Ogier nets Monte-Carlo treble

World champion Sébastien Ogier completed a hat-trick of Rallye Monte-Carlo victories on Sunday afternoon in the opening round of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship.

The Volkswagen Polo R driver won the four-day event on snow, ice and clear asphalt roads in the French Alps by 1min 54.5sec from team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen.

Thierry Neuville finished third in Hyundai’s new-specification i20, a further 1min 23.4sec back, despite limping through the final speed tests with a transmission problem.

Ogier also won the closing live TV Power Stage to claim three bonus points. Dani Sordo took two points for second in his i20, while Mikkelsen claimed the final point in third.

More news to follow.