The fight for victory and the first places is tightened in the Rally of Monza. Among the vehicles of the highest category (Rally1), we can say that everything is equal. After the first five stages, we have six drivers in just 25 seconds (not counting on a Rally2 like Mikkelsen’s).
Sebastien Ogier set the best time in SS-5, minimizing the advantage that Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo had. The Finn, with the Ford Fiesta WRC, remains in the lead, with Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio just 2.8 seconds behind. Ogier is third, just over ten seconds behind.
The Frenchman is pressing, as he is aware that he is only worth winning to put Elfyn Evans in trouble, fourth for the moment, six seconds behind his teammate, and the main rival in the fight for the long-awaited title. Ott Tänak is fifth and Kalle Rovanperä sixth, 19.6 and 25 seconds behind first place respectively.
Despite not finishing the second day, we already counted several abandonments: Thierry Neuville is one of them, after the suspension was broken in the previous section. Teemu Suninen has also been forced to give in by engine problems in the Ford Fiesta. Gus Greensmith and Takamoto Katsuta have also lost any options, but will remain in the race.
Belgian Hyundai driver Neuville will re-engage tomorrow with the aim of helping the brand in its fight for the Constructures Championship. Before reaching Monza, the Koreans led Toyota by six points. Let’s remember that the Japanese continue with their three cars in the race, but only the best two score points.
General classification after TC-5:
| 1. |  | Lappi/Ferm Ford Fiesta WRC | |
| 2. |  | Sordo/del Barrio Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | +2.8 |
| 3. |  | Ogier/Ingrassia Toyota Yaris WRC | +10.5 |
| 4. |  | Evans/Martin Toyota Yaris WRC | +16.6 |
| 5. |  | Tänak/Järveoja Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | +19.6 |
| 6. | | Rovanperä/Halttunen Toyota Yaris WRC | +25.0 |
