The 2025 World Rally Championship season got off to a strong start thanks to the Monte Carlo Rally shakedown, and it was Hyundai’s Ott Tänak who set the first benchmark. Tänak edged Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä by 0.7 seconds on the two-mile Route de la Garde stage, a course known for its difficult and rapidly deteriorating conditions. Nine-time Monte Carlo winner Sébastien Ogier completed the top three.
A Wet and Difficult Start
The stage, marked by wet weather and mud thrown onto the road by previous cars, immediately put the drivers to the test. With the Rally1 cars now without hybrid systems and equipped with new Hankook tires, it was essential to adapt quickly.
Tänak, who was running third, took advantage of his early start and set a time 1.3 seconds faster than his Hyundai teammate Thierry Neuville, who was first to start. Reflecting on his race, Tänak said:
“The grip is quite unpredictable at the moment, and there isn’t much of that [adhérence] at the moment, so it’s tricky.”
Rovanperä Impresses Despite Conditions
Two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä, making his full-time return to the series, showed his mastery by setting the second-fastest time. Starting seventh, he overcame the increasingly muddy track with remarkable effort.
-“The road is already full of mud everywhere, so I think it’s going to be a difficult weekend,” commented Rovanperä.
Ogier’s experience shines
Sébastien Ogier, a veteran with nine wins at Monte Carlo, demonstrated his mastery by improving significantly during his second stint, despite the difficult conditions.
“It could be a very difficult weekend,” noted Ogier, citing the lack of snow typical of Monte Carlo and the abundance of water and mud.
Top performance on the field
- Elfyn Evans : Finished fourth, just 0.2 seconds behind Ogier, and expected a tougher Monte Carlo compared to last year.
- Thierry Neuville : Improved in his second race but finished fifth. The reigning world champion admitted the 2025 season won’t get any easier, despite wearing the coveted number 1.
- Takamoto Katsuta : Rounded out the top six with another strong performance for Toyota.
Notable Performances and Challenges
- Adrien Fourmaux : Making his Hyundai debut, Fourmaux experimented with tire combinations and finished seventh, 3.9 seconds off Tänak’s pace.
- Josh McErlean : The Irishman impressed on his Rally1 debut for M-Sport, setting the fastest time among the Ford Pumas and finishing eighth.
- Sami Pajari : The WRC2 champion, now with Toyota, encountered wildlife interruptions, slowing down to avoid deer on the road.
Rally2 class
- Oliver Solberg : Dominated the Rally2 field, 3.2 seconds ahead of Nikolay Gryazin’s Škoda. However, neither driver is competing for WRC2 points this weekend.
- Yohan Rossel : The fastest among the WRC2 points contenders despite going off the track during his first pass.
At the Horizon
As the Monte Carlo Rally officially begins, unpredictable conditions and evolving tire strategies promise an exciting and challenging event. With Tänak setting the pace from the start and Rovanperä as well as Ogier showing their worth, the stage is set for a thrilling battle on the iconic roads of Monte Carlo.
