WRC: Rally Monte Carlo (2014)

Steve · Jan 10, 2014

Recce starts tomorrow (11th)

Rallye Monte Carlo (WRC.com)

Round 1

14 - 19 Jan 14

Categories: WRC, WRC-2, WRC-3

Based: Gap and Monaco

Surface: Mountainous asphalt, susceptible to ice and snow

Most Recent Winner: Sebastien Loeb (2013)

Website: Automobile Club de Monaco

For 2014 the WRC classic has undergone a transformation. Out goes the previous rally hub in Valence, in comes a new service base in Sebastien Ogierâ€™s hometown of Gap and a substantially modified route.

The Monte has always featured an unusual format by WRC standards, and this yearâ€™s 82nd running is no exception. The recce runs between Saturday 11th and Monday 13th January and is followed, on Tuesday, by the traditional starting ceremony in Monte Carloâ€™s Place du Casino.

Shakedown is on Wednesday 15th, on a road close to a new central service Park in Gap, with the competition proper getting underway on Thursday with a first loop of three stages run twice in the Haute Alpes region.

Friday features Monte Classics like the 49.25 km Vitrolles - Col D'Espreaux - Faye , which is run twice, the 36.70km Sisteron - Col de Fontbelle - Thoard and a night running of Clumanc - Col du DÃ©fend - Lambruisse.

That night competitors will head south to Monaco, from where Saturdayâ€™s final leg is based. The action comprises two loops of two stages in the hinterland of Nice - one by day and the other by night. The rally will end on Sunday 19th with the traditional awards ceremony on the square of the Prince's Palace in Monaco.
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Monte Carlo Countdown: This year's stages (WRC.com)

10 Jan 14

Just as in 2013, the Monte's route has changed considerably again 12 months on but it remains a classic with all its usual breathtaking backdrop, panache and pizzazz right up to the finish in the principality.

As if by magic this yearâ€™s Monte starts from reigning champion Sebastien Ogierâ€™s hometown of Gap â€“ thatâ€™s around 300km north-west of Monaco.

Unlike Sebastien Loebâ€™s hometown of Haguenau, thereâ€™s no stage in Gap but still expect Ogier to receive a heroâ€™s sending-off when he departs the start line on the Thursday. And, if all is going to plan, a heroâ€™s welcome as well when the cars return after the opening day of action for an overnight halt.

Six stages in all on the Thursday total more than 125 of the dayâ€™s 500-plus kilometres. Fridayâ€™s route, though, consists of more familiar territory â€“ notably the Sisteron stage name is on the itinerary â€“ and leads to an overnight halt in Monte Carlo.

Significantly the first four of the dayâ€™s five stages are sizeable in length with two runs each of the 49km Vitrolles-Faye and 37km Sisteron-Thoard tests. But itâ€™s the closing four stages on Saturday that pose the biggest challenge of all. At 23km and 17km respectively, they are by no means the longest but names such as La Bollene Vesubie-Moulinet and Sospel-Breil sur Roya will strike fear into most crews.

This is the stretch known as the Col de Turini â€“ one of the all-time legendary sections of road used in the WRC with a reputation for making and breaking reputations. Two runs through each stage â€“ first in daylight and then by night â€“ complete the rally and itâ€™s the final pair in particular that will play a pivotal role in the outcome.

It has become nicknamed the â€˜Night of the long knivesâ€™ thanks to the image of headlights searching through the darkness as the cars wind their way up high round numerous hairpin bends until reaching the summit at close to 1600 metres above sea level and descending once more.

Depending on a driverâ€™s hero or villain status â€“ often dictated by their nationality or that of the car they are in â€“ thousands of fans line the stage side, all ready with catcalls, jeers, cheers and whistles. Itâ€™s an intoxicating and intimidating yet totally unmissable end to the most prestigious event on the calendar.
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Crashton · Jan 10, 2014

Spectators have been know to shovel snow onto the stages to make things more interesting too. :frown2:

Hope it is a snow covered route this year. Looking forward to it.

