Upcoming Events
Menu
The time is dizzying from the outset: 1:44.6 over 2.29km between Sainte-Agnès and Peille, on the third pass this Thursday morning, much quicker than 1:50.4 last year on the same route, in similar conditions, by the same driver in the same car, well almost… Each time, the best shakedown time for Sébastien Ogier (Toyota Gazoo Racing), eight-time world champion in search of a record 9th victory in the Principality, on Sunday.
That is almost six seconds better, or three seconds per kilometer, which gives an idea of the spectacular improvements of Ogier’s Toyota Yaris, one year after its official debut in January 2022. In the first pass, Ogier was already four seconds faster than last year, an improvement – thanks to the maximum utilisation of the hybrid boost – of two seconds per kilometer. « It’s hard to know what to expect. The conditions changing from the recce to the rally can make it very exciting and, of course, the tyre strategy can spice things up on the race compared with other events. “
Just behind Ogier, the gaps also make you dizzy: 7 drivers grouped together in just one and a half second, between 1:44.6 for the Frenchman and 1:46.1 for Ott Tänak (M-Sport Ford), the 2019 world champion (7th), four tenths behind his new teammate, young Frenchman Pierre-Louis Loubet (6th).
Last but not least, the reigning World Champion, Kalle Rovanperä, is ready to go. He clocked the 2nd time this morning, three tenths only behind his glorious team-mate at Toyota Gazoo Racing. Can’t wait for the first two special stages on Thursday evening!
Three undisputable headliners of the 91st edition of Rally Monte-Carlo kicked off this Thursday morning at the “shakedown” between Sainte-Agnès and Peille (2.29km): Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (Toyota), an 8-time World Champion, in search of a 9th record success in the Principality, Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), the multiple vice-World Champion, often placed, never crowned, and Estonian Ott Tänak, the 2019 World Champion, back at M-Sport Ford, in the team that allowed him to burst on the rally scene.
One rally driver is missing, the legendary Sébastien Loeb, who won last year at the respectable age of 47, but he could not reasonably follow up, in such a short time, a superb 2ndplace in the Dakar rally-raid, Sunday, with such a demanding rally as the Monte-Carlo. Even if the weather conditions are expected to be mild, with almost completely dry asphalt roads. And this regardless of the outside temperature when the crews will leave the Port of Monaco Service Park early in the morning.
We will also have to follow closely, of course, the youngest world champion in the history of the World Rally Championship (WRC): Finnish star Kalle Rovanperä, 22, crowned at the end of 2022 at the end of an incredible season for a driver with so limited experience. His calm is already legendary. It will serve him well during this 91st edition which, like all previous ones, will be tricky, difficult and complicated to manage.
For the second season of hybrid cars in the Rally1 category, inaugurated last year at the same time, the first stage times of 2023 will be known this Thursday evening in Col de Turini (SS1, 15.12km) and Col de Castillon (SS2, 24.90km), so close to Monaco. They will give an initial trend on the potential of the forces involved this year. With a special mention for another young driver: Pierre-Louis Loubet, starting his first full season at M-Sport Ford, the family team of Malcolm Wilson, alongside Tänak. Very promising!
Creating something new out of something old! For this 91st edition, the Automobile Club de Monaco provided all 400 accredited media with “upcycled” products, notably from old posters or advertising banners. These materials are given a second life in a spirit of recycling, recovery and environmental preservation. When you upcycle, you upgrade.
As a result of the combined work of the Automobile Club de Monaco, the promoter of the World Rally Championship and the FIA, the Rallye Monte-Carlo will again be broadcast in its totality this year on the TV channels of the Canal Group, with 2 special stages broadcast in free-to-air.
A special programme for a legendary rally. With the presence of 8-time Rallye Monte-Carlo winner Julien Ingrassia as co-driver, with Laurent Dupin and Manon David, and commentary provided by Stéphane Genti and Nicolas Ciamin, the Canal Group will be offering a unique coverage of this 91st edition. In addition, the Rallye Monte-Carlo will be broadcast continuously on Canal+ on Sunday morning from 7.50am to the PowerStage podium, with 4 special stages on the programme and features during the liaison times.
Monaco Info will be there to follow the Official Start from the Place du Casino on Thursday at 6.25pm. “Les Experts du Rallye” (Vanessa Dessi, Frédéric Helion, Christophe Pacaud, Franck Phillips) will review the stages of the day: Thursday 19 – 11.30pm / Friday 20 – 9pm / Saturday 21 – 10.30pm / Sunday 22 – 6.30pm.
On the digital front, the Automobile Club de Monaco will be broadcasting the Rally Start Ceremony live from the Casino Square in Monaco, as well as the Prize-Giving Ceremony. These events will be broadcast on the ACM Facebook and YouTube pages and on our website.
It will also be possible to follow the Start Ceremony on the Monaco Info website, Facebook page and mobile application.
