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Technical and administrative scrutineering came to an end at midday on Wednesday, as planned, for 63 crews taking part in the 8th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo. The battle can start, on the roads of the Alpes-Maritimes, Var, Alpes de Haute-Provence and across the Italian border. From now until Saturday, spectators will be in for a treat, since the field is very strong, as always.
For this 11th round (of 12) of the Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup 2024, Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) is particularly spoiled: 40 different models entered by 18 manufacturers. Here’s an overview of the forces at work, just a few minutes before the Grand Départ on Place du Casino, broadcast live on the ACM’s FaceBook and YouTube accounts.
Tesla is out in force
As every year, Tesla, the American pioneer of the electric car, is well represented: 15 cars entered, i.e. almost a quarter of the field, and all the models in the range invented by billionaire Elon Musk, from Didier Malga’s Model 3, winner in 2017, to the Model X and Model Y, not forgetting the Plaid variant.
On the European side, diversity is the order of the day, with German brands BMW and Volkswagen particularly well represented. The big Bavarian brand is fielding four cars, including an i4 for one of the Nice-Matin / Radio Vinci Autoroutes crews, an iX2 for Yacht Club de Monaco and an iX5 for Force Publique de Monaco. Another BMW will be entered by a Ukrainian crew.
Volkswagen as well
Its mass-market rival, historically based in Wolfsburg, can count on an armada of 12 cars (ID3, ID4, ID5, ID Buzz), thanks to two very involved clubs: the VW ID Drivers Club and the Belgian VW Club, which is entering an ID3 for Michel Decremer, winner of the last Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique in February, and an ID4 for Bruno Thiry, European rally champion in 2003.
To spice up the line-up, there’s nothing quite like Korean cars (12 in all), with a wide variety of models produced by Kia and Hyundai, Seoul’s two great rivals. On one side, Kia EV6s, notably for the 2023 winner, Spaniard Eneko Conde, and E-Niro cars, including that of Italy’s Guido Guerrini, currently 2nd in the Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup. On the other hand, Hyundai Konas, starting with that of Czech Michal Zdarsky, championship leader with two rounds to go, and a Ionic 5 entered by Be Safe, the association that escorts Monegasque partygoers home early in the morning.
First outing for the R5
Last but not least, a number of French brands will once again be taking part in the E-Rallye, with Richard Frau’s new Renault 5 “Evolution” starring in the first official outing on the roads of the latest model from the Losange brand. There will also be a Zoé, two Mégane E-Tech, a Peugeot e208, a Citroën C4, a DS3, and a host of other European cars (Audi, Cupra, Fiat, Mini, Volvo, etc.), to demonstrate the vitality of the old continent’s automotive industry.
Technical checks are complete. Now it’s time for the e-Shakedown and the first two regularity stages, SR1 and SR2, which were kept secret until one hour before the start. The 8th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo is underway!
Just a few hours before the start of the 8th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, the 11thand penultimate round of the Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup 2024, the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) will be offering live coverage of the Grand Départ, for the first time in the already long history of this extraordinary event. Find out more about the different ways to follow the event.
Starting at 1:45pm on Wednesday, Internet users will be able to log on to the ACM’s FaceBook and YouTube accounts (see links below) to watch the Grand Départ of the first competitors live, from 2pm onwards, on the sumptuous Place du Casino de Monte-Carlo, during a broadcast hosted by Alexandre Khaldi.
Numerous guests will be present alongside Alexandre, content creator and a great fan of motor sport in all its forms. There will be celebrities in attendance, as well as drivers, experienced and amateur, and organisers of this 8th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, whose entry list is plethoric: 18 car manufacturers, 40 different models, for a total of 63 crews entered, from 17 different nationalities!
During this live broadcast, a first in the long history of E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, the main features of the event will be explained, as well as all the details of the regulations. Web surfers will gain an even better understanding of what a regularity event is, and the subtleties that enable certain crews to perform better than others, often.
