This new stage covers 4 kilometres in the opposite direction and the last 6 kilometres of the 2024 ‘Bayons / Breziers’ stage. Bye bye the ‘Tourniquets’, but this stage will still be no stress-free! The section between the start at Faucon-du-Caire and Bellaffaire is an hors d'oeuvre on a wide, fast road, ideal for warming up the tyres. The last 12 kilometres of the loop around Bréziers, on the other hand, will be much narrower and highly technical, alternating between uphill and downhill, with numerous shady areas and the risk of black ice in winter conditions...

Record: Nouvelle Epreuve / New Stage

Fast and technical with many changes of direction and tarmac coating to Jarjayes, culminating with the Col du Tourrond to cross (1048m), as well as say that this event revealed in 2019 and also ran in 2020 should allow the most skilled to make the difference, including in the descending part until the arrival at Notre-Dame-du-Laus, spiritual high place of the Southern Alps…

Record: Epreuve légèrement modifiée / Stage slightly modified

Since 2018, the start has been slightly moved, in order for crews to race through Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes, including a full circle of the roundabout at the village entry, just for the sake of the show. Going uphill to Col de Moissière (1574 m), there is a lot of pace, despite a very narrow and winding part, including hairpins, going out of Ancelle. At this time of winter, the village is a ski resort and one of its ski trails is open to competitors of the 93rd Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo… so the show is guaranteed! Going downhill then, the road is very narrow and sinuous in the Sapet forest, which should also allow for a few surprises on a bumpy road where snow-ploughs never show up at this time of year. The end of the stage is wider, heading to La Bâtie-Neuve, including a few beautiful hairpins to spice up this final portion…

Record: T. Neuville / M. Wydaeghe – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid (ES/SS 6 - 2024) 9’09’’ (109,40 km/h)

This fast stage, run at night or by day as last year is back… with a change since 2021. The uphill portion, from the start in La Bréole through the Col de Charamel (1,242m) and Col des Fillys (1,322m), followed by a quick downhill portion to Selonnet, remain the same, but the second part is modified, from the junction between D7/D900C where drivers now need to turn right and follow the Blanche valley during 2 kilometers. The stage then uses the final portion, but in reverse mode, of the original really fast version of « La Bréole / Selonnet »…

Record: S. Ogier / V. Landais – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid (ES/SS5 – 2024 – Jour/Day) – 10’10.8’’ (107,9 km/h)
Record: S. Ogier / V. Landais – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid (ES/SS8 – 2024 – Nuit/Night) – 10’26.3’’ (105,2 km/h)

This is the great novelty of this 2025 edition. The 13-kilometre ascent of the Col de Penne (1040m) from Aucelon, well known by the cyclists for its positive gradient of over 600 metres, is finally now open to the World Championship rallymen! It's a real piece of bravery, winding and narrow on both the uphill and downhill sections towards Recoubeau-Jansac, and requires concentration at all times. It's an event not to be underestimated, both because of the topography of the field and because of the year's weather risks, with many sections exposed to frost...

Record: Nouvelle Epreuve / New Stage

This is the modified version of the 2019 ‘Valdrôme / Sigottier’. It's a very fast-paced special stage, starting now from La Bâtie-des-Fonds, one of the smallest villages in France (just 2 inhabitants counted) where the Drôme river rises. The road is initially narrow and winding towards the Col de Carabes (1261m), the natural border between the Drôme and Hautes-Alpes departments. The descent is very technical as far as La Piarre, before tackling a very fast final section of 8 kilometres to Aspremont...

Record: Epreuve modifiée / Stage modified

Only contested 3 times in the past in this direction (1977/78/89), the legendary Col de Corobin (1230 m) special stage, reintroduced in 2024, hold always many surprises for competitors at this time of the year. From the start at the Etablissement Thermal de Digne-les-Bains to the finish at Chaudon-Norante, on a bumpy road with a succession of fast and slow sections including hairpins, both uphill and downhill, there's never any time for improvisation on this stage!

Record: T. Neuville / M. Wydaeghe – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid (ES/SS 16 - 2024) 11’10.2’’ (102,10 km/h)

It's the mythical ‘Turini’ in its 2018/2019 version, with a start in the centre of La Bollène-Vésubie, where, for the show, the competitors will perform a 360° in front of the town hall. The uphill portion will cause no major problem, all the way to the pass (1607 m), thanks to its geographical position and topography. The difficulties may start when approaching the top and especially on the way down to Peïra-Cava, a fast and winding road under the trees, where snow and ice are two essential elements of the setting at this time of year…

Record: T. Neuville / N. Gilsoul – Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC (ES/SS 15 - 2019) - 11’25.5’’ (105,2 km/h)