44Really tricky.
39:45I didn't want to mess it up after a great weekend so far, you know.
39:48So, yeah, I'm in a good position, you know.
39:52So, let's see tomorrow.
39:53It's probably going to be another crazy day.
39:56Although now under a minute,
39:57it's still a substantial lead for Solberg.
40:00Evans knows that he has a Monty maestro Ogier
40:03under 30 seconds behind him.
40:05And that gap is gone with a mere slide
40:08of a treacherous Alpine pass into a ditch.
40:13Reports coming in of heavy snowfall on the Cuda Torini.
40:16It's the place to be on a Rally Monte Carlo Sunday.
40:20The greatest names in the sport have climbed the famous pole,
40:24including Oliver Solberg's dad, Petter.
40:26After two passes through the stage tomorrow,
40:29Oliver may have written his name into WRC folklore.
40:47Sunday morning.
40:48And if Oliver Solberg can hold on to his lead
40:50through the four stages still to come,
40:52he'll become the youngest ever winner of Rally Monte Carlo.
40:56He does, though, have to safely negotiate two passes
40:59of the Cuda Torini,
41:00which has shattered many a Monagast's dream in the past.
41:06Good morning, everyone,
41:08and welcome to the final day of Rally Monte Carlo.
41:14We start the day with a classic stage.
41:17We're really glad to see the hairpins of La Cabanette back.
41:21Now, we're working our way up to the top of the coal here.
41:25You can see the weather closing in.
41:27It's getting snowier.
41:28There's more hard-packed snow and ice here.
41:31This is mega from John Armstrong,
41:33carrying the speed really well,
41:35not afraid to nip the handbrake,
41:37even when he's making good progress up the road.
41:40Full 15 seconds faster
41:42than the car we've seen directly behind him.
41:45Best drive of the weekend so far for John Armstrong.
41:50Let's take a look at the fastest man in the stage right now.
41:53That is second position, Elvin Evans.
41:55He's nine and a half up on Solberg,
41:58and now the cars are coming through.
42:00They're churning up that ice,
42:01and they're getting through it
42:02and starting to create a line of grip for people.
42:05The final 3Ks of this stage definitely getting faster.
42:09This is a great start to the day for Elvin.
42:14Oliver Solberg continues to lead Rally Monte Carlo.
42:18Big day ahead for this young man.
42:20Could he become the youngest ever winner of this event?
42:24Redboard's just around the corner for Oliver Solberg.
42:27It's not going to be the fastest.
42:29He doesn't need it to be, though.
42:30Eight and a half seconds adrift of Elvin Evans.
42:36Oliver, what is the plan today?
42:37Just consolidate position
42:39and not worry about Sunday point?
42:41Right now in this position, I don't care.
42:43This is a unique, incredible position to be in.
42:47That's something I never dreamed of.
42:48You know, so I'm just trying to continue like this,
42:51consistent and clean, and see what's possible.
42:55Let's take a look here at Thierry then.
42:59Something going on with Thierry Neuville, I'm sure of it.
43:02Ah, Thierry Neuville stopped Bex.
43:05This, yeah.
43:06Puncture, he's got a puncture.
43:08So they've picked it up straight away.
43:10A front-right puncture.
43:12Ah, disaster for Thierry Neuville.
43:16Adrian Formo got off to a great start this morning, didn't he?
43:19Joint fastest time with Elvin on the first one.
43:21Ah, you can just see the distance
43:23between these two cars here as well.
43:26Adrian definitely catching him, though, isn't he?
43:29If I were Hyundai now,
43:31I would be getting Thierry to pull over,
43:33maybe at the top of the Col de Turini
43:34and let Adrian press on.
43:38Thierry all offline there to pull over.
43:40Well done.
43:41Yeah, Formo had pushed the overtake button
43:44against Neuville,
43:44and Neuville has pulled off to the side
43:47to let him through.
43:48That's good for Formo.
43:51It's magnificent to see these conditions on Monty.
