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Sébastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Sébastien Loeb, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team

How Monte masters stole the show as WRC's hybrid era blasted off

The new Rally1 hybrid cars made their competition debuts in Monte Carlo, but it was two semi-retired drivers who took centre stage in a thrilling battle between two of the World Rally Championship's most successful names. Here's how Sebastien Loeb completed a remarkable return on his M-Sport debut by beating reigning champion Sebastien Ogier

The 90th edition of the storied Monte Carlo Rally will be remembered for generations. Monte Carlo welcomed a new, unpredictable Rally1 hybrid era but it was a couple of semi-retired elder statesmen that stole the show, as World Rally Championship legends Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier starred in an enthralling battle for the ages.

Imagine Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher going head-to-head almost at their peak - this was rallying’s equivalent. When it was announced that nine-time champion Loeb would be making a WRC comeback at the Monte with M-Sport Ford, it set tongues wagging, especially once newly crowned eight-time champion Ogier confirmed the famous event would feature in his now scaled-down partial programme for Toyota.

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