It will be a fun, educational and above all interactive show, during which web users will be able to put their questions, live in chat, to Alexandre Khaldi and his guests. It will also be further proof that the ACM, in addition to constantly thinking up new initiatives in the field of mobility, continues to innovate relentlessly, putting in place unprecedented technical resources to ensure that the electric adventure continues to enthrall the crowds. This has been the case since the very first Rallye Monte-Carlo des Véhicules Électriques, in 1995…
You want to follow the daily news and the backstage of this 8th edition?
Follow all the news on the official Automobile Club de Monaco accounts (Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube / Linkedin / TikTok). Find articles, results, photos and videos on www.acm.mc.
Find out more about the E-Rallye Monte-Carlo in Nice-Matin and on Radio VINCI Autoroutes (107.7 FM), partners of the event. This year, 2 crews will form the media team and will be competing to bring you the inside story of the E-Rallye. The Nice-Matin car (BMW i4 – n°15) will be made up of Denis Carreaux (Group Editor-in-Chief) & Frédéric Mlynarczyk, while the Radio VINCI Autoroutes car (Mini Countryman – n°16) will have Ilona Laffite & Virginie Decorte (station presenter) on board.
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Stay tuned!
It’s Electric Mobility Week once again in the Principality of Monaco, culminating in the Grand Départ, scheduled for Wednesday on the Place du Casino, of the 8th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, which will be broadcast live by Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) on its YouTube and FaceBook channels.
There are 63 crews entered this year, most of them amateurs, with only two still aiming for the title of Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup Champion at the start of this 11th (and penultimate) round of the 2024 season: reigning FIA champions Michal Zdarsky and Jakub Nabelek (Hyundai Kona) from the Czech Republic lead the overall standings, with two rounds to go. But they are only 13 points ahead of the Italian-Polish duo of Guido Guerrini and Artur Prusak (Kia E-Niro). Prusak is no stranger, far from it. Before becoming co-driver, he was a driver in 2016 when he won the 1st E-Rallye Monte-Carlo with Thierry Benchetrit at his side.
Several former winners at the start
Several other winners, both drivers and co-drivers, will take the start on Wednesday of this 2024 edition, including Didier Malga and Anne-Valérie Bonnel (2017), in a Tesla Model 3, Frédéric Lansiaux and Nicolas Buhot (2021), in a VW ID3, Jacques Pastor and Fulvio Gazzola (2022) as well as Spaniards Eneko Conde and Lukas Sergnese (2023), in Kia EV6s. Thierry Benchetrit, still a co-driver, he will be embarked in a Tesla Model 3 with Pierre Bonneau at the wheel. With another new feature on Wednesday afternoon: an e-Shakedown, between the start in Monaco and the RS1, to fine-tune the final settings of the 63 cars.
Le palmarès de ces dernières éditions du 𝐄-𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞-𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨 ️
On est impatient de voir qui remportera le Trophée de 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
—
2016 – Toyota Mirai – A.Prusak & T.Benchetrit
2017 – Tesla S – D.Malga & A.V.Bonnel
2018 – Toyota Mirai – A.Stricher & H.Lara… pic.twitter.com/CQ4PMYfPj8— Automobile Club de Monaco (@ACM_Media) October 21, 2024
Great Champions
As of last year, the Belgian rally champion Bruno Thiry (the 2003 European Rally Champion) in another VW, an ID4, from the Belgian VW Club, and Italian ex-F1 driver Stefano Modena (70 Grands Prix to his name, 3rd in Monaco in 1989) in an Audi e-tron, will also be among the genuine stars. And Michel Decremer, the Belgian winner of Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique earlier this year, has swapped his Opel Ascona for a VW ID3 entered by the Belgian VW Club. He and co-driver Jennifer Hugo know a thing or two about hourly averages, so we’ll have to add him to the list of contenders for overall victory on Saturday evening, after 250 km of timed sections spread over 14 Regularity Stages (RS). And a little nod to the WRC to finish, by christening the SR14 “Avis e-Power Stage”, with a specific trophy for the winning crew.
