The Fastlane Motorsports Forum

Rallye Monte-Carlo, the oldest and most famous rally in the world, kick starts the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship and this year runs one week later than normal (25-28 January). While essentially an asphalt rally, the event’s winter slot in January almost certainly guarantees a tricky mix of dry and wet roads, treacherously slippery ice and snow. As such, tyre choice is always a gamble and compromise, as all these conditions could be found in one stage requiring drivers to be able to read the road, manage pace and tyre wear throughout not just one stage but an entire loop.

The teams now have one year behind them with the new generation of World Rally Cars, but competition is sure to remain as fierce and unpredictable as each manufacturer demonstrated rally-winning pace in the debut season with the cars. While most of the driver line-ups stay the same, there are nevertheless some exciting new combinations sure to add another dimension in Monte-Carlo. Reigning FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier remains with M-Sport Ford with Elfyn Evans as his regular team-mate. Bryan Bouffier, however, joins the squad as something of a specialist with eight starts and one victory to his name. Hyundai will be fielding Thierry Neuville, Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo, who returns this season with former co-driver Carlos del Barrio. Ott Tänak will make his debut for Toyota, partnering Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi, both of whom won events for the Japanese marque in its first season back in the WRC last year. Citroën regulars Kris Meeke and Craig Breen round off the manufacturer entries for the all-important season-opener.

The FIA WRC 2 and WRC 3 Championship crews will be back in action and Rallye Monte-Carlo is also the opening round of the FIA RGT Cup.

Before any of the action gets underway, however, the WRC Season Opening celebration will kick off the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship in Monaco on Thursday afternoon.

Cheeveer wrote: ↑6 years ago I took up a one month for free promo code for https://plus.wrc.com/en/

One month free: WRC18ASI

SB83 wrote: ↑6 years ago They mentioned something interesting on the broadcast. Due to the historic rally cars running, the track had been narrowed so the guys who began the second leg of the first day were at a disadvantage and with more running, there was more speed, sort of like how a fresh snowfall slows down the early runners. What is this referring to exactly? I don't know the list of the historic cars but except for cars like the Mini and Abarth, surely most of the historic cars have atleast as much track as the current cars?

Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑6 years ago

SB83 wrote: ↑6 years ago They mentioned something interesting on the broadcast. Due to the historic rally cars running, the track had been narrowed so the guys who began the second leg of the first day were at a disadvantage and with more running, there was more speed, sort of like how a fresh snowfall slows down the early runners. What is this referring to exactly? I don't know the list of the historic cars but except for cars like the Mini and Abarth, surely most of the historic cars have atleast as much track as the current cars?

Apparently being primarily RWD cars the historics take a different line to the current cars, and in many cases drag slush and crap onto the current racing line. That is my understanding and it sounds feasible to me. To compound the problem in many cases, gentlemen drivers shall we say take obscure lines. Having said that Petter Solberg in running a 4WD Escort in this years (historic) event.

Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑6 years agoHaving said that Petter Solberg in running a 4WD Escort in this years (historic) event.

SB83 wrote: ↑6 years ago

Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑6 years agoHaving said that Petter Solberg in running a 4WD Escort in this years (historic) event.

Yes, I saw a picture of his car on Twitter. I do wish he was back in the WRC though... a real fun personality.