Early lead for Tanak

Motorsport: Hyundai’s Ott Tanak took the early lead in the seasonopening Monte Carlo Rally yesterday after winning the first two stages in the French Alps.

The Estonian crashed heavily as reigning world champion last year but kept his car on the road this time as he finished the first 20.58km stage 3sec clear of Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera. Tanak added another 0.3sec advantage in the second stage from SaintMaurice to SaintBonnet.

Toyota’s Elfyn Evans was running third and Hyundai’s Belgian Thierry Neuville, last year’s Monte Carlo winner, was fourth. — Reuters