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Neuville grabs narrow Monte Carlo lead from Ogier / Photo: © AFP
Neuville grabs narrow Monte Carlo lead from Ogier
Thierry Neuville found "perfection" on the last stage of the day on Saturday to overtake his old rival Sebastien Ogier and edge into a slender lead in the season opening Monte Carlo Rally.
"It was perfection," Neuville said of his closing drive in the hills in the Monte Carlo backcountry. "Everything went well and I really enjoyed the car. It was incredible."
The Belgian started the third day by winning stage 10 to take second place from Ogier, who finished almost 19 seconds back after a "terrible" stage.
"It's a shame that we lost so much time, but the only thing we can do is look forward and keep pushing," said Ogier, who already has a record nine Monte Carlo wins.
The French driver retaliated at once to win the second stage, but Neuville was second to grab the overall lead from Elfyn Evans.
"I don't know what's going on," the Welshman said after stage 12. "It didn't feel great, but that's chronic."
While the Welshman continued to lose ground, his Toyota team-mate Ogier won two more stages. On the penultimate stage, he grabbed first place by less than the second.
Hyundai's Neuville responded to win the last stage and retake the lead by 3.3sec.
Evans ended the day 34.9 sec back in third.
Estonian Ott Tanak, who won stage 11, finished the day in fourth in a Hyundai.
Reigning world champion Kalle Rovanpera, who has opted to follow the example of team-mate Ogier, and race part time, is skipping Monte Carlo this season.
The final three stages are being raced under slightly different 'Super Sunday' rules designed to discourage defensive driving and ends with a Power Stage that carries extra points.
"It looks like we need to try harder tomorrow," said Ogier.
Standings after Saturday's stages
1. Thierry Neuville /Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL/Hyundai) 2hr 37min 58.5sec, 2. Sebastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (FRA/Toyota) at 3.3sec, 3. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (GBR/Toyota) 34.9, 4. Ott Tanak /Martin Jarveoja (EST/Hyundai) 1:46.9, 5. Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (FRA/M-Sport Ford) 2:54
Special stage winners
Elfyn Evans (SS1, SS2), Thierry Neuville (SS3, SS6, SS7, SS9, SS14), Sebastien Ogier (SS4, SS5, SS8, SS10, SS12, SS13), Ott Tanak (SS11)
N. Nilsson--BTZ
