Legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo opens 52nd WRC season
Posted: January 22, 2024 10:33 AM
The curtain rises on a brand-new FIA World Rally Championship season this week as the world’s toughest motorsport series roars back into action at the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo (25 – 28 January).
Thirteen rounds await across four continents during the WRC’s 52nd season. Kicking off the new year in style, this week’s famous fixture has attracted a capacity entry of 70 cars.
Rallye Monte-Carlo, the oldest fixture on the WRC calendar and arguably the most unpredictable rally of the year, moves its base away from the Principality of Monaco and back into the French alpine town of Gap, where it was most recently based in 2021. The relatively straightforward asphalt roads high in the mountains are complicated by winter weather, placing an emphasis on cunning tyre choices.
Tactical twists: New points structure adds fresh dimension
The WRC now features a revamped points system that brings more excitement and intrigue to the rally’s closing stages on Sunday morning. The structure awards up to 18 points based on the general classification after Saturday, up to a further seven points for performances on Sunday, and maintains the traditional five bonus points for the rally-ending Wolf Power Stage.
These updates maintain the core concept of determining an overall rally victor. As always, the crew with the lowest total time across the entire event will be crowned the winner.
Driver line-ups: Market shuffles and fresh faces
Reigning manufacturers’ champion Toyota Gazoo Racing fields three cars for the season opener, led by last year’s runner-up Elfyn Evans who is starting his fifth season with the team. The Welshman is joined by Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta, who steps up to a full-time seat in one of Toyota’s point-scoring GR Yaris Rally1 cars. Nine-time Monte-Carlo winner Sébastien Ogier pilots the third Yaris while reigning world champion Kalle Rovanperä will complete a partial programme for Toyota in 2024, starting in Sweden next month.
Hyundai Motorsport has re-signed Ott Tänak after the Estonian spent last season with M-Sport Ford. Tänak won nine rallies with the Korean manufacturer between 2020 and 2022. Now he aims to make history and land a maiden drivers’ crown for the marque, having previously claimed the title himself behind the wheel of a Yaris in 2019.
Five-time championship runner-up Thierry Neuville of Belgium leads the i20 N Rally1 attack with Tänak, while reigning WRC2 champion Andreas Mikkelsen – back at WRC’s top level for the first time since 2019 - returns to pilot the team’s third car this week. He will alternate drives with Spain’s Dani Sordo and Finland’s Esapekka Lappi throughout the season.
M-Sport Ford fields a youthful line-up with Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster both tackling full campaigns aboard Puma Rally1 cars. Frenchman Fourmaux returns full-time to Rally1 with M-Sport, having competed in WRC2 – the WRC’s main support category - in 2023, while 2024 marks Munster’s first full season at the pinnacle of rallying, making him the first Luxembourger to achieve the feat.
Monte master Ogier aims to break records
Ogier bids for a record 10th Rallye Monte-Carlo victory on roads close to his birthplace near the host town of Gap. But the 40-year-old is taking nothing for granted, knowing exactly how challenging the roads can be.
“For me this is a must-do event and there’s a lot of hopes for this first rally,” he said. “I think it’s the rally that you need to respect more than any other as the conditions can be so challenging, which means that nothing is guaranteed. Numbers are never my main motivation, but if I could get a 10th win on this event it would be something very special.”
The rally starts in Monaco’s Casino Square on Thursday afternoon. Competitors face 17 speed tests covering 324.44km before Sunday afternoon’s finish back in downtown Monaco.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing launches 2024 WRC challenge at iconic opener
Posted: January 22, 2024 10:31 AM
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team will target a successful start to the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship at the famous Rallye Monte-Carlo on January 25-28.
The team enters the new season with strong ambitions having won a hat-trick of manufacturers’, drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles in each of the past three years. It continues to develop and improve the GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID to make it even stronger: the engine has been updated to further improve response at low speeds, and the torque curve has been improved. Meanwhile, the car has a dramatically different look for the new season thanks to a bold matte black livery.
While the technical regulations remain stable, a radical change has been made to the WRC points system for 2024, aimed at enhancing the sporting spectacle on the final day of rallies. Points will now be allocated based on the positions at the end of Saturday on a scale of 18-15-13-10-8-6-4-3-2-1, although crews must still reach the finish of the rally on Sunday to be awarded these points. A separate classification will combine all of Sunday’s stages and award points on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. The rally-ending Power Stage remains in place offering up to five bonus points.
