In fact, they didn’t give the competition a chance. By the end of the first stage, Evans and Ogier were separated from the rest of the field by more than 20 seconds, even separated by only 1.4 seconds.
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia.
Although a second place would have been enough for Ogier to win the title, he never dreamed of driving for safety. On the contrary: He continued to attack Evans at full risk. In the course of the second stage he turned the tables and reached the goal of the day with a lead of a wafer-thin 0.5 seconds over his teammate. The Spaniard Dani Sordo, third fastest Hyundai works driver, was almost 30 seconds behind.
Rival Evans, on the other hand, lost luck. He stalled the engine of his Yaris WRC twice. This finally decided the victory duel, during which Ogier and Evans swapped places at the top six times.
“Elfyn really put me under pressure to the last meter. If my contact with the concrete barrier had turned out differently, he would now be world champion. I haven’t had such a strong opponent in a long time, ”said Ogier.
The 2022 World Championship season starts with the Monte Carlo Rally from January 20 to 23. Then the new, over 500 hp World Rally Cars with hybrid drive will celebrate their premiere.
Result Rally Monza
2. Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (Toyota Yaris WRC), +7.3 seconds
3. Dani Sordo / Cándido Carrera (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC), +21.3 seconds
4. Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC), +32.0 seconds
5. Oliver Solberg / Elliott Edmondson (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC), +1: 32.0 minutes
6. Teemu Suninen / Mikko Markkula (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC), +2: 22.6 minutes
Final result of the World Championship after 12 rallies
1. Sébastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris WRC), 230 points
2. Elfyn Evans (Toyota Yaris WRC), 207 points
3. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC), 176 points
4. Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris WRC), 142 points
5. Ott Tänak (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC), 128 points
6. Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC), 81 points
