M-Sport Ford's Josh McErlean finished an impressive seventh on his WRC debut as Toyota's Sebastien Ogier made a perfect start to the season with a record-extending 10th Monte Carlo Rally victory on Sunday.
Eight-time world champion Ogier beat Welsh team-mate Elfyn Evans by 18.5 seconds after the final three stages on the icy, mud-spattered asphalt roads in the French Alps around his hometown of Gap.
Hyundai's French driver Adrien Fourmaux finished a strong third in his first season with the team after moving from M-Sport Ford.
Ogier showed his Monte Carlo mastery by leading from Friday and also winning the final power stage, taking in the icy Col de Turini, for a bonus five points.
He leads the standings with 33 points to Evans's 26 and Fourmaux's 20.
Toyota top the manufacturers' championship with 60 to Hyundai's 36.
"I have no idea if it is my last one (Monte Carlo Rally) now," said Ogier, 41 and again competing only part time this season. "It would be a good place to stop."
Hyundai's reigning champion Thierry Neuville finished sixth, after starting the day eighth, with Toyota's double champion Kalle Rovanpera fourth on his return to full-time action and Hyundai's Ott Tanak fifth.
Derryman McErlean started the day in ninth, but showed composure to bely his years to improve two places.
The next round is on snow and ice in Sweden from 13-16 February.
