The eight-time Monte Carlo winner managed to stave off his charging Toyota team-mate Kalle Rovanpera to increase his general result in 17.2 seconds with two phases remaining on the alpine asphalt basic.
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville held onto third place regardless of struggling a half spin and hybrid points throughout Sunday morning’s loop.
The Belgian was 38.1s behind Ogier however comfortably away from the fourth-placed Toyota of Elfyn Evans, who additionally misplaced time to a spin.
M-Sport’s Ott Tanak elected to save lots of his tyres for the rally-ending powerstage and remained in fifth forward of Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota), Dani Sordo (Hyundai) and Esapekka Lappi (Hyundai).
After witnessing Rovanpera slash his lead on Saturday afternoon to 16.0s, Ogier issued a response on Sunday’s first stage.
The Frenchman blitzed the 18.82km Luceram – Lantosque check to assert his eighth stage win of the rally, beating Rovanpera by 2.7s within the course of to halt the Finn’s cost.
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
“Yesterday night time it appeared like folks have been doubtful, however to date I’m controlling my dangers,” mentioned Ogier.
“It’s extremely exact driving required between the mountains and stones, however a minimum of no cuts the place there’s a threat of punctures.”
There was loads of drama for his rivals. Neuville was fortunate to keep away from contact with the boundaries following a half spin at a hairpin left which he attributed to a hybrid mapping situation.
His Hyundai team-mate Sordo additionally suffered from the identical hybrid situation that stricken him on Saturday, and was additionally handed a 10s leap begin penalty, which initially dropped him to eighth within the general standings behind the positioning Hyundai of Lappi.
Nevertheless, officers rescinded the penalty after a fault was discovered with the countdown clock on the stage begin
After an encouraging Saturday, Lappi struggled for confidence behind the wheel of his i20 N and was unable to problem Sordo.
In the meantime, M-Sport’s Pierre-Louis Loubet, who rejoined the rally after Saturday’s retirement, was with out using his handbrake which prompted him to drop nearly two minutes. The problem was resolved for the subsequent stage.
The ultimate stage of the loop belonged to Rovanpera however he was unable to fully regain the time he misplaced to Ogier on the well-known Col de Turini stage (Stage 16). The world champion pipped Ogier by 1.5s, with Neuville third-fastest, an additional second again.
There was a small drama for Evans who suffered a half spin at tight hairpin left however it wasn’t sufficient to have any actual impact on the general standings.
“On the tight hairpin it was as if one thing had damaged for a split-second” mentioned Evans.
“I got here off the throttle and it spun fully round – it took me fully unexpectedly and I needed to cease and reverse. I took it a bit simple then for the remainder of the way in which up.”
In WRC2, Nikolay Gryazin managed to carry onto his lead however the Skoda driver had solely a 9.7s benefit over Citroen’s Yohan Rossel.
Crews will sort out a second go by way of the phases to conclude the rally in a while Sunday.
