Demanding in more ways than one!

As always, the Organising Committee of Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) hopes that this 93^rd edition of Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo will be a highly selective event, and perhaps even more so than previous editions.So let us take a look at this inaugural round of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), which should appeal to professional drivers and amateurs alike…

Following on from the recce scheduled from Monday January 20 to Wednesday January 22, the competitors authorised to take part will have their first opportunity to test themselves in competition mode during the Shakedown (3.28km) from 4:01 pm on Wednesday afternoon. This is the route introduced in 2017, along Route de la Garde in Gap, the city which hosted the event from 2014 to 2021 and has been chosen again since 2024.

The official start of the 93^rd Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo is scheduled for the following day, on Thursday January 23 at 2:30 pm, from Casino Square in Monaco. On the menu for this first 100% nightly leg are three special stages totalling 54.16 kilometres. Organised in the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes, the special stages of Digne-les-Bains / Chaudon-Norante (SS1 – 19.01 km – 6.05 pm), Faucon-du-Caire / Bréziers  (ES 2 – 21,18 km – 7.53 pm) and Avançon / Notre-Dame-du-Laus (SS3 – 13.97 km – 9.06 pm ), very complex in terms of tyre choices, should already make it possible to establish an initial significant hierarchy.

Two departments (Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) will host the second day of rallying, on Friday January 24, totalling 107.34 kilometres against the clock. With a loop of three special stages to be contested twice, comprising Saint-Maurice / Aubessagne (SS4/7 – 18.68 km – 9.31 am / 3.23 pm), Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes / La Bâtie-Neuve (SS5/8 – 16.68 km – 10.34 am / 4.26 pm ) and La Bréole / Selonnet (SS 6/9 – 18.31 km – 11.42 am / 5.34 pm), this 2^nd leg will only confirm the increasing pace of difficulties.

The third day of rallying, on Saturday January 25, is mainly based in the Drôme department, with a total of 131.40 timed kilometres. With a loop of three special stages to be completed twice, this day is undoubtedly the most difficult for the crews. On the menu, La Motte-Chalancon / Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert (SS10/13 – 27.00 km – 08:59 am/2:59 pm), followed by the new Aucelon / Recoubeau-Jansac (SS11/14 – 20.85 km – 10:05 am/4:05 pm),and La Bâtie-des-Fonts / Aspremont (SS12/15 – 17.85 km – 11:08 am/5:08 pm).

Finally, on Sunday January 26, three stages totalling 50.90 kilometres will be contested between Gap and Monaco, on the following timed sectors: Avançon / Notre-Dame-du-Laus (SS16 – 13.97 km – 6:39 am), Digne-les-Bains / Chaudon-Norante (SS17 – 19.01 km – 8:32 am) and, last but not least, La Bollène-Vésubie / Peïra-Cava (SS 18 – 17.92 km – 12:15 pm) which will count as the Power Stage. The prize-giving ceremony will take place on Casino Square in Monaco from 4:15 pm…