WRC Rallye Monte Carlo 2012

WRC Rallye Monte Carlo 2012 – Preview

RSL Staff

– January 18, 2012Posted in: Featured, News, WRC

Rallye Monte-Carlo – the opening round of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship – returns to the series after an absence of three seasons, and this year marks the 80th running of one of the world’s most historic rallies.

The event is famous for its mixed conditions, most notably the potential combination of wet and dry tarmac, snow and ice, making tyre choice a critical factor. Competitors have a choice of five types of tyre; soft and extra soft compounds, snow tyres with and without studs, and a hard compound, and having the correct tyres fitted at the right time is key to Monte-Carlo success.

This is the first time for many years that a WRC event has run over five days, with the start of the event taking place in Valence and the finish in the Principality of Monaco. Five previous winners take the start this year, including Sébastien Loeb (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008), Francois Delecour (1994), Sébastien Ogier (2009), Mikko Hirvonen (2010) and Bryan Bouffier (2011).

Rallye Monte-Carlo will also mark the start of the FIA Production Car and FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championships, adding to what is already an impressive entry list.

THE 2012 ROUTE

As in 2008 – the last time Rallye Monte-Carlo was in the FIA World Rally Championship calendar – the rally starts form the city of Valence situated on the river Rhône in the Drôme Department of south-east France. Wednesday’s two stages – which each run twice – are classics of the event; Le Moulinon – Antraigues and Burzet – St Martial. Thursday’s three stages, again each repeated, include the famous St Bonnet – St Julien and Molhesabate – St Bonnet. The rally leaves Valence for Monte-Carlo on Friday taking in three special stages, including the demanding St Jean en Royans – Font d’Urle. Crews leave Monte-Carlo after lunch on Saturday to tackle the event’s most famous stages in the Col de Turini area, where the second runs will take place in the dark. Finally, on Sunday morning, the Power Stage between St Agnes and Col de la Madone will be run in the hills behind Monte-Carlo.

RALLY DATA

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:

1,772.52 km
433.36 km
18

RALLYE MONTE-CARLO TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Tuesday 17 January
Shakedown (P1 and P2), Plateau Lautagne, Valence - 08:00-10:00 hrs
Shakedown (all competitors), Plateau Lautagne, Valence - 10:00-12:00 hrs
FIA official photo-shoot, Champs de Mars, Valence - 13:00 hrs
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Valence - 14:00 hrs
Ceremonial Start, Champs de Mars, Valence - 18:00 hrs

Wednesday 18 January
First car arrives for mid-day regroup, service and Media Zone (Valence) - 12:31 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone (Valence) - 17:49 hrs
End of day Press Conference, Service Park, Valence - During the 45’ service

Thursday 19 January
First car arrives for mid-day regroup, service and Media Zone (Valence) - 12:42 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone (Valence) - 17:59 hrs
End of day Press Conference, Service Park, Valence - During the 45’ service

Friday 20 January
First car arrives for mid-day regroup, service and Media Zone (Valence) - 12:08 hrs
First car arrives at Parc Fermé (Monaco) -19:56 hrs
Note: All drivers will be directed to a Media Zone (Restaurant le Nautic)
for a minimum of 15 minutes after checking in at TC13B

Saturday 21 January
First car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone (Monaco) – 17:06 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone (Monaco) – 21:29 hrs
End of day Press Conference, Press Room, Monaco - During the 45’ service

Sunday 22 January
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone (Monaco) - 11:01 hrs
End of the rally, Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco - 11:17 hrs
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Monaco - 12:30 hrs
Prize-Giving and podium ceremony, Place du Palais Princier - 15:00 hrs

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 20 October (Valence)
Craig Breen, FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship
Per-Gunnar Andersson, FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship
Michal Kosciuszko, FIA Production Car World Rally Championship
Lorenzo Bertelli, FIA Production Car World Rally Championship
Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Total World Rally Team
Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford World Rally Team
Dani Sordo, MINI WRC Team
François Delecour, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team

Sunday 22 January (Monaco)
Winning FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship crew
Winning FIA Production Car World Rally Championship crew
Top three crews in the overall classificationRepresentative of the winning entrant

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Autograph Signing Session: On Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas.