Seven-time World Rally champion co-driver and five-time Monte Carlo Rally winner Daniel Elena was delighted with his 52nd position on this year's Monte, which finished in the early hours of this morning. The Monegasque swapped to the driving seat for the opening round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, rather than co-driving for Sebastien Loeb.
Elena guided his Citroen DS3 RS through the three-day event without any major problems – but only just scraped into the final night's action. The organizers had established a cut-off, with only the top 60 crews permitted to contest last night's four-stage loop, including the Col de Turini. Elena was the 60th car in.
"It was a very special privilege, not just to finish the rally, but to drive the Turini last night," he said. "I had a big enjoyment on this rally, but now I have another more important job to do."
Elena returns to a slightly faster DS3 – the World Rally Car version – and his day job in next month's Rally Sweden, the opening round of the WRC.