{"id":10617014,"date":"2026-02-05T22:08:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T21:08:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acm.mc\/du-spectacle-et-des-nouveaux-leaders\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T09:14:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T08:14:13","slug":"spectacle-and-new-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acm.mc\/en\/spectacle-and-new-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Spectacle and new leaders!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once again, the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique provided plenty of thrills for the 225 competitors who set off from Valence on Thursday 5 February. Snow and ice, ever-present in this 28th edition, shook up the overall standings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBefore setting off on the special stage, you think you’re Oliver Solberg… But afterwards, it’s a different story!\u201d<\/em> Ghislain Gaubert (Porsche 911 SC No. 10) was one of many drivers who enjoyed themselves on the roads of the Vercors foothills and the Diois massif.<\/p>\n

But once again, it was a tough day for some of them. In the two morning regularity stages (RS11<\/strong> and RS12<\/strong>), snow-covered<\/strong> and icy<\/strong> roads caused numerous crashes, none of which were serious for the crews involved. Among them were numbers 5, 30, 45, 72, 82, 134, 188, 219, 222 and 236. It was a veritable carnage! Most of them will do their utmost to get back on the road and make it to Monaco.<\/p>\n

Change of leaders<\/h3>\n

The Col de Carab\u00e8s<\/strong>, on RS12, really widened the gaps between the competitors. Highly technical with its icy descent, the drivers who made it to the finish line of this special stage enjoyed competing on it. \u201cIt had everything!\u201d<\/em> enthused Anthony Guillemat, driver of the No. 23 Porsche 911 SC. \u201cIt was great! I said to my co-driver: this is the best special stage we’ve had so far!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Then, on RS13, the dirty road, still damaged in places by the WRC event two weeks earlier, made the stage even more gruelling. After this perilous day, Spaniards Luis Climent Asensio and Carles Jimenez Valls (BMW 323i No. 103) lost the lead in the rally to Russian duo Ilya Kashin and Boris Kostyrko<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Volkswagen Scirocco No. 102<\/strong> crew, renowned for their consistency, continued their momentum from the previous day, winning another special stage (RS12), their third of the week. In the overall standings, they have 310 points, ahead of Ludovic De Luca \/ S\u00e9bastien Chol (393 points) and Claudio Enz \/ Cristina Seeberger (450 points).<\/p>\n

Overall Standings<\/a><\/p>\n

Last big day<\/h3>\n

This Friday, competitors will set off from Valence at 7:00 am for a long day. The second common stage includes historic sections of the Monte Carlo Rally, such as the Col des Garcinets<\/strong>, the highest point of the RS15. Competitors will contest a final regularity special stage, the longest of the day, between Auzet and Esclangon (RS16). They will then head to Dignes-les-Bains<\/strong> and Saint-Andr\u00e9-les-Alpes<\/strong> for TC, before returning to the Parc Ferm\u00e9 in Monaco<\/strong>, scheduled for 4:30 pm.<\/p>\n

Don’t miss our special live broadcast from the Port of Monaco. Follow the event live<\/strong> from 6:00 pm<\/strong> on the Automobile Club de Monaco’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.<\/p>\n