An Equation with many variables!

Despite facing multiple administrative and regulatory challenges, the Automobile Club of Monaco’s Organizing Committee has successfully finalized the framework of the 94^th Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo – a feat requiring precision and flexibility. As the opening round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship* (WRC), this legendary road event is poised to attract high-caliber teams and elite drivers from across the globe.

Reconnaissance runs will be conducted from Sunday, January 18 through Tuesday, January 20. Participating crews will then engage in a modified shakedown session on January 21 at 14:01. Measuring 4.80 km, the trial route – first introduced in 2017 and extended for this edition – now integrates the Rabou’s road in Gap, host city from 2014 to 2021 and again from 2024.

The official start of the 94^th Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo is set for Thursday, January 22 at 14:00 from the podium ramp installed on Quai Albert 1^er in Monaco. This initial leg features three special stages, totaling 61.58 kilometers. Held in the departments of Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the stages « Toudon / Saint-Antonin » (SS 1 – 22,90 km – 15h35), « Esclangon / Seyne-les-Alpes » (SS 2 – 23,48 km – 18h03) and « Vaumeilh / Claret » (SS 3 – 15,20 km – 19h51) promise the potential for major surprises right from the start.

Two departments, Drôme and Hautes-Alpes, will host the second day of rallying, with a total of 129.38 kilometers against the clock. This leg comprises a three-stage loop repeated twice, including « Laborel / Chauvac-Laux-Montaux » (SS 4/7 – 17,84 km – 08h36/14h58), « Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert / La Motte-Chalancon » (SS 5/8 – 29,00 km – 10h04/16h26) and « La Bâtie-des-Fonts / Aspremont » (SS 6/9 – 17,85 km – 11h22/17h44). This second leg, packed with technical challenges, is simply the longest of the entire rally.

While shorter in length, Saturday’s mostly Alpes-de-Haute-Provence-based stage remains equally demanding. It features a total of 78.22 kilometers of timed sections, including the band-new « La Bréole / Bellaffaire » via the Garcinets pass (SS 10/12 – 30,10 km – 08h05/12h05), run twice, and a daytime reprise of « Vaumeilh / Claret » from Thursday evening (SS 11 – 15,20 km – 09h18). In contrast to the 2025 edition, this year the return to Monaco happens Saturday afternoon and wraps up with a super special stage – currently under consideration – the first since 2008 (SS 13 – 2,82 km – 17h45), set on the lower section of the iconic Monaco Circuit.

Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo will culminate with a thrilling final showdown across two legendary mountain stages, each repeated twice and totaling 71.62 kilometers. Crews will tackle « Col de Braus / La Cabanette » (SS 14/16 – 12,48 km – 08h00/11h10) and « La Bollène-Vésubie / Moulinet » (SS 15/17 – 23,33 km – 09h05/13h15), with the second run of the latter serving as the Wolf Power Stage – a decisive moment where drivers can gain crucial championship points. The rally will officially conclude with the final podium and awards ceremony held at Port Hercule, beginning at 17:00…

Note: All timings and distances are provisional until publication of the official itinerary.
*Subject to approval of the 2026 WRC calendar by the FIA World Motor Sport Council