WRC Monte Carlo: Ogier opens 2016 with victory

Volkswagen Motorport's three-time defending FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) champion Sebastien Ogier opened his account for the 2016 season with a win at the fabled Monte Carlo Rally over teammate Andreas Mikkelesen. Hyundai's Thierry Neuville mounted a late charge to close within less than 15 seconds of Mikkelsen to put the South Korean manufacturer's all-new i20 WRC on the podium on its opening outing. Although his challenge ultimately dwindled as he dropped well behind the Norwegian.

Ogier was, at one point challenged by Kris Meeke who is piloting a Citroen DS3 for the factory supported (but ineligible to score manufacturers' championship points) Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

Meeke's challenge ended, however, after he hit a rock on Saturday, which caused terminal damage to the car's gearbox. The third VW Polo WRC of Jari-Matti Latvala hit trouble on the eleventh special stage of the rally after going off the road and breaking his suspension. To make matters worse, Latvala hit a spectator and continued to drive in an effort to get back on the road. The incident earned him a suspended ban for one rally.

Ogier was untroubled at the front, however, and even managed to win the final power stage in order to take his tally up to the maximum of 28 points from the opening round.

The WRC season next moves to the Rally of Sweden, which will be held around Karlstad from February 12 to 14.