Two Media crews, seven 100% women’s crews
This year’s Media section will feature two crews carrying the colours of Nice Matin and Radio Vinci Autoroutes, instead of just one last year. They will be able to tell the story of this unique rally from the inside, in real time, to thousands of readers and listeners. Denis Carreaux (Nice Matin) will team up with Frédéric Mlynarczyk in a BMW I4, and Virginie Decorte (Radio Vinci Autoroutes), his former co-driver, will join Ilona Laffite, a journalism student and great-niece of Jacques, the famous F1 driver, in one of the seven 100% all-female crews of this 2024 edition.
The line-up is more diverse than ever: 18 carmakers, 40 different models, 17 nationalities represented, and a stronger female presence than ever. Since there are two other female drivers, Dutchwoman Beitske Visser (Polestar) and Belgian Nadia Delvaux (Peugeot e208), with a man in the right-hand bucket, and a dozen other female co-drivers.
Totally secret route
As of last year, the route will remain totally secret until one hour before the start of each competitor, every day. This applies to all four legs, scheduled from Wednesday to Saturday in three French départements: Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes de Haute-Provence and Var, with a short jaunt, as in 2023, on the heights of the Italian Riviera, just over the border.
All the crews taking part will have two main objectives: to respect the average hourly speed set by the organizers in each timed section, while managing the energy required to return to Monaco at the end of the loop. Given the increasing autonomy of electric cars, this should no longer be a major problem. For the first time, 2 legs of over 300 kilometers each will be offered to competitors in perfect autonomy, further proof of the technological progress of these cars. And there’s a further advantage: 500 Monaco Oncharging points are now dotted around the streets and parking lots of the Principality, allowing crews to recharge while they rest. No stress!
Among the 63 crews entered in this 8th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, the presence of crew no. 26, made up of Camille Gottlieb and Margaux Grundstein, stands out. In their Volvo C40, the two friends will be representing the Be Safe association, which they co-founded in the Principality in 2017 to combat the dangers of drink-driving.
Don’t drink and drive! Well-known to adults, this slogan is all the more evocative for Camille Gottlieb and Margaux Grundstein, who have made drink-driving their battle. With Be Safe, the association they set up with three other friends, the two young Monegasque women have been very active in the Principality for seven years. A telling statistic: with the help of its shuttle system, Be Safe took more than 800 people home after a festive evening last summer.
At the 8th E-Rally Monte-Carlo, the duo will not be looking after others, but will be hitting the road to rub shoulders with the 62 other crews. “Taking part in a rally was an opportunity for us to experience something new. Not only together, but also for the visibility of the association”, they say in unison.
At the idea of taking part, the President and Treasurer of the association immediately identified with the values of this “green” event. The first Be Safe shuttle, donated in 2022, is electric. “We are sensitive to anything that can improve the quality of life for everyone and enable them to live with peace of mind. We try our best to “save” people on the evenings, but if we can also do it in a more environmentally-friendly way, we’ll do it without hesitation.”
Although the E-Rallye Monte-Carlo is their first participation in an event of this type, Camille Gottlieb and Margaux Grundstein say they are highly motivated by the challenge ahead. The co-founders of Be Safe will be taking their vehicle, a Volvo C40, for two test drives early next week before taking the plunge. They are already confident in their relationship: “We’ve known each other for years, we know how we work and, above all, we have complete confidence in each other.”
With the aim of promoting their association and continuing to develop it, the pair have no intention of finishing last. “We are competitors”, they say, determined to create some great memories for themselves on the roads.
With a secret route of 14 Regularity Special Races (SR), totalling over 250 kilometers of timed sections, this 8th edition of the 100% electric version of Rallye Monte-Carlo, the 11th and penultimate round of the Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup 2024, is already shaping up, on paper, to be far more challenging than its predecessor!
The first thing you notice on reading the entry list, and the proof of the success of this 8th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, is the presence of 18 car manufacturers with 40 different models, for a total of 63 crews from 17 different nationalities! This unprecedented line-up once again makes the Monegasque event the benchmark international round of the Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup!
