Gap (AFP)
Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) finished day 2 of the Monte-Carlo rally Friday at the top of the provisional ranking, one of his main opponents, Ott Tänak (Hyundai), having been forced to retire after a violent outing of road.
The six-time world champion, who is trying to obtain a record of eight victories in this legendary event, is ahead of the British Elfyn Evans, also on Toyota, by 1.2 seconds and the Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) by 6.4 seconds.
The 4th is the French veteran Sébastien Loeb (Hyundai), who also has 7 victories in Monte-Carlo, but is relegated to more than a minute.
Tänak went out at more than 180 km / h on Friday morning during the 4th special stage. His car bit on the low side before hitting a slope with several rolls. He got out of his car on his own, as did his co-driver Martin Järveola.
The two men were, however, taken to hospital where they will remain under observation until Saturday morning.
Reigning world champion with Toyota last year, the Estonian did not succeed in getting started with his new South Korean team which had won the Constructors' World Championship.
Only Neuville, which has finished 2nd in the last four editions of the world championship, can still prevent the victory of the Toyota who have shown themselves above the lot by winning six of the eight special stages disputed since the start of the event on Thursday evening.
The Ardennes driver thus won the 8th special on Friday, the last of the day, showing that he intends to fight again for the final victory by Sunday.
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