Jack Brodie with Reuters – France’s Sebastien Ogier (39) took a record ninth Monte Carlo Rally win after taking a 16-second lead over Toyota team mate Kalle Rovanpera into Sunday’s final four stages.

Ogier dominated from the start of this 91st edition marked by the total absence of snow and ice on the route.

“I think it should be enough. It was the most dangerous stage for punctures, so I took it easy and I am happy this stage is over now,” Ogier said after Saturday’s final 14th stage.

Finnish driver Rovanpera piled on the pressure by winning two of the three morning stages while Belgian Thierry Neuville, in third place for Hyundai and 32 seconds off the pace, won two in the afternoon before Rovanpera won again.
Elfyn Evans made it three Toyota Yaris drivers in the top four.

Compatriot and nine-times world champion Sebastien Loeb was not competing this time. He had won the Rally eight times.

FILE PHOTO: French driver Sebastien Ogier during the Neste Rally in Jyväskylä, Finland August 1, 2019. Lehtikuva/Roni Rekomaa/via REUTERS