Monte Carlo Rally Starts Off The New WRC Season
Dangerous narrow mountainous roads are a key feature of this rally
The World Rally championship gets under way in Monte Carlo today from the 23rd -26th January. The area is known for it's mountainous roads which should make it a interesting race. Those of you who get confused between Monaco and Monte Carlo it is fairly simple. Monte Carlo is a district in Monaco situated on the hill hence why the rally is held here.
The rally is the most prestigious on the tour as it is steeped in history being this the 88th edition of the rally. This year the teams are based in Gap (France) which if you follow the Tour De France you will know it is where the Alps are. The course states the surface as being tarmac and snow so the reason why teams were in Finland the other day honing their skills competing in the local rally event which I did a previous post on this week.
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The rally covers 302 kilometers and the 4 days are split up into 16 special stages with the finish line at the famed Casino Square in Monaco on Sunday. This year sees 88 entrants in the event with 11 competing in the World Rally Championship and 18 in the WRC 2 and WRC 3 classes. The rest are all privateers who can't score points and are there just to try their luck and have fun.I am sure their are some.
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Imagine this covered in ice and snow the famed Col de Turini.
The Rally course is famed for one section called Col de Turini which is 31 kilometers long on a narrow mountain pass filled with hairpin bends normally covered in ice and snow. Spectators throw snow on the road hoping for some extra excitement. In 2005 a team skidded on a snowy corner and ripped a wheel off their car, who knows it may have been bad luck or planned by the spectators.
I will be looking out for this years race seeing what the new youngster from Finland Kalle Rovanperä can do as he has just been given a racing seat with Toyota. He is the youngest to be given a factory works deal so I will follow him to see how he does. Sebastien Loeb is probably the favorite as he has won this event 7 times previously.
What makes this event even more testing than just the windy roads is the track conditions themselves.Teams have to be very careful with tire selections as often the course can encounter dry road surfaces followed by heavy ice and snow. Teams will gamble hoping to get things right for their drivers. This should be fun and entertaining to watch as there are bound to be some decent crashes on this one.
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@tipu curate
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Dang, those are some nasty switchbacks! Has anyone ever had a major accident in this rally? I can't believe they allow the spectators to throw the snow on the road. Wouldn't you feel horrible if you did that and someone died?
I think the corners stop them from going too fast so it isn't as dangerous as it could be. Would have hated to have driven this road way back with the old cars though as that must have been risky.
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