Thanks for the pre-event coverage Steve.

Steve · Jan 13, 2014

Countdown to Monte: The challenge (WRC.com)

13 Jan 14

Unpredictable weather is without doubt the biggest challenge that crews face on the Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of this year's FIA World Rally Championship.

Although all the stages are run on asphalt, conditions from one kilometre to the next on each stage can change in the blink of an eye and catch out even the biggest of names.

As if that’s not tricky enough, teams and drivers have to second guess their tyre choice in the hope they have gambled correctly for the conditions that lay ahead.

The Monte is the only rally on the WRC calendar which allows teams to choose from four different tyres of tyre: winter tyres with or without spikes as well as soft or super-soft slicks. Ultimately there comes a point when they simply have to go with what the latest weather forecast is telling them allied to information relayed back by their ice note crews who have headed out onto each stage to monitor matters several hours before the start.

This can lead to some unusual results as some drivers, perhaps with less to lose, really take the plunge.

For example, the first stage to a leg can be dry with the next covered in slush and ice. One would think a risk-free strategy would be the answer – take the studded tyre: it might not be ideal for the first stage but will get you through and then surely come into its own on the next one. The alternative, of course, would be to opt for a racing tyre and set the pace on the dry stage in the hope that temperatures in the meantime might rise the fraction required to thaw out the next one.

Or the other option would be to run a mixture of slick and studded tyres – a seemingly unusual solution but, as we’ve seen in the past, one that can really pay off should conditions throughout the stage turn out to be ‘half and half’. Even then drivers still need the gods to smile kindly on them for much can happen in next few hours, particularly at high altitude which can also bring another hazard – fog.

The Monte’s usual biting cold conditions can also play havoc with the machinery. Back in 2000 all three factory Peugeots failed to start in the morning after freezing up overnight in parc ferme.

Then there is the challenge of pure, raw nerve. Driving to win in such topsy-turvy conditions, often with massive drops off the side of a narrow Alpine road, is the ultimate test of bravery. A sixth sense, luck, an ability to know when to push or hold back… call it what you want but this also has a dramatic effect on the final result.

So does maintaining concentration right to the end - for it is not uncommon to see the leaderboard suffer some big name casualties on the final stages. Notably, this year’s last two just happen to be on the legendary Col de Turini section in the dark. Finishes don’t come much more daunting that that.
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Steve · Jan 14, 2014

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFZY7nyvpy4]Kubica Testing - 2014 WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

To anyone just catching up in time for the Monte, there's a bunch of 2014 pre-season stuff, videos, etc, in this thread.

Crashton · Jan 14, 2014

Nice video. I wish Robert the best of luck.

Man that car was set up stiff.

Steve · Jan 15, 2014

Shakedown was today.

Top 10 times:

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4

Posn

Driver

Car

Time

1 S. Ogier VW Polo R WRC 2m 15.3s

=2 K. Meeke Citroen DS3 WRC 2m 16.5s

=2 M. Ostberg Citroen DS3 WRC 2m 16.5s

4 J-M. Latvala VW Polo R WRC 2m 18.2s

5 R. Kubica Ford Fiesta RS WRC 2m 18.3s

6 T. Neuville Hyundai i20 WRC 2m 18.4s

7 M. Hirvonen Ford Fiesta RS WRC 2m 18.8s

=8 D. Sordo Hyundai i20 WRC 2m 20.4s

=8 A. Mikkelsen VW Polo R WRC 2m 20.4s

10 B. Bouffier Ford Fiesta RS WRC 2m 21.9s

Steve · Jan 15, 2014

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7DegStvlRY"]Shakedown - 2014 WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo- Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

Justa Jim · Jan 15, 2014

Cool, Kris is doing very well.

