Léo Rossel nears WRC2 victory as Lancia shows promise in Monte-Carlo

Léo Rossel leads the WRC2 category at Rallye Monte-Carlo heading into the final day, maintaining a cushion of one minute and 27.7 seconds. His consistent performance through Saturday’s demanding stages, which featured varying conditions from snow to slush, has positioned him as the firm favorite to claim victory.

The day was marked by the retirement of Nikolay Gryazin, who had been challenging for the lead in the new Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF. Gryazin’s exit on SS12 moved Roberto Daprà into second place, with Eric Camilli currently occupying third following a strong recovery drive. Meanwhile, Yohan Rossel impressed by setting competitive times against the top-tier Rally1 field despite earlier mechanical setbacks.

Completing the top five, category debutant Arthur Pelamourgues remains in contention with his Hyundai i20 N, followed by Chris Ingram in his Toyota GR Yaris. Competitors faced significant difficulty throughout the day, with Ingram noting the stages were among the most challenging he has encountered.