The 24-year-old Toyota Gazoo Racing driver carries a commanding 59.3-second lead into Sunday’s final leg. If converted into victory, it would see Solberg surpass Sébastien Ogier’s long-standing 2009 benchmark to become the youngest winner of the iconic event.

Saturday concluded with SS13, a super special stage run on part of Monaco’s Grand Prix circuit. It marked the first competitive WRC stage in the Principality since 2008, with spectators lining the harbour in heavy rain as rally cars echoed between yachts and grandstands.

Earlier in the day, Solberg’s rally nearly unravelled on the second pass of La Bréole / Bellaffaire. Caught out by rapidly changing conditions, he slid through a fence and into a snow-covered field. The Swede managed to keep his GR Yaris Rally1 moving, rejoin the road and still set the fastest time on the stage.

“I don’t know what happened, I was so careful the whole stage,” Solberg said. “I tried to follow the ruts and on the exit it was just full snow. I was very lucky to get out of it.

“It’s been a fantastic day and a fantastic week so far. It’s really tricky out there, as everyone’s seen. I think everyone’s been off a little bit everywhere, but I’m in a good position. Tomorrow will probably be another crazy day.”

Behind him, the fight for the remaining podium positions continued to intensify. Elfyn Evans strengthened his hold on second overall and now holds a 26.0-second advantage over 10-time Monte-Carlo winner Sébastien Ogier. The Frenchman applied pressure earlier by winning SS10 before adopting a more cautious approach as snow gave way to slush and mud in the afternoon.

Adrien Fourmaux remained Hyundai’s leading runner in fourth overall after a demanding day managing grip in deep ruts. Team-mate Thierry Neuville recovered to fifth despite losing time with a spin on SS12.

M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong continued to impress on his Rally1 debut, holding sixth overall despite an early puncture. There was disappointment for Hayden Paddon, however. The New Zealander slid off the road and became stuck in a field on SS12, dropping to 13th overall. The same stage also claimed Sami Pajari, who retired after hitting a tree.

WRC2 leader Léo Rossel sits seventh overall, ahead of Grégoire Munster and Takamoto Katsuta, who recovered to ninth after power steering issues on Friday. With Nikolay Gryazin also retiring on SS12, Roberto Daprà completes the top 10.

Sunday’s finale features four stages and 71.9 kilometres of competition, including two passes over the legendary Col de Turini.