Sebastien Loeb enjoyed a flying start to his campaign to capture an eighth Monte Carlo Rally title when he edged out reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier after two stages of the 83rd edition of the event.
French pilot Sebastien Loeb takes the start of the Rally of Monte-Carlo in Monaco, on January 22, 2015
Loeb, a nine-time world champion, is racing in the championship for the first time in 15 months and his run for Citroen in Monte Carlo is his only scheduled appearance of the 2015 season.
But the 40-year-old, who triumphed in the wintry conditions of the Principality seven times between 2003 and 2013, shook off the cobwebs in stunning style on Thursday.
"It was OK, but there's a lot of gravel at every corner -- gravel and mud -- so it's very difficult," said the Frenchman, who ended the day with a 13.3sec lead over Ogier in a Volkswagen Polo.
Ogier had kicked-off the first stage as defending champion and, like most of his rivals, found the icy, 20km conditions a testing experience despite using studded Michelin tyres.
"It was frozen from start to finish so I started cautiously. The race is a long one," said the two-time world champion after the opening stage between Entrevaux and Rouaine which was being contested for the first time since 1983.
Loeb started his race 28 minutes behind his fellow Frenchman in 14th place and finished the stage 30 seconds ahead as the veteran took advantage of slightly milder driving conditions.
But Ogier hit back on the second stage between Norante and Digne-les-Bains via the famed Col du Corobin ascent.
"It was different with fewer traps," admitted 31-year-old Ogier who will still need to be first off on Friday when six stages will be contested.
On Wednesday, hundreds of spectators braved the rain and freezing temperatures to cheer on the returning Loeb who also led the shakedown in Gap.
"It's not a return because I'm just doing one rally, it's a passage," explained Loeb whose last full season was in 2013 when he announced his retirement before entering four races in 2014.
"I've come to enjoy myself, and to please the public, it's a little rally with Daniel (Elena, his co-driver) to relive some good memories.
"If we manage to join in the battle it would be even better but there are a lot of factors which will be difficult to manage."
Ogier said Wednesday that he was relaxed approaching his two-time title defence.
"I'm more relaxed at the start of this year because if things don't go as well (in Monaco and Sweden), I'll be better placed on the road in the following rallies and I'll have a less difficult task," he said.
"I feel that I'm heading for a strange season. The motivation is still there, but it's different."