Thierry Neuville finishes opening leg of Rallye Monte-Carlo with narrow two second lead

NARROW LEAD: Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundiaii20 N Rally1) lead the way after the opening leg of Rallye Monte-Carlo, the first round of the World Rally Championship. Picture: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool.

Reigning World Rally champion Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) finished the opening leg of Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the World Rally Championship, with a narrow two second lead over Welsh ace Elfyn Evans (Toyota GR Rally1), whose team mate Sebastien Ogier lost the lead with a spin on the night's third and final stage. Making their debut at the top tier of the WRC, the Irish crew of Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) made a cautious start and hold twelfth overnight.

It came as no surprise when "Monte Master" Ogier set the best time on the opening 19km stage 3.9s ahead of his team mate Elfyn Evans with Neuville, with the # 1 decals on the side of his Hyundai i20 Rally1, half a second further behind in third. This season's Rally1 cars are without hybrid power but the biggest transition for many drivers is adapting to Hankook tyres. At the end of the stage Neville reflected, "It was different. First time in these conditions with this tyre, just trying to discover. Don't know where the grip will change, tricky conditions. We will work on the car and try to understand."