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The 26th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique promises, one more time, to be a remarkable event, thanks to the diversity and authenticity of its route, starting with the comebacks of Glasgow and Milano as starting cities. This 2024 edition will be as seductive as it was wished by the Organizing Committee at Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), with several Regularity Stages (SR) on the menu where legendary pages of the event were written! Crews will again be fighting for one of the ultimate wins in historic motor racing, trying to replicate the success of Claudio Enz and Cristina Seeberger, the winners in 2023 in a 1970 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 S.
Three days only after the finish of the 92th Monte-Carlo Rally, the crews allowed to take part in the 26th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique will have to face a very selective route as well. As always, the Historic version of the prestigious WRC event will be reserved to older cars having participated in previous editions of the Monte Carlo Rally, from 1911 to 1983.
The start of this 2024 edition will be given on Wednesday January 31, for the Concentration Route initiating in Glasgow. Then, on Thursday February 1, Bad Homburg, Reims and Milano will follow suit, with a common objective: the Principality of Monaco. A rallying point where the first crews are expected on Friday February 2 in the afternoon.
The first timed portions are scheduled as soon as Saturday February 3, for the Classification Leg between Monaco (first crew starting at 7 am) and Valence, the Drôme préfecture and once more a Host-City. With four Regularity Stages to take on, this first race day will not be a stroll in the park, starting with a magnificent stage: « Soleilhas – Castellane / SR1 / 9:50 am », where the final portion looks down on Lac de Chaudanne, followed by « Chaudon-Norante – Digne-les-Bains / SR2 / 11:05 am » via the renowned Col de Corobin (1211m). Then the midday checkpoint will also be set up in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence prefecture, on Tampinet Square, from 11:55 am. Driving back to the Drôme will be the afternoon topic, starting with « Ventavon – Chabestan / SR3 / 1:15 pm » through Col de Faye (922m), followed by the Vercors massif and « La Cîme du Mas – Col Gaudissart / SR4 / 17km / 3:45 pm », including the tricky Col de l’Écharasson (1146m). One last checkpoint is planned at Saint-Jean-en-Royans from 4:35 pm, in order to regulate the crews expected at Champ de Mars in Valence from 5:35 pm.
Ardèche will be on the cards for Sunday February 4, starting at 8 am for Part 1 of the Common Leg. Crews will have to check in Privas at 9 am, before heading for « Lyas – Pourchères / SR5 / 9:20 am », a stage which has not been used since the 90s. Then, on the road section, a traditional pause will take place in front of La Remise, where the Jouanny Family will celebrate its 60 years in style, with a brand new red and white patch of asphalt in front of the legendary restaurant to welcome the competitors. A good way to prepare for a rare version of Burzet, « Freyssenet – Saint-Martial / SR6 / 10:40 am ». The midday pause will happen from 12:10 pm on Place du Marché in Saint-Agrève, where all crews and staff will spend a pleasant time tasting local produce, before taking on « Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid / SR7 / 12:45 pm » followed by « Lalouvesc – Labatie-d’Andaure / SR8 / 1:45 pm ». On the way to Valence (4:20 pm), another tradition will be respected with a popular and festive stop on Quai Farconnet in Tournon-sur-Rhône from 3:30 pm.
Two other massifs, Diois and Baronnies, will host Part 2 of the Common Leg, on Monday February 5, starting at 8 am. On the menu, the first course will be « Valdrôme – La Piarre / SR9 / 10:10 am » via Col de Carabes (1261m), the natural border between the Drôme and Hautes-Alpes departments, followed by « Laborel – Montauban-sur-l’Ouvèze / SR10 / 11:25 am » with Col de Perty (1302m) on the way. The midday pause is scheduled in Buis les Baronnies from 12:40 pm. All remaining crews will then take on « Sainte-Jalle – Rémuzat / SR11 / 1:15 pm », via Col de Soubeyrand (987m) and, last but not least, « Recoubeau-Jansac – Pennes-le-Sec / SR12 / 2:40 pm » through the well-known Col de Pennes (1040m). The last pause of the day, before heading back to Valence (4:50 pm) will happen on Place du Champ de Mars in Crest with a checkpoint from 3:55 pm.
On Tuesday February 6, the start from Valence is scheduled for 7 am. The first stage of Part 3 of the Common Leg will be the famous « Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert – La-Motte-Chalancon / SR13 / 8:35 am », soon followed by « Roussieux – Laborel / SR 14 / 9:50 am » where all crews will have to pass Col de Reychasset (1052m) and Col de Pierre-Vesce (1013m) successively. Then, heading for the Principality of Monaco, the last stage of the day will be « Collongues – Col de Saint-Raphaël / SR15/ 1:35 pm ». And the entering Parc Fermé in Monaco is scheduled from 4:10 pm.