This enthusiasm is the reward for the continuing efforts of the Organizing Committee of Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) to promote mobility, which have been tirelessly pursued since the creation of the very first Rallye Monte-Carlo des Véhicules Électriques in 1995.
Grand Depart on Casino Square
This year’s “Grand Départ” will once again take place in the sumptuous setting of Monte Carlo’s Casino Square. On the menu: 4 intense legs, condensed and scheduled over 3 French departments (Alpes de Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes and Var) with, as last year, a short jaunt to the heights of the Italian Riviera. The event’s route is even more demanding than before, according to the ACM Organizing Committee, particularly in terms of terrain difficulty.
For once, historic special stages from the legendary “Monte-Carlo” are on the programme. But that’s not all! All-new, never-before-seen stages are also on the agenda, as a potential list of special stages for the future. Autonomy, increasingly extended for new-generation vehicles, will ultimately be one of the keys to success for competitors and manufacturers alike. Over the years, more and more of them have come to try to add their names to the event’s honours list.
Monaco On: Over 500 charging points in the Principality!
Finally, there will be no need to organize a specific recharging park: the capacity of the Monaco On charging stations in the Principality, with 575 charging points in service in public parking lots, will enable competitors to recharge their vehicles easily, within the time limits imposed by the organization…
Main Entries
N° 1 – Michal ZDARSKY (CZE) / Jakub NABELEK (CZE) – HYUNDAI KONA
– FIA ecoRally Cup 2023 Champions
– Leaders, Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup 2024 provisional standings (133.5 points)
N° 2 – Guido GUERRINI (ITA) / Artur PRUSAK (POL) – KIA E-NIRO
– ENEC FIA 2020 Vice-Champion
– ENEC FIA Co-Driver Champion 2016 & 2017
– Vice-Champions FIA ecoRally Cup 2022 & 2023
– 2nd of the Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup 2024 provisional standings (120.5 points)
– A. Prusak, Winner E-Rallye Monte-Carlo 2016 with Thierry BENCHETRIT (Toyota Miraï)
N° 3 – Eneko CONDE (ESP) / Lukas SERGNESE (ESP) – KIA EV6 GT
– FIA ecoRally Cup 2022 Champions
– 3rd of the Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup 2023
– Winners E-Rallye Monte-Carlo 2023 (KIA E-NIRO)
N° 5 – Didier MALGA (FRA) / Anne-Valérie BONNEL (FRA) – TESLA 3
– Winners E-Rallye Monte-Carlo 2017 (Tesla S)
– 2nd E-Rallye Monte-Carlo 2018 (Tesla S)
– ENEC FIA Champions 2018
N° 6 – Jacques PASTOR (MCO) / Fulvio GAZZOLA (ITA) – KIA EV6
– Winner E-Rallye Monte-Carlo 2022 (Kia EV6)
– 3rd E-Rallye Monte-Carlo 2018, with Serge PASTOR (Toyota Miraï)
N° 7 – Michel DECREMER (BEL) / Jennifer HUGO (BEL) – VW ID3 PRO S
– Winners Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2024 (Opel Ascona 400)
N° 9 – Beitske VISSER (NL) / Arthur KAMMERER (DEU) – POLESTAR 2
– Winner WSK Masters Series KZ2 (Karting) 2010
– 2nd W-Series (Single Seater) 2019 & 2022
– 13th in the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours
N° 10 – Bernard HEINE (BEL) / Valerie PIETTE (BEL) – VW ID3 PRO S
– 3rd E-Rallye Monte-Carlo 2023 (VW ID3)
N° 11 – Frédéric LANSIAUX (FRA) / Nicolas BUHOT (FRA) – VW ID3 GTX
