Last tests before Monte-Carlo

The 2022 World Rally Championship season will kick off on Thursday January 20 with the Monte-Carlo shakedown between Sainte-Agnès and Peille. The three teams entered took advantage of this week to carry out a final preparation.

Published on 12/01/2022 à 11:08

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The teams carried out their final tests in preparation for Monte-Carlo. ©Sophie Graillon

The regulations regarding trial sessions in WRC This means that crews can generally ride for a day before the events. This explains that the 11 drivers who are preparing to take the start of the 90^e edition of Monte-Carlo have or will all benefit from a few hours with their mount this week.

At Toyota, c’est Kalle Rovanperä qui a ouvert les hostilités sur une route enneigée et verglacée dans le Dévoluy. Plus au sud, sur les hauteurs de Lucéram, Ott Tänak found himself on a completely dry road surface. It is also on this ground that Thierry Neuville was able to make the final adjustments with a completely white i20. There was more color and spectacle in the Hautes-Alpes with two generations of French pilots. Based in Agnières-en-Dévoluy, not far from where he grew up, Sébastien Ogier achieved its 3^e session with the Yaris since the rally from Monza with a view to Monte-Carlo.

Sébastien Ogier was entitled to his 3rd session with the Yaris hybrid. ©TGR

Still in camouflage mode, the Japanese was equipped with its mirrors for the first time. While it is often difficult to get an idea of performance, since the crews race on their own and end up compensating because they know the base by heart, the world champion's pace seemed very good.

A feeling also felt when watching the evolution of the Ford PumaAdrien fourmaux, elle aussi en mode « combat » et sur laquelle on peut difficilement douter de l’implication de Ford. L’équipe M-Sport avait choisi la station d’Ancelle au nord-est sur les hauteurs de Gap pour réaliser ce dernier roulage. Sur une chaussée enneigée et verglacée réclamant un pilotage précis, le jeune tricolore est apparu très à l’aise avec le SUV américain. Pour celui qui a effectué le plus de kilomètres avec une Rally1 hybride, il va falloir maintenant confirmer ces bonnes impressions visuelles dans les spéciales. Les teams vont poursuivre le travail le reste de la semaine.

Oliver Solberg sera le dernier à évoluer avec la Hyundai, Elfyn Evans et Takamoto Katsuta auront un jour chacun chez le TGR tout comme Craig Breen and Gus Greensmith on the Puma. On his return from the Dakar, Sébastien Loeb should also benefit from a day to forget the BRX and the sand. Most of the protagonists will meet in Salzburg this Saturday for the presentation of the 2022 championship.

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