TGR-WRT will aim high at Rallye Monte-Carlo with a driver line-up that includes Sébastien Ogier, who in 2023 claimed his record ninth victory on the event, which is once more based in his hometown of Gap in the French Alps. Elfyn Evans was championship runner-up last year with three victories, including the final round in Japan, and has a strong past record in Monte Carlo with a best finish of second in 2021. Takamoto Katsuta graduates from the TGR WRC Challenge Program into a full-time place in the factory line-up this year and has finished in the points on his four previous Monte starts in the top category.
The oldest and best-known event on the WRC calendar, Rallye Monte-Carlo is also considered one of the most demanding thanks to the often-changeable weather conditions, which can bring ice and snow to the asphalt roads. Tyre choice is therefore crucial, with an expanded range of rubber – some fitted with studs – available to suit the conditions.
The service park returns to Gap following two years in Monaco itself. The Principality will still host the start ceremony on Thursday afternoon before two night-time stages closer to Gap. On Friday there’s a return for three stages just to the east of Gap, each run twice either side of mid-day service. Saturday follows a similar format with three repeated tests to the west of Gap, including the Les Nonières stage which last featured in 1997.
The final leg on Sunday starts from Gap with a third visit to Friday’s La Bréole-Selonnet stage, followed by a single pass over the Col du Corobin from Digne-Les-Bains. The rally-ending Power Stage is an uphill blast towards the legendary Col de Turini, before the official prize giving in Monaco’s Casino Square.
Rallye Monte-Carlo will also be the competitive WRC debut of the GR Yaris Rally2. Four cars will be in action, fielded by four different customer teams: Printsport for Sami Pajari, Burton Racing for Stéphane Lefebvre, ERACE WRT for Bryan Bouffier, and Teo Martín Motorsport for Jan Solans. Lefebvre, Bouffier and Solans are all entered to score WRC2 points on round one.
In another exciting debut, the Special Edition GR Yaris models of Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä will be revealed in Casino Square in Monaco on Thursday at 14:45 before the rally start.
Quotes:
Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)
“We have enjoyed some fantastic success over the last few seasons and we naturally hope to continue this in 2024. We expect an even greater challenge and it will be even tougher to claim all the titles. To win the manufacturers’ championship once again will be our primary target, and if we can achieve the drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles too, that would be a really great bonus. Our team is working hard all the time to develop the car through the season and make it an ever-better car. With Rallye Monte-Carlo, we start with one of the most demanding rallies, and I think a good weekend there can really give you a confidence boost. So Elfyn and Taka will be trying to make the best possible starts to their seasons, and it’s always exciting to have Seb driving with us on his home roads where he has been so strong before. We’re also really excited to see the GR Yaris Rally2 in action: after testing we’re feeling confident in the car, but it’s only now in competition that we can really see the level it’s at and gather more feedback for future development.”
Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin
Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)
“It’s always exciting to start a new season, especially with Rallye Monte-Carlo. The 2023 season was a nice progression for us that showed we’re going in the right direction. Of course, we want even more in 2024 but it’s not going to be easy to achieve that. We know that the competition will be tough like usual, so as a team we’re always working to continually improve and we’re ready to give this season our best shot. With Rallye Monte-Carlo moving north again this year, we’re much more likely to see wintery conditions forming part of the challenge. We had some tricky conditions in our pre-event test, so that provided some good practice, but this rally is all about adapting to whichever conditions we face during the weekend.”
Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais
Sébastien Ogier (Driver car 17)
“I’m happy to be at the start of another season after all these years, and I take this opportunity with both hands. The last couple of years have been good fun with the team and we managed to secure some good results. I think we want to keep going this way as long as we can and that’s the plan for 2024, starting with Rallye Monte-Carlo of course. For me this is a must-do event and there’s a lot of hopes for this first rally. I think it’s the rally that you need to respect more than any other as the conditions can be so challenging, which means that nothing is guaranteed. Numbers are never my main motivation, but if I could get a 10th win on this event it would be something very special.”
Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston
Takamoto Katsuta (Driver car 18)
“It’s always nice to be back in the mountains around Monte Carlo ready to start a new season. Every year there is more expectation but I like this pressure and I want to fight at the front, so I will try to have even better results in 2024. I want to be consistently in the podium fight, and to try to get a first victory. I will enjoy it and keep pushing the limits and working hard. The engineers are pushing a lot to improve the car further and I can feel in the factory that everybody is working hard, so I’m confident that we can be even better than last year. Rallye Monte-Carlo is one of the trickiest rallies in terms of the conditions with difficult tyre choices, but we’re up for the challenge.”
Hyundai Motorsport is refreshed and ready to return to the stages for its 11th season in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) at the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo.
The treacherous mixed-conditions event will host the opening round of the WRC season for the 44th time in 2024. This year features an updated itinerary, with the stages and service park returning to the south-eastern French town of Gap, approximately 300km away from the Monegasque capital.