Steve · Jan 15, 2014

Justa Jim said: ↑

Cool, Kris is doing very well.
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And doing his best to temper expectations:

Meeke: Iâ€™m no Loeb (maxrally.com)

by Giles Wade / 15th January 2014

As Citroen prepares for a season of rallying without Sebastien Loeb for the first time in 15 years, inbound DS3 WRC stars Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg will attempt to fill the void left by the nine-time champion.

Citroenâ€™s side of the Monte Carlo service park was a strange place today without the Alsatian superstar. Loeb started the Monte 10 times â€“ every one of them in machinery sourced from Versailles â€“ and he finished on the podium nine times. And he won the French Alps classic seven times.

Now though, heâ€™s gone; departed to circuit racing as part of Citroenâ€™s World Touring Car Championship programme.

And for a little fella, heâ€™s left some very big shoes for those following him to fill.

Meeke might be driving the DS3 WRC with the highest start number and he might have Loebâ€™s engineer Didier Clermont to talk to at every service, but the Northern Irishman smiles at any further comparisons.

â€œIâ€™m not here to try and emulate Sebastien Loeb,â€ says Meeke. â€œI couldnâ€™t. Nobody could. Itâ€™s fantastic to be here, but I still have a heck of a lot to learn and a lot more experience to gain.â€

Ostberg was of the same opinion. The Norwegian adds: â€œFor me, to be in this team is one of the best things I can achieve, but I am still not where I want to be in my career, but itâ€™s getting closer. Joining this team is an important step in that goal. Itâ€™s an honour to be here at Citroen.â€

And both Citroen drivers made a solid start to their season at shakedown this morning. Despite having just six daysâ€™ of asphalt experience in the DS3 WRC (three daysâ€™ testing each) between them, Meeke and Ostberg set exactly the same time on their second run at the Chateauvieux stage. The pair were second only to reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier. And Citroen team principal Yves Matton reckons they could have gone even quicker.

â€œWe were on the soft tyre,â€ says Matton, â€œnot the super-soft. This is only shakedown, itâ€™s nt qualifying.â€

Life proper without Loeb starts in the morning.
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Justa Jim · Jan 15, 2014

Wise on both their parts. This is a new team and and the past is the past.

Also glad to see VW up there. Looks like they plan to go for it in a big way.

This should be a good season, so keep them coming Steve.

Nathan · Jan 15, 2014

Yay. WRC is getting underway again

DavisMC40 · Jan 15, 2014

50 year anniversary since Mini won in '64... wonder if they'll release an MC50 with the F56?

Steve · Jan 16, 2014

Holy crap, a tumultuous opening day for the Monte!

Can't wait to see the videos! (which, of course, I will post...when I eventually find them)

After 6 stages:

1st Bouffier
2nd Meeke
3rd Kubica
4th Ogier
5th Ostberg
6th Evans
7th Latvala
8th Hirvonen
9th Mikkelsen

I think both of the Hyundais are officially retired.

Monte midday wrap: Thursday (WRC.com)

The opening morning of Rallye Monte-Carlo was packed with drama and threw up more than a few surprises.

Although all of the crews have ice note teams that inspect the stages around two hours before the competition gets underway, they were all caught out by an unexpected amount of snow and ice on the opening 25km test.

Like almost all of his rivals, reigning World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier was using super-soft slick tyres on SS1 and promptly crashed into a wall on the very first corner. It wasnâ€™t a good start.

Just behind him, Hyundaiâ€™s Thierry Neuville became the first retirement. He was 4.5s faster than Ogier at the first split time, but his excitement got the better of him and he crashed into a telegraph pole a couple of corners later. Damage to the rear of his i20 meant he was unable to continue.

Robert Kubica ignored all the drama that was unfolding around him to set fastest times on both of the opening stages. Everyone knew the ex-F1 driver was fast, but the speed with which he got to grips with the unpredictable Monte conditions surprised many. His Ford Fiesta RS WRC was the car to beat.

But on the final stage in the opening loop, the standings changed again. The catalyst was a lengthy section of snow part way through SS3. It was a disaster for those on slick tyres, but great news for those with a couple of snow tyres in the boot of their cars.