– Winners E-Rallye Monte-Carlo 2021 (VW ID4)
N° 17 – Bruno THIRY (BEL) / Laurent SECRETIN (BEL) – VW ID4
– European Rally Champion 2003
N° 23 – Stefano MODENA (ITA) / Jack Scarlett RICHARDSON (GBR) – AUDI E-TRON
– Former F1 driver – 70 GP contested – 3rd Monaco Grand Prix 1989
N° 23 – Christophe PONSET (FRA) / Serge PASTOR (FRA) – KIA E-NIRO
– 2nd E-Rallye Monte-Carlo 2016 (Renault Zoe)
– 3rd Rallye Monte Carlo New Energies 2015 (Toyota Prius)
Schedule 2024
Administrative and technical scrutineering – Wednesday, October 23 from 5am to 11am
LEG 1: MONACO – MONACO – Wednesday, October 23
Start from Monaco, Casino Square, at 2pm
Calibration zone / Shakedown / 2 Regularity Stages (RS 1/2) to be run
Entry into Parc Fermé at 10:50pm
LEG 2: MONACO – MONACO – Thursday, October 24
Start from Monaco at 7:30am
4 Regularity Stages (RS 3/4/5/6) to be contested
Entry into Parc Fermé at 10: 20pm
LEG 3: MONACO – MONACO – Friday, October 25
Start from Monaco at 7:30am
4 Regularity Stages (RS 7/8/9/10) to be contested
Entry into Parc Fermé at 10:20pm
LEG 4: MONACO – MONACO – Saturday, October 26
Start from Monaco at 7:30am
4 Regularity Stages (RS 11/12/13/14) to be run
Entry into Parc Fermé at 3:30pm
Gala dinner and prize-giving ceremony at 8:30pm
About E-Rallye Monte-Carlo
A genuine road competition, reserved for 100% Electric vehicles (without the use of an extender), this regularity event is now very popular with automakers who come to demonstrate the technological and avant-garde potential of their vehicles in real-life conditions. Since it was granted a new name in 2016, following “Rallye Monte-Carlo des Véhicules Électriques” (from 1995 to 1999), then “Rallye Monte-Carlo Fuel Cell & Hybrids” (2005, 2006), then “Rallye Monte-Carlo des Véhicules à Energie Alternative” (from 2007 to 2011) and “Rallye Monte-Carlo des Energies Nouvelles / Rallye Monte-Carlo ZENN” (from 2012 to 2015), this 8th opus of E-Rallye Monte-Carlo counts for the Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup 2024.
This year, the Big Start will once again take place in the sumptuous setting of Casino Square in Monte-Carlo. On the menu, from Thursday to Saturday, there will be 4 very intense legs, condensed and scheduled over 3 French departments (Alpes de Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes and Var) and, as of last year, a short jaunt planned on the heights of the Italian Riviera. The Organising Committee of Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) is hoping to make the event even more challenging than before, particularly in terms of the difficulty of the terrain: for once, some historic special stages of the legendary Monte Carlo Rally will be on the menu. But that’s not all! A bunch of new regularity stages will be introduced, a host of brand new portions meant to play a part in the near future of the event. Last but not least, the ever-increasing autonomy of new-generation vehicles should ultimately be one of the keys to success for the competitors and manufacturers who have turned out in ever-greater numbers over the recent years, in order to try and add their names to the event’s list of winners…
Provisional programme 2024
Times given for information only, subject to official publication of the regulations.
Leg 1: MONACO – MONACO – Wednesday 23 October
Start from Monaco, Casino Square, at 2 pm.