The Final Leg, during the night of Tuesday February 6 to Wednesday 7, will start at 9 pm in Monaco. And two monuments of Monte-Carlo Rally will be on the cards: « Sospel – Col de Turini / SR 16 / 10:15 pm », with a finish line at the top, as in most recent WRC versions, and « La Cabanette – Col de Braus / SR17 / 11:20 pm » passing through Col de L’Orme (1000m) and Col de l’Ablé (1149m). The first crews will be expected on Port Herculis in Monaco around 1 am.
Finally, in keeping with tradition, the Gala Night and Prize Ceremony will happen on the evening of Wednesday February 7 in the prestigious Salle des Etoiles at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club (dark suit).
Monaco, July 28, 2023
Note: Distances and timings provisional until publication of the official route
With 14 passes on the way, in 17 special stages spread over 5 French departments, the route for this inaugural event of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) has moved up in latitude as well as altitude, following a strong wish of the Organizing Committee at Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), hoping for more snow on the roads than in previous editions.
After two and a half strenuous days of recce, from Monday January 22 to Wednesday January 24, all crews allowed to start will operate in real racing conditions from 4:01 pm that Wednesday, during the Shakedown (3.35km). On the same road portion that was introduced in 2017, Route de la Garde in Gap, a partner city which already played host to the rally from 2014 to 2021.
The official start of this 92nd edition of Monte-Carlo Rally will be given the next day, Thursday January 25 at 4:52pm on Casino Square in Monaco. On the menu of the 1st Leg, two timed stages in total darkness for a total of 46.01km, in the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes. These two legendary stages, « Thoard / Saint-Geniez » (SS1 – 20.82km – 8:35 pm) and « Bayons / Bréziers » (SS2 – 25.19km – 9:58 pm) will serve as reality checks for the expected major players in the championship.
On Friday January 26, crews will be heading for the East of Gap, where the 2nd Leg will be spread over two departments (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes) for a total of 106.10 timed kilometers. With a loop of three special stages to cover twice, made of « Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes / La Bâtie-Neuve » (SS3/6 – 16.87km – 9:06 am/2:53 pm), followed by « Champcella / Saint-Clément-sur-Durance » (SS4/7 – 17.87km – 10:34 am/4:21 pm) and « La Bréole / Selonnet » (SS5/8 – 18.31km – 12:02 pm/5:49 pm), setting up a very intense race day!
The West of Gap will be on the cards for Saturday January 27 when the 3rd Leg covers three departments (Hautes-Alpes, Drôme, Isère) for a total of 134.86 timed kilometers. Again, with a loop of three stages not so close to each other, to complete twice, for what will probably be the toughest race day of the week. On the menu, « Sigottier / Valdrôme » (SS9/12 – 20.89km – 8:35 am/2:05 pm), followed by « Les Nonières / Chichilianne » (SS10/13 – 20.08km – 9:53 am/3:23 pm) and « Pellafol / Agnières-en-Dévoluy » (SS11/14 – 26.46km – 11:06 am/4:36 pm). There will certainly be several ups and downs during this strenuous 3rd Leg.
In order to conclude the event in style, on Sunday January 28, three stages totalling 51.65 kilometers will be scheduled between Gap and Monaco. This will be a brand new feature for a Final Leg and the last fights for honours will happen on « La Bréole / Selonnet » (SS15 – 18.31km – 7:04 am), followed by « Digne-les-Bains / Chaudon-Norante » (SS16 – 19.04km – 8:35 am) and, last but not least, « La Bollène-Vésubie / Col de Turini » (SS17 – 14.30km – 12:15 pm) which will serve as Power Stage. The Prize Ceremony will then take place, as usual, on Casino Square, from 4:15 pm…
Timings and stage lengths are indicative until official publication of the Rally Route.
Just a few days after the end of the Rallye Monte-Carlo WRC, it’s time for the historic version.
The 26th Monte-Carlo Historic Rally will take place from Wednesday 31 January to Wednesday 7 February 2024!
Find out more about the various starting towns: Reims – Bad Homburg – Glasgow – Milan.
Stay tuned for details of the route shortly.
Review 2023 edition:
Part of the Championship calendar since its launch in 2015, the Monaco E-Prix will be back for a 7th edition, to be held on Saturday 27 April 2024.
