Monte-Carlo 2016 is revealed

The opening event of the 2016 World Rally Championship will take place from January 18 to 24, and the 84th edition of Rally Monte-Carlo will offer some new features compared to the route taken this year.

After the reconnaissance at the start of the week, the shakedown on Wednesday afternoon will take place in the town of Gap, over 3,3 km. The ES d'Entrevaux-Rouaine (21,11 km) will once again open the Monegasque classic at night, but will be followed by a "novelty", the special of Barles-Seyne les Alpes (20,23 km), via the Col du Fanget, section taken in the opposite direction in 1984.

The second day, north of Gap (Hautes-Alpes), will return to known routes with Corps-La Salle en Beaumont (14,54 km) in the opposite direction from 2015 then Aspres-les-Corps-Chauffayer (25,55 km), before the Les Costes-Chaillol special (17,67 km).

Almost half of the timed course will be contested on Saturday alone. The very long Lardier and Valença-Faye special and its 51,17 km will be taken twice. The real novelty of Monte-Carlo 2016, the ES of Saint Léger les Mélèzes-La Bâtie-Neuve (17,03 km) via the Ancelle ski resort will also be on the program twice. The legendary 36 km of Sisteron? Thoard will come to conclude this marathon stage before returning to the Principality.

The Col de Turini will be on the program for the last day, but with a new route designed between La Bollène-Vésubie and Peira Cava (21,24 km). Col de l'Orme-Saint Laurent (12,02 km), to be covered twice, will be used in the second passage of the Power Stage.

Monte-Carlo 2016 route

Thursday January 21

SS1: Entrevaux-Rouaine (21,11 km) 20h
SS2: Barles-Seyne les Alpes (20,23 km) 22h

Friday January 22

SS3: Corps-La Salle en Beaumont (14,54 km) 10h
SS4: Aspres-les-Corps-Chauffayer (25,55 km) 11h
SS5: Les Costes-Chaillol (17,67 km) 11h
SS6: Corps-La Salle en Beaumont (14,54 km) 15h
SS7: Aspres-les-Corps-Chauffayer (25,55 km) 15h
SS8: Les Costes-Chaillol (17,67 km) 16h

Saturday, January 23

SS9: Lardier and Valença-Faye (51,17 km) 7h
SS10: Saint Léger les Mélèzes-La Bâtie-Neuve (17,03 km) 8h
SS11: Lardier and Valença-Faye (51,17 km) 11h
SS12: Saint Léger les Mélèzes-La Bâtie-Neuve (17,03 km) 13h
SS13: Sisteron-Thoard (36,35 km) 15h

Sunday, January 24

SS14: Col de l’Orme-Saint Laurent (12,02 km) 9h
SS15: La Bollène Vésubie-Peira Cava (21,24 km) 10h
SS16: Col de l’Orme-Saint Laurent (12,02 km) Power Stage 12h

Find more information on the route of the 2016 Monte-Carlo Rally, in issue 2022 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version and on newsstands this Wednesday.