Calibration zone / Shakedown / 2 Regularity Stages (SR 1 and 2) to be run
Entry into Parc Fermé at 10:50pm
Leg 2: MONACO – MONACO – Thursday 24 October
Start from Monaco at 7:30am
4 Regularity Stages (SR3, 4, 5 and 6) to be contested
Entry into Parc Fermé at 10:20pm
Leg 3: MONACO – MONACO – Friday 25 October
Start from Monaco at 7:30am
4 Regularity Stages (SR7, 8, 9 and 10) to be contested
Entry into Parc Fermé at 10:20pm
Leg 4: MONACO – MONACO – Saturday 26 October
Start from Monaco at 7:30am
4 Regularity Stages (SR11, 12, 13 and 14) to be contested
Entry into Parc Fermé at 2:30 pm
Closing dinner and prize-giving at 8:30pm
About E-Rallye Monte-Carlo
A genuine road competition, reserved for 100% electric vehicles, without the use of an extender, this regularity event is now very popular with car manufacturers and tuners, who come to demonstrate the technological and avant-garde potential of their vehicles under real conditions. It sports a new name since 2016, following on from “Rallye Monte-Carlo des Véhicules Électriques” (from 1995 to 1999), then “Rallye Monte-Carlo Fuel Cell & Hybrids” (2005, 2006), then “Rallye Monte-Carlo des Véhicules à Energie Alternative” (from 2007 to 2011) and eventually “Rallye Monte-Carlo des Energies Nouvelles / Rallye Monte-Carlo ZENN” (from 2012 to 2015). So this is the 8th edition of E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, counting for the Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup 2024…
Logic was perfectly respected at the end of an intense 7th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, from start to finish: the top two finishers in the ecoRally Cup 2022, carrying race numbers 1 and 2 on their Kia E-Niro, finished top of the official overall classification published at midday on Sunday by Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM): Spaniards Eneko Conde and Lukas Sergnese win ahead of Italy’s Guido Guerrini and Poland’s Artur Prusak, two highly experienced crews who negotiated the many pitfalls of this 2023 edition to perfection.
Because of the risk of flooding in the valleys inland from Nice, this 7th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo was cut short of two regularity stages (SR7 and SR8 on Friday morning), but that didn’t change the final result. The Spanish duo were stronger, they were always at the front and they ended their week in style, with a victory (SR14) and a 2nd place (SR15) on the final Leg which took back 58 competitors on Saturday evening to Col de Turini, where it all began on Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m very happy to win this rally, it’s a dream for every driver in the world. It’s very special for us to win here in Monte Carlo. It was a very hard, very long race, and we had to remain very calm, because a mistake was always possible, in all the stages. Turini night is very special and my co-driver was very efficient. I’d like to thank all my team for this result. When we arrived here, it was to win, to make our dream come true”, reacted Eneko Conde.
“It was very different this year, with the secret course (up to an hour before the start each day). I really like this formula, we prepared our stages well, we talked a lot in the car, but we were a bit stressed. The points we gained here will enable us to go into the final round of the championship with a real chance of winning the ecoRally Cup again, as we did last year. There are only three candidates left for the title,” added Lukas Sergnese.
Behind this Kia 1-2, the last spot on the podium was the subject of an all-out battle and it was a Belgian team that came out on top: Bernard Heine and Valérie Piette, in their ID3 entered by the Belgian VW Club. It was a richly deserved result for them, as they won two stages, and a fine reward for Belgium, which made its mark on this 7th edition: five stage wins, including two for the Heine-Piette tandem, two for Eric Cunin and Alexandre Peeters, in another VW ID3 entered by Rent Speed Racing, and one for the ID4 GTX of Jean-François Devillers and Eric Chapa of the Belgian VW Club as well.
In terms of the 19 brands represented in this 7th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, Volkswagen takes the lion’s share of honours, with 5 stage wins, ahead of Kia and Tesla (3), Nissan and Hyundai (1 each). And in the final Top 10 overall, there are 4 German cars, 2 Kias and 2 Teslas, one Nissan and one Hyundai, making a total of five car brands represented, out of19 manufacturers entering 36 different models this year.
It was another great rally, with no noise or pollution, and one more in the long series of innovative events organised by Automobile Club de Monaco for over a century. Thanks also to the support of a number of loyal partners and to the help of numerous volunteers who didn’t count their hours to make this 7th E-Rally Monte-Carlo a total success. We look forward to the 8th edition, at the end of 2024!
Several managers from the eborn network attended the final day of the 7th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo on Saturday, in their capacity as official partners of the Monegasque event. A benchmark round of the FIA eco-Rally Cup in which eborn shone, with Jérôme Aymard and Christophe Marques (Nissan Ariya) finishing 4th overall, just off the podium.
