The Hyundai driver won eight of the 17 asphalt stages in one of the driest Monte Carlo rallies on record to claim his second win at the famous event, by margin of 16.1 seconds over nine-time victor Ogier.
Toyota’s Elfyn Evans completed the podium in third (+45.2s), while Hyundai’s Ott Tanak (+1m59.8s) and M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux (+3m36.9s) filled the top five positions.
In addition to Neuville’s outright rally victory, the Belgian claimed the maximum 30 points. He scooped the 18 points on offer for leading the rally on Saturday night and was fastest on Sunday to bag an extra seven points under the new-for-2024 points structure.
Neuville put the icing on the cake by claiming the five bonus Power Stage points and leads the championship by six points from Ogier with Evans third on 21 points.
The new rules mean the top seven across Sunday’s leg are awarded points, which were claimed by Neuville (7), Evans (6), Ogier (5), Tanak (4), Fourmaux (3), Takamoto Katsuta (2) and Gregoire Munster (1).
Slightly hampered by an engine issue on his lighter and upgraded i20 N, Neuville kicked off the rally by ending Thursday night’s opening stages in second, 15.1s behind an impressive, fast-starting Evans.
He was lucky to escape a brief brush with a snowbank after sliding on a sheet of ice in stage three that caught out several drivers. Neuville also rode his luck when he suffered a spin on the following stage but, had he avoided the error that cost him 10 seconds, he would have shot into the rally lead.
After ending Friday sitting third, 16.1s behind Evans, who had a 4.5s advantage over Ogier, Neuville hit the lead on Saturday morning in style.
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
The 2020 Monte Carlo winner ignited his victory bid on a frosty stage nine where he took 9.6s out of leader Evans and was 18.8s faster than Ogier.
That blistering effort was followed up by series of strong times resulting in Neuville taking the rally lead after stage 10.
Evans’ challenge began to fall away with the Welshman unable to match the pace of Neuville and Ogier as an epic head-to-head developed. Evans wasn’t helped by a hybrid issue on his GR Yaris in stage 10.
In the afternoon, Ogier mounted an inspired charge that included his 700th career stage win. The Frenchman began to reel in Neuville before taking the rally lead by 0.8s after winning stage…
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