43:54I can't remember the last time
43:55we had this stage looking like this.
43:59Oliver Solberg,
44:00he's lost the back on the way in.
44:02He'll get that stopped and recover it.
44:04OK, a mistake in the stage then for Oliver Solberg.
44:06It has cost him some time.
44:08He's still safe, though.
44:10He can't afford to make one more.
44:13It's his now.
44:15It's his to lose.
44:20Josh just getting to the top of the Col here.
44:22We are getting some news in.
44:25Armstrong was stopped
44:26at just 700 metres into the stage.
44:29Crew are OK.
44:30We've got no more details on that at the moment.
44:36That's Josh McAleen
44:37clipping the armcode barrier
44:38with the front left.
44:40Caught out.
44:41That happened so fast.
44:42Just caught out on the slush.
44:44He's wide there.
44:46You see how he just got out of the line
44:48and there was just that layer of slush
44:49and bang.
44:52That's the damage from the armcode.
44:54Look at the angle of that wheel.
44:55To lose both the M-Sport Pumas
44:57in one stage.
44:58That's a very bitter pill.
45:02This is where Oliver's got to get
45:03those studs working for him.
45:05He could nick this stage win back now
45:08because this is the worst of the
45:10icy patches
45:12at best.
45:13Oh, he's gone wide there as well.
45:15And we're in.
45:15We're into the snow.
45:16Easy now.
45:17Steady.
45:18Steady.
45:20How many lives has this cat got?
45:24John Armstrong off the road and retired.
45:27And add Gregoire Munster,
45:28it's been a tough day for M-Sport.
45:31Oliver Solberg has got many lives
45:33is the answer.
45:34He still leads Evans by almost a minute
45:36and now has just one stage
45:38between him and the biggest moment
45:40of his career.
45:46It has been an epic
45:48three days of competition.
45:50We have seen snow,
45:53ice, fog,
45:54wet tarmac,
45:55dry tarmac.
45:56Everything has been thrown
45:58at our competing crews
45:59ahead of the final
46:01Wolf Power Stage.
46:07Now, it's not only the overall results
46:09we're looking at on this stage,
46:11there are extra driver points
46:12available here.
46:14Oh, this is brave.
46:16Two studs,
46:17two non-studded snow tires.
46:20This will be a dicey,
46:22hairy run down the mountain
46:23now with only two studs
46:25on that car.
46:27Here we go.
46:28Can he get the front?
46:29It's the front he's lost.
46:31Cheeky little spin for Neville.
46:33He'll get that turned around.
46:36This is where Thierry Neville
46:38had his moment.
46:40Adrian will see all of those lines
46:42in the road and know someone's had enough there.
46:46Just a reminder, position-wise,
46:48Formo comes into this fourth overall,
46:50but there are big gaps in time.
46:52What he's looking for here
46:54are Power Stage points.
46:57Let's switch out, though,
46:59to third place,
46:59Sebastian Auger.
47:01A little bit off
47:01Formo's pace here,
47:03just 1.7 seconds down.
47:05Adrian was really committed
47:06coming down the hill,
47:07wasn't he, Bex?
47:08I didn't see where he lost much time
47:10and he was taking some risks.
47:13Seb really clean through the hairpin,
47:16carries good speed on the way out.
47:17This is going to be jolly close.
47:19Let's have a look at the countdown,
47:21then.
47:21You can see the time to Formo's
47:22fastest time on the Power Stage.
47:24What is Auger going to do?
47:268 tenths of a second faster.
47:28Good job.
47:30New benchmark time,
47:3120-24, exactly.
47:34He's called you his hero many times.
47:36Can you be impressed
47:37with what Oliver's done here?
47:39Yeah, he has been doing a great job,
47:40so nice for the championship.
47:42Some fresh air is coming
47:43and looking forward for some battle with him.
47:47Elvin Evans is absolutely flying in this stage.
47:51His splits are phenomenal.