The 3rd generation single-seaters will once again be putting on a great show in the streets of the Principality, as part of the 10th season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
On the programme: free practice sessions, qualifying, races, on-track demonstrations, entertainment at the Allianz Fan Village… An intense and sporting day awaits you!
Sébastien Buemi, Jean-Éric Vergne, Antonio Felix Da Costa, Stoffel Vandoorne: some big names have already added their names to the list of winners. Who will succeed the latest winner, Nick Cassidy? The answer will be given next spring…
In the meantime, register now to our newsletters to receive the latest news from the Official Ticket Office.
For all information, our staff will be delighted to advise you
Relive the 2023 edition:
The 81st Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco will be held from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 May 2024.
There will be plenty of excitement in the Principality as the 8th round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship gets underway over the 4 days. The F1 single-seaters won’t be the only ones livening up proceedings on the streets of this legendary track, as the associated series (F2 / F3 / Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup) will also be taking part.
Only a few weeks to go before tickets go on sale. Register now to keep up to date with the latest news and the opening of the Official Ticket Office.
For all information, our staff will be delighted to advise you
About Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix:
The Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious motorsport events in the world, with a reputation as illustrious as that of the Indianapolis 500, Le Mans 24 Hours and WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo.
(January 22-28, 2024*)
Due to major works, it was unable to secure all the space required to maintain the service park and the various infrastructures in the Principality. Therefore, the Organizing Committee of the Automobile Club de Monaco decided to return to the Hautes-Alpes department, more precisely to Gap, the host city from 2014 to 2021.
However, the official start, finish and prize-giving ceremony of the event will continue to be held in Monaco.
The detailed route of this 92nd edition, which will take place from 22 to 28 January 2024, will be announced next month…
Monaco, le 6th June 2023
© ACM - Olivier Caenen, Patrick Domeyne, Jo Lillini
It hasn’t gone unnoticed! Esteban Ocon finished 3rd on Sunday at the 80th Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco: a historic podium in the tradition of the key stories in French motorsport in the Principality.
The French tradition is honoured! Since it was first held in 1929, the Monegasque circuit has regularly been the scene of outstanding performances by French drivers and teams. 7 French drivers have won here (René Dreyfus, Guy Moll, Maurice Trintignant, Jean-Pierre Beltoise, Patrick Depailler, Alain Prost and of course Olivier Panis). Although Esteban Ocon has yet to add his name to the legendary list of winners at this event, his performance on Sunday is certainly worthy of note.
Ocon took over from Olivier Panis, surprise winner in 1996 in a Ligier.
As when Olivier won in 1996, Ocon achieved this feat at the wheel of a French car. Especially as the Panis Ligier was powered by a Japanese Mugen-Honda engine. As for the three podium finishes achieved by Renault F1 in Monaco since 1996, it was always with a foreign driver at the wheel: Jarno Trulli (victory in 2004), Fernando Alonso (victory in 2006) and Robert Kubica (3rd in 2010).
“It’s been a long time. I’m speechless. On Thursday, I would have been happy to get into the Top 10, but here we are on the podium. With Alpine, we never stop believing and this weekend I felt strong in the car, confident, I could really get close to the limit, more than ever before in Monaco,” said Esteban in the press conference. He was on cloud nine, he could hardly believe it, and this was only normal.
“My qualifying lap was 90% of the job”
This Monaco Grand Prix, only the 5th in his F1 career, enabled Ocon to produce a perfect copy from start to finish: 8th, then 10th and 9th in Free Practice, he then put in a tremendous qualifying lap to take provisional pole at the end of Q3, and then the 3rd place on the grid thanks to Charles Leclerc’s penalty. And he didn’t let up in the race, behind the two untouchables, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso, two double World Champions, now also tied as double winners in the Principality.
“My qualifying lap was 90% of the job, and today in the race it was a bit tougher. The rear of my car was damaged when Carlos crashed into me at the harbour chicane, then the rain shuffled everything and, in the end, I was under pressure from Lewis (Hamilton), as is often the case in these conditions. He was quicker than me on the wet section, from Turn 5 to Turn 8, and I was quicker on the dry section”, added the man from Normandy, author of a top-of-the-range performance in ultra-tough conditions, at the wheel of a highly efficient Alpine.
The first podium of many?
“It’s a huge reward, and a change from my previous weekends in Monaco. I’m very surprised, but I have to keep my feet on the ground. I want to thank the Alpine teams at Viry and Enstone. I don’t know if this is a turning point in our season, but I hope it’s the first podium of many. We’ll know more about our car’s potential next week in Barcelona, on a slightly more traditional circuit. We keep on pushing. And respect for Aston Martin, because they’re showing us that it’s possible to go from mid-table team to top team…”.
