79th Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo

In stark contrast to the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge series finale (in Cyprus) 120 crews are entered to start the spectacular opening round of the IRC, held in Monte Carlo.

The rally will be celebrating it’s 100th birthday and to prove how popular this historical test of skill has become, organisers received a bumper amount of applications. In fact the last time such a high rate of applicants were received was in 1982.

World Rally Championship driver and 2003 world champion Petter Solberg is the biggest name on the entry list and has quickly become the favourite to take the win. Unlike his WRC car Solberg will be piloting a Peugeot 207 S2000. Having tested extensively in the south of France earlier this week Solberg, who has participated in the Monte 8 times previously, will be using the weekend as a chance to prepare for the 2011 WRC season – in which he will be looking to halt Citroën’s Sébastien Loeb’s championship winning run.

However tough competition will come in the form of current IRC champion Juho Hänninen who will be on top form after a truly stunning 2010 season. The Skoda Fabia driver will be making the switch to the SWRC this season so the Monte looks to be the only IRC event he will be contesting this year.

There will be ‘new team’ debuts from Guy Wilks (taking Kris Meeke’s vacant seat at Peugeot UK) and Andreas Mikkelsen who controversially snapped up Wilks’s seat at Skoda UK. Both drivers will continue to participate throughout the IRC season.

Formula One star Robert Kubica was scheduled to take part however a lack of car and contractual obligations seem to have put his IRC plans on the back burner – for the second Monte in a row.

In total 39 S2000 cars will be competing. The likes of P.G Andersson, Chris Atkinson, Freddy Loix and Bryan Bouffier are among the ranks of many talented drivers preparing to tackle this rally of attrition.

Over three days a total of 1341.75km will be covered, 337.06km of this being competitive. Day one will see the longest stage of the rally – SS2 Burzet – St-Martial – at a length of 41.06 km.

However it’s leg three that should provide some of the most thrilling viewing as the drivers pass through the Moulinet – La Bollène-Vésubie stage which runs through the infamous Col De Turini. The road known for its tight hairpins will be a huge challenge for all taking part. And if the weather seen in pre-rally tests is anything to go by, chances are that snow and ice will make it even more difficult and that’s as well as running in the dark! Further hazards could come from over-zealous fans renowned for throwing snow/ice on the road which has caught many of the best out over the years.As is tradition, only the top 60 drivers will be eligible to compete on these stages.

The rally will benefit from 14 hours of live Eurosport coverage – the details of which can be found on their website.

Last year only 57% of the field made it to the finish line, with almost double the amount of entrants this year I think yet again we will be in for an incredible rally.

Rally stats:

Date: 19th-22nd January 2011
Round: 1 of 13, FIA Intercontinental Rally Challenge
Stage surface: Asphalt – possible ice/snow also to be expected
Longest stage: SS2 Burzet – St-Martial. 41.06km
Service park: Valence, France