The Monte-Carlo Rally, which starts this Thursday, kicks off a season that promises to be exciting. A look back at some highlights that have written the legend of the most difficult and most legendary event in the WRC, the last edition of which was won by Sébastien Ogier.
1973: Homeric battle
This very first round of the World Rally Championship is disputed in terrible conditions. No less than 144 competitors find themselves outside the race, stranded in the Ardèche snowdrifts! In the lead, the Alpine pilots are waging a Homeric battle. A solid leader, Jean-Claude Andruet thinks he has lost everything in a puncture that occurred in the Col du Turini, but he finally manages to prevail in extremis!
1985: the incredible rise
For its first Monte-Carlo, the legendary Peugeot 205 T 16 leads the debates thanks to the popular Ari Vatanen. Unfortunately, his co-pilot made a big mistake and pointed four minutes early to Gap's time control. The leading crew receives an eight-minute penalty! An insurmountable blow… except for Ari Vatanen. The Finn achieves the impossible and wins 5 minutes early ...
1987: funny atmosphere
At Lancia, manager Cesare Fiorio has the authority of a god. Finally, generally ... New recruit of the Italian team, Juha Kankkunen does not seem to really understand his boss when he orders to freeze the positions to ensure the double of the mark. The Finnish world champion continues to attack and surpasses his teammate Biasion, the designated winner. Finally, he agrees to apply the order ... by ostensibly stopping his car just before the finish line of the last special in front of the television cameras. Funny atmosphere.
1991: "I didn't type! "
François Delecour is still a stranger when he was recruited by Ford, but the team's leaders were not mistaken: from his first world rally, the northerner made a thunderous start. He flies over Monte-Carlo and leads with 48 seconds before the final special. Unfortunately, he died in this lap and arrived at the Turini stop point, yelling "I didn't hit! I haven't typed! Certain that everyone will imagine an error on their part. He finally finished 3rd and won in 1994.
1993: night of madness
Big match between the Ford of François Delecour and the Toyota of Didier Auriol. Before the last night, the Ford driver is more than a minute early, but his opponent then enters a daze. Despite the ice and the dark night, he took all the risks, seized command and imposed himself irresistibly. Dumbfounded, the Ford clan feeds suspicion of cheating before admitting defeat.
2002: the fatal penalty
While competing in his first Monte-Carlo, Sébastien Loeb already demonstrates the extent of his class by dominating the rally and the quadruple world champion Tommi Mäkinen. The small world of the WRC is stunned. Unfortunately, the Citroën team has the misfortune to change its tires at the wrong time. This error, which in no way affects his performance, earned him a two-minute penalty. He is only ranked second, but will make up for it by winning seven times.
