Mathematically, this situation remains favorable to Ogier, in the race for an eighth world title with a lead of 17 points and a maximum of 30 to be awarded on Sunday, Power Stage included.

To beat him, his Toyota teammate must score 18 points more than him.

If he won the event ahead of the French on Sunday, the Welshman would only catch seven.

"It was a very good day, I'm satisfied," said Ogier, leading the morning before conceding a little time in the afternoon.

"The first loop in the mountains went really well. I was a little more careful on the (Monza) circuit, with all the chicanes and obstacles that are easy to hit," he explains. .

"Suddenly, we gave up a little time, mainly because of a problem with the brakes in the 5th special. Without that (a loss he estimates at around five seconds, editor's note), we would still be in the lead."

"I focus on myself"

The seven-time world champion, who must finish ahead of his last rival or score at least 13 points to be crowned, ensures that his performance does not worry him.

“I focus on myself,” he repeats.

"The gaps are still small, he (Evans) isn't immune to making a mistake either."

"Clearly, we are starting from zero tomorrow (Saturday)", abounds his opponent, "happy with (his) car" but aware that he must progress in the mountainous specials, back in the morning.

The Briton Elfyn Evans at the wheel of his Toyota Yaris, on the Monza circuit on November 19, 2021 Andreas SOLARO AFP

"I do not know if I was not attacking enough or if something needs to be changed", develops the Briton.

"We know where we waste time: when it's slippery. We have to understand why. We're going to watch this tonight."

"The two cars are not very different, so there is not much to change. Maybe a detail here or there, or it is something that I do not do well," added the Welshman.

The third in the standings, Friday night, is Thierry Neuville, 21 sec 6 / 10th behind Evans, followed at three seconds by his Spanish teammate Dani Sordo, 4th.

The Belgian can only note the performance deficit of his Hyundai compared to Toyota.

“Still, the car drove well,” he says.

"But, obviously, the others manage to go faster. We made a few changes this afternoon, we will take them to the mountain stages tomorrow and we hope that we will be a little closer."

Brawl also among manufacturers

French hopeful Adrien Fourmaux (M-Sport Ford) was forced to retire for the day after an accident in the third special.

He will resume his rally on Saturday, as the regulations allow, but having plunged in the standings.

The constructors' title is also being played at Monza: Toyota is 47 steps ahead of Hyundai, with a maximum of 52 points to seize.

The Monza Rally has 16 stages (7 Friday, 6 Saturday and 3 Sunday) and 253.18 km timed, mainly on asphalt.

On Saturday, a loop of four mountainous ES is scheduled in the morning, from 7:38 a.m., before two specials on the legendary Monza circuit in the afternoon.

Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia, at the wheel of their Toyota, negotiate a bend during a special of the Monza rally, November 19, 2021 Andreas SOLARO AFP

Note also in WRC3, one of the lower categories, the fight for the title is played between the French Yohan Rossel and the Polish Kajetan Kajetanowicz, 127 points each.

Rossel currently has the advantage, in 10th place, but only 2 sec 9/10 ahead of Kajetanowicz.

From next year, the captain Ogier will no longer contest the full season but a few selected heats, without his historic co-driver Julien Ingrassia who is competing in his last rally in the WRC.

© 2021 AFP