One can say he might have started the season with the wrong foot, but since the final result is what counts, Sébastien Ogier (VW) couldn't have asked for a better way to open the race for another world title and the defense of his crown. After running as low as ninth overall on Day 1, the Gaul made his attack on the lead held by his countryman Bryan Bouffier (Ford) and reached the first spot half way through Day 2, and started to increase his advantage at the front to grant the first victory of the year with a 1m18,9s margin over the rest.
Meanwhile, Bouffier had quite an opposite rally. He did run as low as fourth on SS2 after finishing second on the first stage, but by the third time the drivers face the roads he grabbed the lead and held to it until he found himself with no arguments to prevent Ogier from passing him.
Behind the top 2, Kris Meeke (Citroën) never manage to be a great opposition to Bouffier, always running behind him and dropping from the second spot as soon as Ogier started to show all his experience. Even so, he was always very consistent, with most of his stage results inside the top 4.
Outside the rostrum, Mads Ostberg (Citroën) never quite manage to take the fight to the top 3, the same being said about Ogier's teammate, Jari-Matti Latvala, who finished more than six minutes behind the Gaul.
Elfyn Evans (Ford), Andreas Mikkelsen (VW), Jaroslav Melichárek (Ford), Matteo Gamba (Peugeot) and Yuri Protasov (Ford) ended inside the top 10, with Mikko Hirvonen (Ford) loosing lots of time due to alternator problems that started on SS14, a stage that was cancelled after Melichárek got suck and blocked the road after loosing traction in the heavy snow.
The World Rally Championship will now return for the second round in Sweden, from February 2nd until the 8th.
One can say he might have started the season with the wrong foot, but since the final result is what counts, Sébastien Ogier (VW) couldn't have asked for a better way to open the race for another world title and the defense of his crown. After running as low as ninth overall on Day 1, the Gaul made his attack on the lead held by his countryman Bryan Bouffier (Ford) and reached the first spot half way through Day 2, and started to increase his advantage at the front to grant the first victory of the year with a 1m18,9s margin over the rest.
Meanwhile, Bouffier had quite an opposite rally. He did run as low as fourth on SS2 after finishing second on the first stage, but by the third time the drivers face the roads he grabbed the lead and held to it until he found himself with no arguments to prevent Ogier from passing him.
Behind the top 2, Kris Meeke (Citroën) never manage to be a great opposition to Bouffier, always running behind him and dropping from the second spot as soon as Ogier started to show all his experience. Even so, he was always very consistent, with most of his stage results inside the top 4.
Outside the rostrum, Mads Ostberg (Citroën) never quite manage to take the fight to the top 3, the same being said about Ogier's teammate, Jari-Matti Latvala, who finished more than six minutes behind the Gaul.
Elfyn Evans (Ford), Andreas Mikkelsen (VW), Jaroslav Melichárek (Ford), Matteo Gamba (Peugeot) and Yuri Protasov (Ford) ended inside the top 10, with Mikko Hirvonen (Ford) loosing lots of time due to alternator problems that started on SS14, a stage that was cancelled after Melichárek got suck and blocked the road after loosing traction in the heavy snow.
The World Rally Championship will now return for the second round in Sweden, from February 2nd until the 8th.