There will be 75 crews starting from 6.30pm on Thursday 19th January from the Casino Square in Monte Carlo. In total, 10 cars will be entered in the WRC category, 27 in WRC2, 5 in RGT and 33 amateurs.
The battle for victory is sure to be fierce! Kalle Rovanperä – Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT (2022 World Champion), Sébastien Ogier – Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT (8 Times World Champion & 8-Times Monte-Carlo’s winner), Ott Tanäk – M-Sport Ford WRT (2019 World Champion) and Thierry Neuville – Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT (2020 Monte-Carlo’s Winner) are all 4 main favourites. The suspense should also be there in the secondary categories (WRC 2 / RGT / non-priority).
With less than a month to go before the start, discover the detailed maps of the 2023 Rallye Monte-Carlo route. In the Spectators Area of this page, under the heading Maps, have a look on the interactive maps via Google Maps and/or download the selected files.
Find also the access conditions to each public area (access roads, closing and reopening times), in order to plan your visit to this 91st edition. Spectator information
We remind you that these areas are dedicated to the reception of the public (marked by green net or green tape), with a minimum overhang of 1.50 m and out of the path of the competitors. Outside these areas, spectators are not permitted. It is not permitted to enter the special stages and to move around in them, on the road or on the shoulders, 30 minutes before the start of the first competitor and until the end of the event. Failure to comply with these rules may result in the delay or cancellation of the special stage.
See you on Saturday 6th May 2023 for the 6th edition of the Monaco E-Prix, which will be the 9th round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
A single price of €30 is applied for grandstand entry. Tickets for children under 16 accompanied by an adult are completely free.
The 2023 Monaco E-Prix will take place over a full day. Free practice sessions, qualifying, race, on-track demonstration: experience non-stop action both on and off the track! Enjoy activities and the world of Formula E at the Allianz Fan Village.
How to book?
For any questions or enquiries, please contact us below : [email protected] / 00 377 93 15 26 24.
Don’t miss out on this fan first opportunity to get your seat and book your ticket in the grandstands for a full day of Motorsport and passion in the unique place of the Monaco Circuit.
With 45 days to go before the start of the 91st WRC Monte-Carlo Rally, the volunteer & members of the « ACM Corps des Commissaires » met on Sunday for their traditional training day. For more than 40 years, the aim of the Circuit Routier d’Instructions Commissaires (C.R.I.C.) has been to check the application of the procedures and regulations put in place for rallies.
A necessary training to review the knowledge and skills of each participant.
More than 150 volunteers were involved between the « Chapiteau de Fontvieille » and the roads of the Monegasque hinterland where 3 fictitious special stages were programmed, in real rainy and winter conditions.
The Corps des Commissaires benefits this year from the contribution of a new generation of Commissaires with the presence of 18 new men and women, all passionate about Motor Sports and having worked on the “track” events last spring.
A real seminar between theory and practice
After a morning briefing at 9.00 am, the teams of volunteers were spread out along the route, which was prepared by the Automobile Club teams. The accent was put on the strict application of the regulations. The marshals were placed in real-life conditions with the presence of around twenty competitors.
On the practical side, the objective here is to study all types of scenarios in accordance with reality and which may occur during an event: late check-in, hazard lights, immobilisation of a competitor, red flag, etc.
At the end of the day, the general debriefing will take place, under the responsibility of the Deputy Chief Steward and the Event Director in order to draw conclusions from the training.
Our Commissaires will be back in January for the Monte-Carlo WRC Rally (19-22/01) and the Monte-Carlo Historic Rally (24/01-01/02).
Contrary to what was planned when the initial route was announced, last July, the Organizing Committee at Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) has had to cut the Classification Leg short of one Regularity Stage.
Following a decision by Conseil Departmental (District Council) of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence not to allow drivers to race on Regularity Stage N°3 between Le Castellard-Mélan and Sisteron through col de Fontbelle, during the winter season, for safety reasons, this stage has been cancelled on the program for Saturday January 28, 2023 and will not be replaced…
A few days only after the Official Rule Book was published for the 91th edition of Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo, and contrary to what was planned when the initial route was announced, last July, the Organizing Committee at Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) has reorganized the 3rd day of the event.
Following a decision by Conseil Departmental (District Council) of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence not to allow drivers to race on SS10/12 between Saint-Geniez and Thoard through col de Fontbelle, during the winter season, for safety reasons, the route for Saturday January 21, 2023, has been significantly amended.
So that Day 3 of the event is now made of a three-stage loop consisting in « Le Fugeret / Thorame-Haute » (SS9/12 – 16.80km – 8:24am/2:25pm), « Malijai / Puimichel » (SS10/13 – 17.31km – 10:05am/4:05pm) and « Ubraye / Entrevaux » (SS11/14 – 21.78km – 12:23am by day/6:23pm by night).
This loop will be run twice for a total length of 111.78km for six special stages, before and after a tyre changing zone and a compulsory regroup in Puget-Théniers, just like Friday.
