Monte Carlo Rally

The Monte Carlo Rally is the crown jewel event of the World Rally Championship and has roots back to Prince Albert I arranging the first in the glamour of Monaco in 1911.

Prince Albert oversaw the birth of the Monte Carlo Rally in his quest to draw tourists to visit the Principality and the Casino de Monte-Carlo. His idea was to hold an automobile event in the south of France which tested innovation and viewed Monte Carlo as its end destination.

Multiple locations have been the start point for the Monte Carlo Rally, which has also used a number of formats. The event also only became a part of the WRC calendar for the first time in 1973 and again in 2012. It started the Intercontinental Rally Challenge from 2009 to 2011.

The World Rally Championship has often chosen the Monte Carlo Rally as the opening event of its calendar, as well. Kicking off each year, generally in January, further ensures the Monte Carlo poses a special challenge for the drivers taking part with a mixture of road conditions.

History of the Monte Carlo Rally

Snow, ice, rain and sunshine – even all within the same stage – are trademark aspects of the Monte Carlo Rally. The varying conditions met on the roads in and around Monaco offer any drivers taking part a special challenge, with selecting the correct tyres a particular challenge.

Modifications to the format of the Monte Carlo Rally through its history have also presented various challenges for the competitors. The event as it is today is a far, far cry from what the Automobile Club de Monaco first created at the behest of Prince Albert from 1909 to 1911.

It took two years to arrange the debut running of the Monte Carlo Rally for 1911 as it would start in various cities all across Europe, roughly equidistant from the Principality. The 23 cars taking part then had to reach Monaco before a Concours d’Elegance to test several factors.

Along with the time it took the cars to reach Monaco, the Concours d’Elegance then judged the condition of each car and the comfort of its passengers. The arbitrary judging even took into account the number of passengers per vehicle plus the pieces of luggage being carried.

Given the requirements laid out to win the Monte Carlo Rally in 1957, one entrant even tried to win the rally in a bus whilst carrying 10 passengers. The earliest years in the history of the Monte Carlo Rally even feature chauffeur-driven limousines competing in the Maritime Alps.

Just the outbreaks of the First World War and WWII have also interrupted the running of the Monte Carlo Rally. It has otherwise run continually since 1911 – resuming in 1924 after WWI and 1949 after WWII. It was also not until after WWII that the format started to truly evolve.

Long gone are the days of multiple starting cities with the goal of reaching Monaco. Instead, the Monte Carlo Rally fell into line with other events on the calendar with multiple stages to determine the best overall times. Yet it still retains the event’s unique glamour and prestige.

From the event’s beginnings to what it is now, the Monte Carlo Rally also remains the crown jewel of the WRC and the wider rallying world. It is the oldest and the most prestigious rally, with its name alone often a quick-to-make association for those who do not support rallying.

What does it take to win the Monte Carlo Rally?

The Monte Carlo Rally is very unique with the tarmac rally often held in the Maritime Alps in January. Kicking off the WRC season in January ensures the Monte Carlo Rally goes through an array of varying weather conditions, with snow and ice regularly on the cards every year.

A few of the Monte Carlo Rally’s stages are also held at night in pitch-black conditions, thus drivers require additional light pods – often favouring an extra row of headlights or now LED bars. Tyre choice is also critical given the potential for snow and ice on otherwise dry roads.

Lancia are the most successful manufacturer at the Monte Carlo Rally

Across the history of the Monte Carlo Rally, no manufacturer has sealed the win more often so far than Lancia have with 13 overall victories. Monegasque motorsport hero Louis Chiron also gifted the Italian brand their first Monte Carlo Rally win in 1954 driving a Lancia Aurelia.

Chiron also survived a protest rival teams lodged regarding an insufficient number of models being built to satisfy the regulations. Driving-wise, Chiron was often faultless and his smooth driving style especially shone through over the 164-mile regularity test in the Maritime Alps.

Sandro Munari would even go on to secure Lancia a further four Monte Carlo Rally victories between 1972 and 1977 with three coming while driving the iconic Lancia Stratos HF. Didier Auriol secured Lancia’s final Monte Carlo Rally wins in 1990 and 1992 with a Delta Integrale.

List of every Lancia win at the Monte Carlo Rally:

Sebastien Ogier has won the Monte Carlo Rally a record nine times

Numerous drivers, mostly from European countries, have won the Monte Carlo Rally but no person has taken more overall victories on the famous roads above Monaco than Sebastien Ogier. The Frenchman has registered nine Monte Carlo Rally wins since his first during 2009.

What’s more, Ogier has won the Monte Carlo Rally across three different decades and with five different manufacturers. He has registered home glory with Peugeot, Volkswagen, Ford, Citroen and Toyota. But Ogier’s first Monte Carlo Rally win was not as part of a WRC season.

The Gap, Hautes-Alpes native first tasted glory at the iconic event in 2009 when the Monte Carlo Rally marked the start of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. It was not until the 2014 edition that Ogier won his debut Monte Carlo Rally as part of the World Rally Championship.

List of every Monte Carlo Rally win by Sebastien Ogier:

How to buy tickets for the Monte Carlo Rally

As the Monte Carlo Rally is largely run on public roads, fans do not have to buy tickets to get up close and personal to the high-speed WRC action with free public access to the stages. But WRC fans visiting the Monte Carlo Rally can buy hospitality packages for extra access.