As with Ferrari, one of the two Alpine drivers was the victim of a failed strategy, stopping too early to change tires, and having to stop just afterwards to take the intermediate tires, because of the rain shower. It was Pierre Gasly, who ended up 7th when he could have been aiming for 4th or 5th place, behind Ocon. Exactly the same mistake made by Ferrari for Carlos Sainz, who started 4th and finished 8th. A small detail with huge consequences. Fortunately for Ocon, there was no extra stop with a wrong timing, and his memorable performance with a well-deserved podium finish in the princely box. An historic result, for real.
There was no great surprise at Sunday’s 80th Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco, won by two-time reigning World Champion Max Verstappen from pole position, despite a few drops of rain at the end of the race.
The rain did not disturb the Red Bull team, which has yet to concede anything to its rivals this year, taking six wins from six races, including four one-twos. Verstappen started on medium tires, kept them on for as long as possible and then switched directly to a set of intermediate tires when the rain started over certain portions of the street circuit, around lap 50 (of 78).
“I knew it was going to be a race where management would be important, when I saw that Fernando was starting on hard tires. And I also knew that my first stint on medium tires was likely to last a long time. When it started raining, I spent five laps being very careful with my intermediate tires, I didn’t want to drive too slowly to keep the temperature in my tires, it was very slippery, then I changed some settings on my steering wheel and it was better”.
Alonso, who started on hard tires, made two stops in a row, instead of one. First he changed to medium tires, thinking that the rain wouldn’t last, then he immediately changed strategy, putting on intermediate tires on the following lap, to finish the race without risking a big mistake. Enough for the Spaniard to claim a 5th podium in 6 races, and one further proof that Aston Martin is becoming a top team.
Verstappen never gave him the slightest chance of turning the race around, either on the track or in the pits. It was his 4th victory this season, in six Grands Prix, and the 39th of his F1 career. He had already won in 2021 in the Principality, the year of his first world title.
“I’m very happy,” said Alonso at the press conference, delighted with this 2nd place, which testifies to the British team’s progress. “We had already finished 3rd, and now we’re 2nd, so we’re just one place behind,” added the two-time world champion. “We had to find a different strategy, to try and beat Red Bull, with the risk of finishing 5th or 6th. But we weren’t fast enough in the race, so we couldn’t beat them today”.
The only big surprise of the afternoon was in fact the spotless performance of Esteban Ocon, who finished on the 3rd step of the podium thanks to a very efficient and reliable Alpine, in tricky conditions. A result that nobody could have predicted last Thursday, on the eve of the first free practice session.
“If we’d been told on Thursday that we’d finish in the Top 10 on Sunday, we’d have been very happy. Now we’re on the podium. We’ll find out next Sunday in Barcelona, on a very different circuit, whether this is a turning point in our season. But I felt good all weekend in the car, and it all came down to qualifying on Saturday. Today was harder. I had to hold off Carlos Sainz, then Lewis Hamilton. We often find ourselves fighting together in these conditions”.
Winner of the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021, Ocon first had to fend off the onslaught of a very aggressive Carlos Sainz, who was then warned by the race direction for colliding with him at the exit of the tunnel, when braking too late at the harbor chicane. He then held off the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell who complete the Top 5, ahead of Charles Leclerc (6th).
The Monegasque couldn’t do much better than his 6th place on the grid, three spots further than planned. Because of a late penalty on Saturday evening for impeding Lando Norris at the end of qualifying, in the tunnel.
His team-mate Carlos Sainz has all reason to be far more upset than Leclerc, as he finished 8th despite starting from 4th on the grid. His team made him stop too early, when his hard tires were still in very good condition. He was up against Ocon for a long time, was slowed down by Leclerc at one point, and at the end he had to stop again to change for intermediate tires because of the downpour. That was one stop too many.
It was an intense Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco, from the first free practice on Friday, and the sporting logic has once again prevailed. As in previous cycles of domination by Ferrari with Michael Schumacher, Red Bull with Sebastian Vettel, and Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The long and exciting Monaco Grand Prix series continues. This was only the 80th episode…
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) will start from pole position in Monaco at 3.00 pm on Sunday, for the first time in his already long career as a double World Champion. Next to him on the front row will be Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), whom he admired when he was younger. A dream duo for this 80thedition.
