Elfyn equals his best finish in legendary event.
Elfyn got his 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season off to a strong start with second place on the legendary Rallye Monte Carlo, helping his Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team secure a maximum points haul with a 1-2 finish.
As usual the rally brought a wide range of changeable conditions during the weekend, with dry asphalt stages in the mountains of the French Alps also featuring sections of ice as well as plenty of mud and gravel being dragged onto the road.
Based in Gap, it provided a challenging first event for the teams and drivers with the revised technical package for 2025, with the top class of Rally1 cars no longer featuring hybrid units and also running on Hankook tyres for the first time.
Elfyn started strong setting a fastest time on one of Thursday’s three iconic night stages, ending the evening in second place, two seconds behind leader Neuville and nearly 11 ahead of nine-time winner and team-mate Sebastien Ogier.
Friday brought some early-morning frost and ice with roads getting covered in mud on the second pass as drivers cut corners to find the fastest line. Elfyn moved into the lead after Friday’s first stage but had slipped to second by the end of the day as local hero Ogier moved ahead.
Saturday offered similar challenges with altitude changes over the mountains keeping conditions really inconsistent. Elfyn continued his string of solid times to hold second going into the final day.
Sunday’s final three stages brought much excitement about tyre choices, with drivers opting for a mix of studded, snow and dry weather tyres. But Elfyn cut through the noise to finish runner-up to Ogier, his equal best result on the Monte, and sealed extra points with first place on the Super Sunday classification and second best time on the Power Stage. Sealing an excellent 1-2 for Toyota Gazoo Racing, he holds second in the championship ahead of round two at Rally Sweden.
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