Ogier in control after dominant Monte Carlo Friday
Sports
Eight times world champion Sebastien Ogier won four of the day's six stages.
MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - Eight-times world champion Sebastien Ogier enjoyed a commanding lead in the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally after a dominant Friday in the French Alps.
Ogier, who is competing only part-time in this year s championship, won four of the day s six stages to build a 36 second buffer to Toyota team mate and reigning champion Kalle Rovanpera.
The Frenchman won both of Thursday s night stages and is chasing a ninth Monte Carlo win, one more than the record he shares with compatriot Sebastien Loeb.
Loeb, a nine-times world champion and last year s winner in Monte Carlo, is absent this time.
Toyota s Elfyn Evans, who had been second overnight, dropped down the order to fifth after losing 40 seconds to a puncture on stage five with Rovanpera in a tight battle with Hyundai s Thierry Neuville.
Ogier carried an extra spare tyre on board and said the risk of punctures meant he took things "a bit more easy" on the last stage.
"I m just happy to bring the car home tonight," he said.
M-Sport Ford s Ott Tanak was in fourth place, 16.3 seconds behind Neuville.
The rally ends on Sunday.