Frenchman Bryan Bouffier fitted a snow tyre to one his carâ€™s front corners and repeated the exercise on an opposite corner at the rear. That gave him just enough grip to set the fastest time on SS3 and move into the overall rally lead.

Citroenâ€™s Kris Meeke did the same and moved up in to second place, while Dani Sordo followed suit and leapt in to third overall.

Kubica, who didnâ€™t have the benefit of snow tyres, was unable to match the ultimate pace on SS3 and dropped to fourth place. Ford World Rally Team driver Elfyn Evans was second quickest on SS3 and moved up to fifth place overall, while Mads Ostbergâ€™s Citroen finished the morning in sixth place.

In the WRC2 category, Lorenzo Bertelli set the early pace in his Ford Fiesta R5 and led the way after the first couple of stages to hold a 37-second lead over Yurii Protasov heading into the third test.

But the Italian dropped almost a minute on SS3 and promptly dropped down to second place, behind his Ukranian rival. Irelandâ€™s Michael Barrable finished the morning in third place at the wheel of his Tunnocks World Rally Team Fiesta.

In the WRC3 category, the sole entry of Gilbert Quentin remains on course for a maximum points score after making it to the opening loop of stages unscathed.

The same loop of three stages would be re-run after lunch to complete Thursdayâ€™s first leg.
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Monte-Carlo Day one update (WRC.com)

Thereâ€™s plenty happening on day one of Rallye Monte-Carlo. Here is a run down of the headline-making events and incidents that are shaping the early leaderboard. We'll update it as the day goes on:

Another Hyundai hiccup on SS5

Retiring on a stage is hard to take. But retiring on a road section is impossible to comprehend. That was the fate that befell Dani Sordo before SS5. The Spaniard was hoping to get even closer to second-place Kris Meeke on the stage but his Hyundai i20 WRC developed an electrical fault on the road section and ground to a halt. He and Marc Marti tried desperately to get their car moving again but they failed. Their rally was over.

Sebastien Ogier gave his local fans a little bit of hope with a fastest time on SS5. He opted to use two winter tyres and two super-soft slicks on his VW Polo R WRC and it was a combination that worked in the muddy conditions that he encountered. He was 6.5s faster than his team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala to leap up to fourth place overall.

Lessons learned on SS4:

The drama on the morningâ€™s stages clearly taught people a few lessons, particularly when it came to tyre selection. The super-soft slicks that were favoured in the morning, were superseded by winter tyres in the afternoon. That gave everyone the grip they were looking for on the sodden re-run stages.

Jari-Matti Latvala got his rally back on track after a disappointing morning that left him squandering in 18th place. He was fastest by 10.8s on the fourth test and moved into 10th overall. â€œThe feeling is much better now,â€ the VW driver said. â€œI used four winter tyres and that was absolutely correct.â€

Bryan Bouffier, Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo held station at the head of the field, although Hyundai driver Sordo managed to reduce the gap to second-place Meeke from 27.9s to 6.1s over the 25km . Sordo said: â€œUsing the snow tyres on the wet roads was definitely the right choice. It meant we didnâ€™t aquaplane in all the water on the surface.â€

All change on SS3

Fortunes on SS3 depended on what tyres you had in the boot of your car. Only a handful of drivers opted to take a brace of snow tyres on this morningâ€™s loop of stages â€“ and one of them was Bryan Bouffier. By fitting one snow tyre on the front and one on the rear of his Ford Fiesta RS WRC, he was able to take a massive chunk of time out of his closest rivals and leap into the overall lead by 41.5s.

Dani Sordo, Elfyn Evans and Kris Meeke also benefited from having snow tyres on board for SS3. Meeke jumped into second place overall and Sordo took third place. Robert Kubica, the rally leader going into the stage, didnâ€™t have snow tyres and promptly dropped to fourth place.