The mountainous region also sits 745 metres above sea level, making it France’s highest prefecture. The increased altitude is set to provide colder conditions than the most recent editions of Rallye Monte-Carlo over the past few years. This will bring snow and ice into play, adding unpredictability and treachery to the tarmac roads.
Representing Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team will be three highly experienced crews. Previous event winner Thierry Neuville will once again be joined by co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe, as the pair embark on a fourth season together. Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja, who will compete alongside the Belgians at every WRC event in 2024, will be looking to mark their return to the team with a positive result.
Hyundai Motorsport’s third and final entry is another familiar face in the form of Andreas Mikkelsen. With co-driver Torstein Eriksen, the reigning WRC2 champion will be targeting a strong debut in the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid.
All three crews took part in a pre-event test last week to prepare themselves for the conditions of the opening round of the year. This time in the car was particularly valuable for Mikkelsen, who has not competed in the top class of rallying since the hybrid regulations were introduced in 2022.
The 324.44km-long itinerary of Rallye Monte-Carlo 2024 begins with two Thursday evening stages, adding the jeopardy of sub-zero temperatures and dark skies to the already demanding roads. Friday and Saturday both consist of six gruelling tests, however it is Saturday that boasts the longest competitive distance of the event at 120.40km. Three stages on Sunday, including the rally’s Power Stage, will round off the weekend.
Hyundai Motorsport President and Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said: “We are really looking forward to return to the stages for the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship season. Considering the itinerary and the current weather outlook, I expect this edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo will be very different to the event we experienced last year. Our goal is to have a clean weekend and maximise the opportunity of the fresh start. It is a long season, and we have two new drivers in the car in Ott and Andreas, so we have to expect that they may need time to find their feet in the tricky conditions. It will also be everyone’s first time competing with the updated points-scoring system, which will add a new dynamic to the event. We hope to perform well, and I believe we have everything in place to do just that.”
Crew Notes: Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (#11 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)
Neuville begins 11th season with Hyundai Motorsport
Pair has claimed two podiums together at Monte-Carlo
Neuville said: “I’m glad to be able to continue my journey with Hyundai in my 11th season with the team. They have shown me a lot of trust and I have helped them develop the car over the last two years. Our 2024 targets are to push hard for both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships, and the first step to achieving that is to perform well at Monte Carlo. It’s a challenging event due to the unpredictable weather conditions and varying surface profile, especially on the night stages. We have been competitive there in the past and know what it takes to stand on the podium. This year we are going to try for the best possible result, which we hope will be towards the front of the field.”
Crew Notes: Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (#8 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)
Estonian crew re-join Hyundai Motorsport after a year away
Event will be Tänak’s 150th WRC start
Tänak said: “Starting the season at Monte-Carlo is always a challenge. This year the event is moving back to the Gap region, so we are expecting the conditions to be mixed and tricky, with the potential of more snow and ice than we have had the past few seasons. Although we only had one day at the test, we were quite lucky with the conditions, as we were able to run on slick tyres in addition to experiencing wetter and icier roads. Overall, the feeling in the car was good and we found a nice rhythm. Our target at the rally itself is to achieve a podium finish, but of course we will push for the best result possible.”
Crew Notes: Andreas Mikkelsen/Torstein Eriksen (#9 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)
Norwegians claimed WRC2 victory at Rally Monte-Carlo in 2022
Eriksen to make 50th start in WRC
Mikkelsen said: “Coming back to the top class of rally from WRC2 is really exciting, and it feels really very good to return with Hyundai Motorsport. A completely new car and regulations creates a different environment for me, but it I am ready to take on the challenge. I’m very happy to be starting with Monte-Carlo this year – it’s an exciting rally with so many factors at play. Tyre choice and strategy plays a big part in success there, which means it is possible to achieve a good result even when you don’t know the car so well and haven’t found maximum pace. I want to finish the rally in the best position possible, and after a win here in WRC2 in 2022, I am determined to push until the very last stage to collect as many points as we can.”
Weekend at a Glance
Rallye Monte-Carlo starts on Thursday evening with SS1 Thoard / Saint-Geniez (21.01km), followed by SS2 Bayons / Bréziers (25.19km), by the longest stage of the rally
Friday’s two loops of St-Léger-les-Mélèzes / La Bâtie-Neuve (16.68km), Champcella / Saint-Clément (17.87km) and La Bréole / Selonnet (18.31km) covers a distance of 105.72km
With the longest competitive distance of the weekend, Saturday’s six-stage itinerary boasts a total of 120.40km
Sunday rounds up the weekend with three stages, including the weekend’s Power Stage: SS17 La Bollène-Vésubie / Col de Turini (14.80km).