47:53We saw an incredible battle
47:55for the championship title last year.
47:57You know how much every single point counts,
48:00which is why he's throwing everything
48:02at it right now.
48:04He wants as many
48:05of the Super Sunday points
48:07as he can possibly bag.
48:09He's so clear of Auger.
48:11That's wrapped up.
48:13Second position,
48:14Rally Monte Carlo.
48:16It is Elvin Evans
48:17who has set the fastest time.
48:19That's 1-2 confirmed for Toyota.
48:22Can it be 1-2-3?
48:25On board with Oliver Solberg
48:27as he makes his way down the hill
48:29and makes his way towards making history.
48:31If he can do it,
48:33he'll be the youngest ever driver
48:35to win Rally Monte Carlo,
48:37and he'll do something
48:38his old man Petter Solberg
48:41could never do win
48:42this incredible event.
48:44It's looking so good
48:46for Oliver Solberg.
48:47Just a kilometre or so to go now.
48:49He's almost there then.
48:51Swedish driver Oliver Solberg
48:53in the closing kilometre
48:55of Rally Monte Carlo.
48:57He has really put on
49:01a sensational display.
49:05Hanging the back of the car
49:06out through there.
49:07He takes then
49:07as we come through
49:08the flying finish,
49:10his second WRC win.
49:13Wow.
49:14Oliver Solberg
49:15has well and truly arrived
49:17in the World Rally Championship.
49:19Huge congratulations
49:20to Toyota.
49:221, 2, and 3.
49:28Evans wins the power stage
49:29with Solberg,
49:31Auger, Formo
49:32and Johan Roussel
49:33claiming the rest
49:34of the points on offer.
49:35The most difficult rally
49:36I've done in my life
49:37and it's my first rally
49:39in the car, you know,
49:40on tarmac,
49:41back again,
49:42on full level.
49:43And here we are
49:44winning the whole thing,
49:45you know.
49:49It's emotional
49:50because it's so demanding
49:51and it's been so stressed.
49:53I just want to say,
49:54you know,
49:54big thank you to Toyota
49:55for the trust
49:56and the belief
49:57and I could deliver
49:58for you
49:58and the teamwork
50:00again, you know,
50:01like Estonia
50:02has been fantastic
50:03with the test team
50:03and with the engineers.
50:18Solberg took the lead
50:19on stage 2
50:20of the rally
50:20and never looked back.
50:22The final margin
50:23of his historic win
50:24was 51.8 seconds
50:27to Elvin Evans
50:27with Sebastian Auger
50:29relieved to claim third.
50:32I never expected
50:33that you could win here.
50:34Neither did I.
50:37But fantastic,
50:38fantastic to see you now.
50:40It's a great story
50:41for yourself
50:42but also a great story
50:43for the sport.
50:44When Kalle was leaving,
50:45we have a young guy
50:46who is filling now
50:47the hole.
50:48Now you are ready
50:50to fight for the title.
50:51That's the plan?
50:52Exactly.
50:53Perfect.
50:54Oliver Solberg's
50:55haul of 30 points
50:57means he'll arrive
50:58at Rally Sweden
50:58as championship leader.
51:00Evans secured
51:01nine Super Sunday
51:02bonus points
51:03for his 26.
51:05And Auger
51:06leaves his home event
51:07with 18.
51:09Toyota topped
51:10the manufacturer's table
51:11after their podium lockout.
51:13It was a shattering Sunday
51:15for M Sport
51:15who failed to score points
51:17for the first time
51:18since 2002.
51:21History in the making
51:23after one of the toughest
51:24editions of the toughest
51:26rally of the year.
51:28Oliver Solberg
51:29is the youngest man
51:30in the WRC era
51:31to win Rally Monte Carlo.
51:34This really has been
51:35an epic.
51:36See you at the next round
51:37in Sweden.
51:45Oh!
51:46Oh!
51:46Aiden!
51:49Oh!
51:50Oh!
51:54Oh!
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