The 28th edition of the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique once again provided a day full of excitement and drama for the 225 crews who set off from Valence on Thursday, February 5th.
The wintry conditions, with snow and ice constantly present on the roads, upended the overall standings and put the competitors’ skills to the test. “Before setting off on the special, you think you’re Oliver Solberg… but then it’s a whole different story!” commented Ghislain Gaubert, at the wheel of the number 10 Porsche 911 SC, as he tackled the slopes of the Vercors and Diois massif.
The day, while fascinating, was challenging for many crews. During the two morning regularity tests (RS11 and RS12), snow- and ice-covered roads caused numerous accidents. Fortunately, these accidents did not seriously injure the participants, but they did force several crews to attempt to return to the race in the following days.
Change at the top
The Col de Carabès special stage, part of the RS12, significantly widened the gaps between competitors. Its icy descent and technical difficulties made the difference, rewarding those who maintained concentration and pace. “It was perfect! I told my co-driver: ‘This is the best special stage we’ve done so far!'” said Anthony Guillemat, driving the No. 23 Porsche 911 SC.
In the following RS13, the dirty road, still bearing the effects of the previous weeks’ WRC event, made the test even tougher. By the end of the day, the Russian duo of Ilya Kashin and Boris Kostyrko had taken the lead, displacing Spaniards Luis Climent Asensio and Carles Jimenez Valls, driving the #103 BMW 323i, from first place.
The particularly consistent Volkswagen Scirocco number 102 continued its good pace by winning another special stage (RS12), consolidating its position in the overall standings ahead of Ludovic De Luca / Sébastien Chol and Claudio Enz / Cristina Seeberger.
Next steps
The competitors will set off again from Valence the following morning for a long day of racing: the second shared stage includes historic sections of the Monte-Carlo Rally, such as the Col des Garcinets, the highest point of the RS15. Before returning to Monaco, there will be one final regularity stage, the longest of the entire rally, between Auzet and Esclangon, followed by stretches to Digne-les-Bains and Saint-André-les-Alpes.
The competition will continue with the iconic “Nuit du Turini”, the night-time special that promises new surprises, before the final arrival in Monaco , scheduled for the night between 7 and 8 February.