WRC
Ten Rally1s at the start of the Monte-Carlo 2025 which was sold out
The three Rally1 teams will be present, as last year, at the start of the 93rd Monte-Carlo (Photo: Nikos Katikis/DPPI)
Every year at the same time, it's the same wait. For fans, the first list of entries for the championship is of particular importance. This is all the more true for the Monte-Carlo which always holds a special place in the WRC. For the 93e edition, the organizers once again found themselves faced with the difficult obligation of making a selection from the 92 complete registration files. The space used for the service park in Gap is not expandable and for reasons of fluidity on the timings, it is no longer possible to accommodate grids identical to those of the 80s. The 2025 one has 70 cars and the poster promises to be very beautiful.
In the premier category, there is no real surprise with the 5 Toyota Yaris announced, all three Hyundai i20 including the beginner's one Adrien fourmaux (associated with Alexandre Coria) and the two Ford Pumas. In total, this represents 10 Rally1s with them at the head Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe who will wear the No. 1 on their doors for the first time. Although he warned that his year would be less busy than 2024, Sébastien Ogier (which will again be sailed by Vincent Landais) could not miss this meeting. For the Gapençais, it will be the opportunity to take revenge after his defeat against Neuville last year.
As expected, the Rally2s are the most numerous and the quality is there. However, it is necessary to distinguish those who will be there just to compete in the rally like Oliver Solberg or Fergus Greensmith and those who will play for victory in WRC2. The latest winner, Yohan Rossel knows that he will have to be wary of Nikolay Gryazin who is back in a Skoda Fabia RS. The first place should be played out between them with perhaps Éric Camilli as referee at the wheel of the new Hyundai i20 N Step2. Several Frenchmen will be at the start with varying ambitions. Léo Rossel, Pablo Sarrazin, Sarah Rumeau or Elliot Delecour will have to discover this always tricky event. Having already competed in it, Mathieu Margaillan can aim higher. Other boys like Roberto Daprà, Charles Munster or Maxime Potty will try to stand out from the crowd.
In WRC3 also the Tricolores will have their say. Among the 8 entered in WRC3, Mattéo Chatillon (Clio) and Ghjuvanni Red (who moved to the Fiesta) will try to beat the reigning champion Diego Dominguez (Fiesta). The Monte-Carlo is often a matter of experience and in this area Richard Frau or Olivier Burri do not lack it, the Swiss celebrating his 25th participation. On a dry course, Raphaël Astier (associated with the tireless Denis Giraudet) will try to come and interfere in the middle of the Rally2. Finally, this meeting would not really be complete if it did not also welcome amateurs. The locals (Christophe Ganguet, Christophe Barneaud, Renaud Dolce or Thibaut Poizot ...) did not want to miss the event of the year in Gap just like the Monegasques Christophe Berard or Marc Dessi.
> The full list of entrants for the 2025 Monte-Carlo Rally can be found HERE.
ALSO READ > WRC 2025 Calendar: discover the complete agenda of the 14 rallies
Loïc ROCCI
Journalist specializing in rallying past, present and future... and with a southern accent
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Mercier Didier
03/01/2025 at 08:56 a.m.
No harm in filling up 70 crews when a few years ago there were 120 or more at the start. When we see the final result of some in recent years they would do well to leave room for young people who want it and put on a show.