The gaps were minimal, the commitment total, by all 20 drivers, and there was plenty of suspense throughout qualifying, which began with a major crash: that of “Checo” Pérez at the start of Q1, in Sainte-Dévote. The Mexican ripped off the entire left-hand side of his Red Bull and will start Sunday from the back of the grid, although he is the defending champion. After the compulsory red flag, proceedings continued with more surprises: with one minute remaining in Q1, Yuki Tsunoda was P1 in his Alpha Tauri and Carlos Sainz P17 in the other Ferrari, potentially eliminated, before narrowly escaping.
Q2 was relatively calmer, except for Hamilton, who had to pull off a champion’s lap at the end to advance to Q3, with worn tires and a Mercedes he was struggling to control. The stage was set for a legendary Q3. On the grid: Verstappen’s Red Bull, Alonso’s Aston Martin, both Ferraris, both Mercedes and… both Alpines, Tsunoda’s Alpha Tauri and Norris’s McLaren.
Ocon, then Leclerc, then Alonso on provisional pole
The two-time Spanish World Champion, who has not claimed a pole position since the 2012 German GP with Ferrari, first posted a lap of 1:11.706, ahead of Sainz and Leclerc, Verstappen and the two Alpines, before the Dutchman took the lead by the skin of his teeth. The suspense was intact, as there were still a few minutes available.
The final fireworks began with an incredible 1:11.553 from Esteban Ocon (Alpine) to take provisional pole. This time was then beaten in turn by Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, and finally Max Verstappen, in 1:11.365, beating Alonso by 84 thousandths only, just over 8 hundredths of a second. The Red Bull driver was two tenths down on the Spaniard’s time as he exited the tunnel at the harbour chicane, then he took all the risks, touching the rail twice between the chicane and the finish line. Amazing effort for a sensational result, at the end of a legendary qualifying session.
Verstappen: “I hit a few walls”
“I knew I’d have a better chance if I came out of the pits last. I wasn’t totally confident in my tires at the start of my last attempt, but then I attacked as hard as I could, just like everyone else. I leaned on the walls a bit and it went through,” said Max, delighted with his first pole position in Monaco, at his 8th appearance, and already the 23rd of his F1 career. Then he had a kind word for “Nando”, sitting next to him in the press conference: “I admired Fernando when I was younger. He’s still a role model. But I will not let him win tomorrow”.
As is often the case, Alonso summed up the situation in a few sentences as precise as his driving on Saturday afternoon, at the age of 41: “Monaco really is a unique place and this afternoon we pushed the limits very far, significantly increasing the level of risk,” he smiled. “We might need a little help from Max. There’s very little chance that our three cars will finish the race,” he added, as a last warning. He knows that, in the history of Monaco Grand Prix, the second on the grid has won more often than the poleman, in the 79 previous editions.
Finally, Leclerc said he was “disappointed” by his third-place finish, but offered a technical explanation: “I couldn’t do any better this afternoon. I have a big problem on the bumps, the car jumps a lot and my head goes all over the place. I’m hoping for a dry race on Sunday, as rain hasn’t done me much good here in recent years”, concluded the Scuderia Ferrari driver.
Three hours later, Leclerc learnt that he would have to start three places further back on the grid for having impeded Norris during the hectic session. An incident that went completely unnoticed, except by the race direction. As a direct consequence, at 3.00 pm on Sunday, Leclerc will be on the 3rd row of the grid, in 6th place, and Esteban Ocon’s surprising Alpine will be in 3rd place. Just behind Verstappen.
Larry ten Voorde (GP Elite) will start from pole position on Sunday, as planned, for the Porsche Supercup race at the 80th Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco. As in free practice on Thursday, the Dutchman dominated the proceedings in a qualifying session interrupted twice in succession at the end by red flags. This was the case throughout Friday. The Automobile Club de Monaco’s track marshals, reputed to be the best in the world, had their work cut out for them.
Supercup champion in 2020 and 2021, and last year’s winner on the streets of the Principality, ten Voorde completed his best lap in 1:33.573, just ahead of two Walter Lechner Racing drivers, Britain’s Harry King and Denmark’s Bastian Buus.
The small disappointment of the day came from Frenchman Dorian Boccolacci, on the podium in 2021 and 2022, but only 5th in this somewhat hectic qualifying session, behind another Dutchman, Loek Hartog (4th), ten Voorde’s teammate at GP Elite.
The Supercup Porsches start their 31st season here in Monaco, following the cancellation of the Imola meeting last week. They will set off for 17 laps on Sunday at 11:55 a.m.
