January 20, 2017 – The Monte Carlo Rally, opening round of the 2017 WRC, got off to a tragic start as a spectator died following a crash for Hayden Paddon in the first special stage on Thursday.
Paddon lost control of his Hyundai i20 WRC on an icy section and crashed into a bank where a spectator was standing. The spectator was transported by helicopter from the stage to a hospital in Nice. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, the spectator sadly died.
Paddon’s crash led to the cancellation of the first special stage, while the second special was won by his Hyundai team-mate Thierry Neuville who now provisionally leads the rally.
M-Sport’s Ogier is second overall, followed by Toyota’s Juho Hanninen who rounds out the top 3.
Overall standings after SS2:
| Pos | # | Driver | Time | Diff Prev | Diff 1st |
| 1. | 5 | T. NEUVILLE | 15:01.1 | ||
| 2. | 1 | S. OGIER | 15:08.9 | +7.8 | +7.8 |
| 3. | 11 | J. HANNINEN | 15:16.1 | +7.2 | +15.0 |
| 4. | 7 | K. MEEKE | 15:16.9 | +0.8 | +15.8 |
| 5. | 2 | O. TANAK | 15:20.5 | +3.6 | +19.4 |
| 6. | 3 | E. EVANS | 15:22.1 | +1.6 | +21.0 |
| 7. | 14 | C. BREEN | 15:26.5 | +4.4 | +25.4 |
| 8. | 6 | D. SORDO | 15:27.7 | +1.2 | +26.6 |
| 9. | 10 | J. LATVALA | 15:29.5 | +1.8 | +28.4 |
| 10. | 31 | A. MIKKELSEN | 15:59.5 | +30.0 | +58.4 |