Eborn is a public network of charging points set up in 2015 by five energy syndicates in 5 French departements, including the Ardèche, a rallying area and Mecca of the ‘Monte-Carlo’ since a long time. Today, it has 11 syndicates (in 11 departments) spread across two regions (Auvergne Rhône-Alpes and Région Sud) in the large south-eastern quarter of our country (from Allier to the Var, via Drôme and Ardèche). With 2,500 charging points in both urban and rural areas across that big piece of land.
“We have a public service mission and we are seeing a steady rise in the number of people using our charging points. This clearly shows that we are responding to growing demand from users. We were the first operators to offer contactless payment”, points out Laurent Chareyre, Director of Communications for the Territoire d’Energie de la Drôme.
“Eborn is delighted to have a strong partnership with Automobile Club de Monaco, since the 2017 edition, adds Patrick Coudène, President of the Syndicat Départemental d’Energies de l’Ardèche. It allows us to demonstrate in real conditions the technological and avant-garde potential not only of electric vehicles but also of charging systems. The E-Rallye has really helped us to improve our products and processes in recent years”.
In an event that this year brings together 19 car manufacturers, with 36 different models, eborn is at ease. Because the network is fully conscious that electric mobility is not just about charging stations, but also about vehicles and motorists, who are increasingly passionate about cars and the way they evolve!
He left nothing to chance on this 5th and final Leg of the 7th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo: Eneko Conde, who came to win, added a 2nd place in RS15 (Col de Turini-Sospel, 19.118km) to his win in RS14, a few minutes earlier. Assisted by co-driver Lukas Sergnese in the number 1 Kia E-Niro, the Spaniard validated his place at the top of the provisional overall classification, waiting for the publication of the official result by Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), Sunday around noon.
And he found only one rival to match him, the Belgian crew of Eric Cunin-Alexandre Peeters (VW ID3), who had already won the very first stage (RS1) on Wednesday, in another version of Col de Turini. The circle was thus complete for Belgium, whose nationals won 5 of the 13 regularity events contested during this 7th edition: two Wednesday, one Friday, one Saturday morning in Italy and a final one on Saturday nght. With a special mention for the Belgian VW Club (3 wins out of 5, and always in the fight).
Another Belgian made his presence felt on Saturday evening, in another VW, on Col de Turini that he had often driven up and down in the WRC: Bruno Thiry, the 2003 European rally champion, who tied for 2nd in this final stage in the very fine VW ID5 he shared with Laurent Secretin. It was a fitting way to round off his first experience in an electric Monte-Carlo Rally, with a smile and a very good result.
The final night of the 7th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo started with a regularity stage familiar to WRC competitors, between Coaraze and La Cabanette (15.041 km). The only surprise, and a very relative one, was that the great favourite, Eneko Conde, partnered by Lukas Sergnese in the number 1 Kia E-Niro, won his very first stage of the rally, despite having been in a waiting position at the front since Wednesday. It was a good way of showing his main rivals that he was going to be a force to reckon with. Highly concentrated at the start in Place du Casino, he had just one thing in mind: to win this 7th edition, as a reigning Bridgestone FIA ecoRally Cup champion.
So in RS14 the Spanish duo beat off the Nissan Ariya of Jérôme Aymard and Christophe Marques, flying the colours of the eBorn recharging network (present in 11 French departments), and the Tesla Model 3 of Romain Haut-Labourdette and Yan Spano, entered by Société Monégasque d’Electricité et de Gaz (SMEG). Two crews that won stages this week and livened up the race from start to finish. In the roll of honour, Belgians showed up again, but for the first time the superb Porsche Taycan of Dirk van Rompuy and Michel Decremer, joint 4th with Czechs Zdarsky-Nabelek (Hyundai Kona), the current leaders of ecoRally Cup 2023. Ahead of another team from the flat country, Bernard Heine and Valérie Piette (6th), in their red ID3 entered by the Belgian VW Club, having already won two stages this week. So most of the favourites were ready for the grand finale in Col de Turini…
