Thierry Neuville's crash on the final stage of the penultimate day of Rally Monte Carlo has handed Sebastien Ogier control of the event.
Neuville had led from the outset of the rally and had opened up a lead of over a minute in his Hyundai before the Belgian clipped a bank and damaged his i20 to the point where he dropped 30 minutes and blew any chance of a stunning maiden win at Monte Carlo.
"It was quite a slow left corner and on the exit the rear went wide and I hit something. I don't know what," Neuville said.
Instead Ogier, the four-time reigning world champion, will need to clear the four remaining stages tonight to claim another season-opening win but this time in the M-Sport Ford.
His teammate Ott Tanak holds down a comfortable second place and barring any late drama should be able to ensure a one-two finish for the British outfit.
