After a fantastic morning in Monte carlo, Rally leader Jari Matti Latvala’s rally was turned up side down. literally. After mid day service Latvala went into the final loop of stages on day 1 with a 30 seconds lead over 8 times world rally champion & 5 times Monte winner Sebastien Loeb. Disaster hit him 10Km’s into the final stage of the day, when Latvala missed a pace note and rolled his Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Both Latvala and co-driver Mikka Antilla were ok but it put an end to their rally. Monte carlo has no ‘superRally’ regulations, after event organisers in 2012 have the option to use it or not, it will be the end for Latvala this week in Monaco.

This puts 5 times Monte winner Sebastien Loeb in front. Loeb is know for his unbeatable pace on asphalt, however with Monte’s unpredictable conditions and tactics on tyre choices, it could change very easily. With 4 days of the event still to go, anything could still happen.

Loeb has a 1 minute lead over 2nd placed Mini driver Dani Sordo, and Fords driver Petter Solberg in 3rd just 1 second behind. Day 2 kicks off at 9:33 local time with the 19Km La batie d’Andaure – Lalouvesc.

End of Day 1 Results
Loeb
Sordo +1:04.2
Petter +1:05.2
Ogier +2:21.1
Novikov +2:26.5
Hirvonen +2:30.0
Delecour +2:40.9