M-SPORT SET FOR SCENIC SEASON OPENER ON RALLYE MONTE-CARLO
Posted: January 22, 2024 10:27 AM
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team is prepared to make its mark on the season opener of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship, as Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster will line up in a pair of Ford Puma Rally1s to take on the challenges of Rallye Monte-Carlo.
Marking its 92nd edition this year, the famous Rallye Monte-Carlo still stands out as one of the most demanding rallies on the WRC calendar. Kicking off in the iconic setting of Monte-Carlo’s Casino Square, the rally then sets-up camp in Gap Hautes-Alpes until Sunday, when it returns to Monaco for a picturesque finish. Crews will navigate stunning, yet intricate mountain passes as they grapple with winter conditions, where snowfall narrows roads and introduces unpredictable levels of grip. The only mixed-surface event in the WRC season, understanding the changing road conditions adds an extra layer of complexity to the crews' task as they make their crucial tyre selections during morning and midday services.
Covering a total competitive distance of 325 kilometres from Thursday to Sunday, Fourmaux and Munster, with co-drivers Alexandre Coria and Louis Louka, will look to focus on precision whilst carefully building speed throughout the weekend. Both crews conducted two days of pre-event testing earlier this week and are feeling confident to take on the challenges facing them in Gap. Rallye Monte-Carlo will serve as a crucial platform for both drivers to continue to learn the intricacies of the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, laying a foundation for their performances throughout the season.
Fourmaux is the only French contender contesting a full-season in Rally1 and following an impressive 2023 campaign, where he secured the British Rally Championship title and showcased remarkable performances in WRC2 with M-Sport, he earned a well-deserved promotion to Rally1 for the season finale in Japan which has laid the groundwork to secure him his full time Rally1 seat for 2024.
Familiar with the Puma after his adventures in Chile and Central European rallies in 2023, Munster is yet to face the unique challenges of Monte-Carlo in Rally1 machinery. Nevertheless, his track record in WRC2 demonstrates his ability to deliver consistent performances, securing numerous top-five positions and showing constant development throughout the last few seasons. Munster's promotion to Rally1 reflects M-Sport's commitment to nurturing young talent and helping them to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Rallye Monte-Carlo will also mark the debut of the team’s new livery for 2024, revealed at Autosport International Show last week. This season’s Ford Puma Rally1 retains its characteristic lightning-bolt style, but instead features bold blue striping on a predominantly white body, inspired by heritage Ford liveries from the 1980s. The fresh look offers a unique and updated livery that is already a firm-favourite with long-standing Ford and M-Sport fans.
Richard Millener, Team Principal, said:
“It’s hard to believe we’re already heading out to Monte-Carlo, it feels like yesterday we finished the 2023 season in Japan! It has been a tight turnaround as usual, but thanks to the hard work and dedication of our team at Dovenby Hall and beyond we are ready to take on the challenges of Monte-Carlo.
“Monte is a notoriously tough event to start the season with, but we feel that both Adrien and Grégoire are prepared for what’s ahead of them. The key for both will be to focus on the bigger picture, you need get to the finish of this rally. It is the first in a long season and consistency for us will be key. The new points system also allows us to get points in the bag throughout the weekend and this is what we are aiming for here.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what both drivers can achieve, we have less pressure than last year, but nonetheless we’re coming in with a strong aim of performing to the highest level. “
Adrien Fourmaux said:
“Our Monte-Carlo test went really well and I had a really good feeling with the car on the mixed conditions that we had on the first day. It’s been positive and I was really happy to be back in a Rally1 car. On the second day we had a full snow stage, with some tarmac also, but it will be a really interesting drive if the snow comes for the rally. It doesn’t seem like we will have that much snow, but at least we are prepared, we never know in the mountains!
“So now we feel really prepared, but we know that at Monte Carlo you need to be humble. You need to have a lot of respect for this rally; especially this year as we go back into the Alps in the proper mountainous areas, where you can have really difficult conditions with snow and ice. So, for sure it will be a tough one, as it normally is in this area of France, but the real challenge will be the weather and the condition of the stages.”
Grégoire Munster said:
“During pre-season testing we had two good days, one in the snow and one on tarmac. On the snow it went very well, and even though we are not sure if we are going to have those conditions on the rally, if it does then we are fully prepared. For the tarmac testing we got some good mileage, and we tried some different settings and tyre combinations.
“We are fully motivated to start the season well and we are looking forward to getting moving. We want to start the season properly and try to finish the rally by not making mistakes. If we kick off the year on a positive note, we can carry on the momentum and build up the pace throughout the season.”
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