RALLY MONTE CARLO 2012

After a three-year absence, the legendary Monte-Carlo Rally returns to the World Rally Championship. After celebrating its 100th anniversary as part of the IRC, the “Monte”, with its 18 special stages and 430 competitive kms is the curtain raiser on the 2012 campaign.

The 80th edition of the Monte-Carlo Rally will begin in the French city of Valence with two stages to be run twice. On Thursday 19 January, the WRC field will head to the Ardeche and Haut Loire regions, before heading to the Drôme region and eventual arrival in Monaco during the night. On Saturday 21 January, the legendary « Moulinet-La Bollene Vesubie » and « Lantosque-Luceram » stages will be run, with the first run put in during the day and the second after nightfall. Sunday 22 January will feature just one stage, the 5.2km Power Stage.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2012

Sébastien Loeb set the first scratch time of the season before Jari-Matti Latvala took the lead of the rally. The Citroen star retook the lead when the Finn rolled on SS4 and retired from the event. Loeb progressively stretched his lead over Dani Sordo, who was busy battling Petter Solberg for second place. Sixth place overall at the time, Sébastien Ogier in a Skoda Fabia S2000 had a violent accident on SS10 and he too was out of the running. Loeb went on for his sixth Monte-Carlo triumph and with best time in the Power Stage took a maximum 28 points. Fourth place Mikko Hirvonen picked up two additional points, while fifth in the classifications Evgeny Novkiov took the final bonus point. Dani Sordo’s second place finish warmed the hearts of those old enough to remember Mini’s Monte-Carlo glory day’s of the 1960’s. Petter Solberg finished on the bottom step of the podium in his return to the Blue Oval squad. Eight-time defending world champion, Sébastien Loeb left the Principality with a 10 point lead over Sordo and 13 better than the 2003 WRC world champion, Solberg.   

 

2012 : Loeb/Elena
2008 : Loeb/Elena
2007 : Loeb/Elena
2006 : Gronholm/Rautiainen
2005 : Loeb/Elena

1 - Loeb
2 - Sordo
3 - Solberg
4 - Hirvonen
5 - Novikov
6 - Delecour
7 - Campana
8 - Tanak
9 - Prokop
10 - Araujo

Wednesday January 18
SS1 Le Moulinon-Antraigues 1
(36.87km) – 9h03
SS2 Burzet-St Martial 1
(30.48km) – 10h21
SS3 Le Moulinon-Antraigues 2
(36.87km) – 14h21
SS4 Burzet-St Martial 2
(30.48km) – 15h39

Thursday January 19
SS5 Labatie d’Andaure-Lalouvesc 1
(19km) – 9h33
SS6 St Bonnet-St Julien Molhesabate 1
(25.22km) – 10h14
SS7 Lamastre-Gilhoc-Alboussière 1
(21.66km) – 11h37
SS8 Labatie d’Andaure-Lalouvesc 2
(19km) – 14h50
SS9 St Bonnet-St Julien Molhesabate 2
(25.22km) – 15h31
SS10 Lamastre-Gilhoc-Alboussière 2
(21.66km) – 16h54

Friday January 20
SS11 St Jean en Royans-Font d’Urle
(23.28km) – 10h02
SS12 Cimetière de Vassieux-Col de Gaudissart
(24.13km) – 10h43
SS13 Montauban S/Ouveze-Eygalayes
(29.89km) – 15h11

Saturday January 21
SS14 Moulinet-La Bollene Vesubie 1 
(23.41km) – 15h11
SS15 Lantosque-Luceram 1
(18.81km) – 15h54
SS16 Moulinet-La Bollene Vesubie 2
(23.41km) – 19h34
SS17 Lantosque-Luceram 2
(18.81km) – 20h17

Sunday January 22
ES18 Ste Agnès-Col de la Madone
(5.16km) – 10h01

Name: Sébastien Loeb
Date of birth: 1974, 26 Feb
Country: France
WRC start: Catalunya 1999
Codriver: Daniel Elena
Sébastien Loeb >>