The 2016 World Rally Championship season got underway in traditional fashion in the mountain roads around Gap and Monaco for the Monte-Carlo rally. Let's look at how the main contenders got on in this historic event Photo Credit: Volkswagen Motorsport The 3 times champions opened their 2016 campaign in much the same way as they closed their 2015 assault, with victory and a double podium. Local hero Sebastien Ogier won the rally from young team mate Andreas Mikkelsen, who was competing for the first time with new co-driver Anders Jaeger. Ogier took his 33rd career win, his 3rd in succession in Monte-Carlo and with it a handy 9 point lead in the championship. Jari-Matti Latvala had a poor weekend as he struggled to match his world champion team mate early on, and then damaged his suspension after a trip through a ditch. The question is, could the main title threat to Ogier from within VW be coming from Andreas in 2016? Photo Credit: Hyundai Motorsport On what at times appeared like an indifferent debut for the team's all new New Generation i20 WRC, Hyundai ended round 1 equal at the top of the manufacturers standings with Volkswagen. Monte-Carlo rookie Hayden Paddon in the old car ended leg 1 an impressive 5th overall, but couldn't continue that form into day 2. He slid wide on the same treacherous corner that caught out Robert Kubica, Elfyn Evans and Eric Camilli, damaging his wheel against a tree and ending his points scoring chances. Spaniard Sordo finished 6th, disappointing given his asphalt credentials. He and Neuville were not happy with the car on Friday's stages which held them back, and Sordo damaged his suspension on Saturday. But the car got to the end which is a positive for the team. Thierry Neuville drove a consistent, measured rally which after Kris Meeke and Jari-Matti Latvala's dramas netted him a 3rd place finish. Not only was this a debut podium on the car's first event, it marked a return to form for the Belgian who had looked a shadow of his capabilities at the back end of 2015. More of the same if not more is unquestionably the target. Photo Credit: M-Sport New livery, new driver line up for M-Sport as they kick started their 2016 WRC campaign. Returnee Mads Ostberg equalled his 2015 Monte finish with a solid 4th place for the Cumbrian based squad. In typical Ostberg fashion, he was consistent and profited from others' misfortunes. It wasn't an easy ride for the Norwegian though, and not just because of the hazardous driving conditions. He had to adapt to a new car in the Fiesta RS and a new co-driver in Ola Floene. All in all not a bad result. Watch out for him in Sweden! As for M-Sport's WRC debutant Eric Camilli, he understandably took it cautiously for the first few stages. However, even when being careful mistakes can happen, and he slid off the road and damaged his car too badly to continue. A disappointing debut for the Frenchman. Ex-WRC driver Elfyn Evans drove the firm's evolution of the Fiesta R5 on the Monte, and dominated the WRC-2 class. Despite being 2 minutes off the lead twice after suffering two punctures, Evans won the category by well over 2 minutes! A very good drive and possibly a statement to Malcolm Wilson? Photo Credit: Citroen Racing Representing the Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team in the French Alps were Kris Meeke and Stephane Lefebvre. Lefebvre came home a credible 5th with new co-driver Gabin Moreau, which is the Frenchman's best WRC result to date. However is Dungannon's finest that was making all the headlines. Meeke was in red hot form on the Monte, taking the fight to Ogier from the off. He was the overnight leader after day 1 and was firmly in contention throughout Friday and most of Saturday, until a rock ripped the sump guard clean off his DS3, which critically damaged his gearbox. Game over but a scintillating performance. That concludes the review of round1 of the 2016 World Rally Championship. Rally Sweden is next in 3 weeks time.
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January 2018
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