A smoother SS2

With less wintry conditions greeting the crews at Rosans-Ste Marie-La Charce, events arenâ€™t quite as dramatic on SS2. Robert Kubica continued his excellent start by going quickest on this test. He was 4.6s faster than VWâ€™s Jari-Matti Latvala to extend his overall rally lead to 36.8s over Sebastien Ogier who was clinging on to second place.

Bryan Bouffier, who was second on SS1, lost time on SS2 and dropped to fourth place overall. The Ford Fiesta RS WRC driver was 27.5s off the quickest pace. â€œI tried to drive safe,â€ he explained.

Kris Meeke praised the work of his ice note crew as his third fastest time ensured he held on to third place overall. The Citroen driver said: â€œWe had some excellent info from our ice note crew. There was some black ice that almost caught me out in a few places, but weâ€™re doing okay.â€

Privateer Ford Fiesta RS WRC driver, Martin Prokop, retired before he got to the start of SS2. The battery on his M-Sport-prepared machine wasnâ€™t charging at the end of SS1 and he failed to make it to the beginning of the next test. His rally is over.

Drama on SS1

The day gets off to the worst possible start for Hyundaiâ€™s Thierry Neuville. His debut in the i20 WRC is going well at the first split time as heâ€™s a stunning 4.5 seconds faster than stage opener Sebastien Ogier at the first split. But his challenge falls apart a few corners later as he crashes at the 6km mark.

He and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul are okay, but their rally is over. Sadly, itâ€™s the Belgianâ€™s third consecutive Rallye Monte-Carlo retirement on the opening loop of stages.

Reigning World Rally Champion, Sebastien Ogier, fails to top the first stage time sheets as many people expected. The Frenchman, who was born in the nearby town of Gap, starts the stage on super-soft slick tyres and, with snow covering the road early on, he loses a significant amount of time after he ploughs his VW Polo R WRC into a wall on the first corner. He makes it to the stage finish but he isnâ€™t impressed.

Robert Kubica overcomes the unexpected snowy conditions and proves to be a first stage revelation! The former F1 driver, making his WRC debut in an M-Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta RS WRC, blasts his way to a time that is 19.1 seconds faster than Ogierâ€™s best and 14.3s quicker than second-place man Bryan Bouffier. He says: €œThat was very tough â€“ the hardest stage of my life. We were not expecting snow, so it was very tricky.â€
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Crashton · Jan 16, 2014

Sounds like a great start to the rally. Changing conditions making last minute tire changes necessary. Swapping tires on transits, old school rally at its finest.

Steve · Jan 16, 2014

Second all that.

Also, yeah, Neuville is definitely out...

Since the Monte has no Rally2 restart rule, Hyundai is completely out of the rally.

Obviously frustrating for them but, as some have pointed out, they ought to be still testing. Remember, VW was credited with winning the championship last year in their first year out, but they signed Ogier and ran him in a Skoda for a year while they continued to test before finally starting the next year. If Hynudai can start consistently finishing rallies before mid-season they ought to consider it a good effort. Based on Neuville and Sordo's pace early on today, my guess is they can do a lot better than just finishing...

Steve · Jan 16, 2014

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPyJhplySCk#t=95]Stages 1-3: Rallye Monte-Carlo 2014 - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Jan 16, 2014

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cF1BQC1iJA]Neuville' Hyundai i20 WRC after Crash - Rally Monte-Carlo 2014 - YouTube[/ame]

Crashton · Jan 16, 2014

That's pretty comprehensively bent. Short rally for the Hyundai team. Better luck next time.

Steve · Jan 16, 2014

Kris Meeke onboard, Stage 3.

They hit the snow line at about 5:55 and then road conditions worsen.

They need to put some Aquapel on the glass in front of that camera.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vclbcO8ncEg]Kris Meeke Onboard SS03/ Rallye Monte Carlo 2014 - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Jan 16, 2014

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiW8CFg08iM]Stages 4-6: Rallye Monte-Carlo 2014 - YouTube[/ame]

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