Solberg braves Alpine chaos to secure dominant early lead

Oliver Solberg has emerged from one of the most punishing opening legs in recent Rallye Monte-Carlo history with a commanding lead, as the 2026 World Rally Championship season began with a brutal cocktail of snow, ice, and blinding fog.

Driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing, Solberg mastered a treacherous Thursday night in the French Alps to end the opening leg 44.2 seconds clear of his teammate, Elfyn Evans.

A Decisive Move in the Dark

While Evans struck first by winning the wet opening stage at Toudon / Saint-Antonin, the rally shifted dramatically during the second test. Run in total darkness and coated in a lethal mix of slush and sheet ice, the Esclangon / Seyne-les-Alpes stage saw Solberg deliver a career-defining performance. He outpaced the entire field by a staggering 31.1 seconds in a single stage.

“My god, that is the craziest I have done in my life,” Solberg admitted at the stop line. “In the beginning, my driving was really bad, but then on the snow, I thought I’d just go for it.”

Safety Concerns and Red Flags

The final test of the night, Vaumeilh / Claret 1, provided a chaotic conclusion. Dense fog reduced visibility to near zero, forcing officials to red-flag the stage on safety grounds after only seven cars had finished. Notional times were applied to the remaining competitors.

Defending world champion Sébastien Ogier managed to set the fastest time among the early runners before the stoppage, climbing to third overall by the overnight halt. Despite the disruption, Solberg’s rhythm remained unbroken, allowing him to extend his cushion over Evans.

Standout Debuts and Ditch Drama

The night was equally significant for M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong. Making an assured Rally1 debut, Armstrong stunned the established stars with the third-fastest time on SS2. Despite a late-night overshoot and contact with a bank, he ended the leg in an impressive fifth place.

Meanwhile, others fought a battle of attrition:

• Thierry Neuville recovered from a difficult first stage to hold fourth.

• Adrien Fourmaux sits sixth, having briefly slid into a ditch during the heavy fog.

• Takamoto Katsuta and Grégoire Munster (battling power steering issues) occupy seventh and eighth.

• Hayden Paddon and WRC2 leaders Eric Camilli and Léo Rossel rounded out the top ten.

The extreme conditions claimed their first major casualties early on; both Sami Pajari and Josh McErlean retired after sliding off the road during the icy second stage.

Standings after Thursday (SS3 / 17)