Ten wins! Sébastien Ogier has become the first WRC driver to win 10 times in a single rally, and in the event that takes place on the doorstep of the house where he grew up. In a Rally Monte-Carlo 2025 marked by unpredictable road conditions - alternating between dry, ice and snow - there were plenty of surprises and the certainty that the season promises to be exciting.
Sébastien Ogier once again demonstrated why he is considered a living rallying legend by taking his 10th victory at the Monte-Carlo Rally. At the wheel of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, he performed almost flawlessly, triumphing with a lead of 18.5 seconds over his teammate, Elfyn Evans.
“What a weekend,” said Ogier, whose first victory at Monte-Carlo dates back to the 2009 edition, when it was part of the IRC calendar. “I don't even know where to start. I think I had the lucky star with me - my uncle, who we lost a year ago. I'm sure he brought me everything, and this victory is for him. I have no idea if this will be my last Monte-Carlo Rally, but it would be a good moment to finish.”
Also putting in a good performance, teammate Elfyn Evans secured the “double” for Toyota.
Adrien Fourmaux, making his Hyundai WRC debut, was one of the big surprises of the rally. The young driver took third place, just four seconds behind Evans, in a thrilling battle right up to the last kilometer.
The excitement of the 2025 Monte-Carlo Rally wasn't limited to the fight for the podium, with Sunday's treacherous conditions taking their toll on several drivers. Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta, both Toyota drivers, but also Grégoire Munster (who made his debut by winning a stage), at the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, were unable to avoid crashes that forced them to retire.
In the race for fourth place, Ott Tänak (Hyundai) lost his position to Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) on the final day due to a strategic error in his tire choice. The difference between the two was just 4.7 seconds at the end, with both drivers now focused on making up lost ground at the next Rally Sweden, where they have triumphed in previous editions.
Defending champion Thierry Neuville finished sixth after a rally full of setbacks. A broken suspension after an accident, a puncture and an electrical problem cost the Belgian driver more than five minutes, jeopardizing any chance of repeating last year's victory. Josh McErlean, at the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, surprised in his debut race in the main category, finishing in a solid seventh place.
In the Rally2 category, Yohan Rossel, Nikolay Gryazin and Gus Greensmith completed the top 10 overall, with Rossel standing out with a brilliant performance that gave him the early lead in the WRC2 championship.
Attention now turns to the second round of the championship, the Rally of Sweden, which will take place from February 13 to 16. Based in Umeå, the WRC's only pure winter event promises plenty of excitement, with the drivers tackling the challenging snow and ice conditions.