Ogier wins Rally Monte Carlo

Sebastien Ogier is the 2015 Rally Monte Carlo champion, taking home the win over Jari-Matti Latvala by just about one minute.

Interestingly enough, Ogier only won 2 stages of the 15 specials that the drivers tackled over this four-day season opening event.

"Victory in Monte-Carlo means a lot - especially for me, so close to my home town, and at the first rally of the season. It's a huge challenge but the satisfaction is even more when you make it. Conditions were so tricky this year, but it has been the best atmosphere of a rally I have ever known,” Ogier told WRC.com.

Latvala, who was unable to win a single stage of the 15 on the rally, ended up second overall, and while he never saw the front of the pack he is happy with the result in tough condition.

"I'm delighted. This is much more than I expected, before the rally I was thinking fourth or fifth. I must thank my ice crew for their information,” said Latvala.

Loeb's bad luck

Despite ending the day eighth, rally legend Sebastien Loeb said he was happy with his performance after his suspension failure on day 2.

“It was great. Okay, disappointed because of the mistake, but I had some pleasure. I enjoyed the rally, a great atmosphere and great to be here.”

While 8^th is nothing to write home again, Loeb can go home with the satisfaction of knowing that he won the most stages of the rally.

Right behind him in stage wins, with 4, was Robert Kubica. The pole was flying on the roads of Monte Carlo, but inconsistency and numerous minor mistakes caused the former F1 driver to retire before the final stage with damage.

Kris Meeke, who drove past Kubica’s stopped car on the penultimate stage said “He went off after the finish. I stopped and spoke to him, he said he lost the brake pedal on the finish. He has gone into a wall."

Rounding out the top five was Andreas Mikkelsen, Mads Ostberg and German Thierry Neuville.