Bryan Bouffier has taken the 2014 WRC Monte Carlo Rally lead after posting the fastest time on the event’s third special stage; the Frenchman was down in 8th overall after SS2, but a stark improvement on SS3 amid changing conditions catapulted him to first place overall.
Bouffier leads ahead of Citroen’s Kris Meeke and Hyundai’s Dani Sordo; the latter is the sole Hyundai driver contesting the event up to this point as teammate Thierry Neuville crashed out just a few kilometers into SS1.
Robert Kubica made a stellar start to his debut with the M-Sport outfit as he went quickest on the day’s first two stages, taking the lead in the process, but he lost out to three of his rivals on SS3 and currently lies fourth overall.
Volkswagen’s 2013 Champion Sebastien Ogier is sturggling for pace; the Frenchman is seventh overall behind Citroen’s Mads Ostberg and more than a minute off the lead.
Overall results after SS3:
