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A return to Monaco which is deserved... on the tracks of the WRC!

22 December 2024

A return to Monaco which is deserved… on the tracks of the WRC!

This Tuesday, departure from Valence at 06h00 in direction of the Diois massif.

The start, or rather “the highlight of the show”, is the famous and dreaded Special Stage (SR13) “Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert – Gumiane” 30.04km with 4 passes (Guillens / Portail / Vache / Roustans) and a vertiginous descent, the “Route de Tremouret”, which looked like a giant bobsleigh run this morning. You had to be a little bit crazy to dare to face these frightening twists and turns with a grip close to “0” but the 226 crews still in the race at the start of Valence were asking for more… In this game of Roller Coasters, it was the Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3 S driven by SCHIMITZEK Kurt/FLECK Stefan that won the race.

After this warm-up session, the SR14, scene of last week’s titanic battle in the WRC: “Sisteron – Thoard” 32.77 km via Authon and the Col de Fontbelle. A special stage with a lot of rhythm and once again a descent which, if it wasn’t hell, wasn’t heaven either. The best are this time, ANDRE Jérôme/MANSORD Frédéric on BMW 2002 TI.

The next stage which concludes the morning is also well known to the WRC drivers: “Rouaine – Entrevaux” with its 23.52 km which takes in the Val de Chalvagne and the Col de Félines, all of which is winding. The proximity of the Mediterranean has removed the frost and ice that was still present at the recent Monte Carlo Rally, but the event is still very technical with many relaunches and some very rough ropes after the passage of the powerful WRC hybrids. The most consistent finishers in Entrevaux were ABRIAL François/ABRIAL Cécile in a Peugeot 104 ZS.

Last TC before entering the park fermé in Monaco : La Turbie and then the long-awaited piece of bravery: the start of the Final Stage of Monaco from 21:00 with the legendary and always unpredictable time trials of “Sospel – La-Bollène-Vésubie / SR 16 / 22:00 / 30.96 km” via the famous Col de Turini and “Loda – Coaraze / SR 17 / 23:10 / 22.43 km” by the Cols de Porte and Saint-Roch. Arrival planned on the Port Hercule of Monaco around 01h10.

Published on:1 February 2022