Gap (AFP)
Estonian Ott Tänak, in 3rd position after the 7th special, abandoned the Rallye Monte-Carlo after two punctures during the 8th and 9th stages on Saturday, the Hyundai driver announced on Twitter.
"Unfortunately we have to give up the rally because we had two punctures and only one spare wheel. No restart possible on Sunday (last day of Monte-Carlo, editor's note) due to the rules of the event," said the champion of the world 2019.
This sector of Monte-Carlo along the Durance to the east of Gap definitely did not succeed in Tänak, who had made a spectacular exit from the road at over 180 km / h last year.
This time no accident but two punctures in two specials for the 33-year-old Estonian, who was still in the race this morning to win his first Monte-Carlo, just 25.3 seconds behind ex-leader Elfyn Evans .
In the standings after nine specials out of 14, the seven-time world champion Sébastien Ogier regained the lead on Saturday.
He is 14.3 seconds and 50.3 seconds ahead of his two teammates at Toyota Evans and Kalle Rovanperä respectively.
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