Monte-Carlo refuses the WRC

After two years of absence, many fans of the event, including the teams and drivers of the WRC, wanted to see Monte-Carlo return to the WRC. But the antagonisms were too great between North One Sport and the FIA, promoter and organizer of the World Championship, and the Automobile Club de Monaco, organizer of the event. On the one hand, the demands of Rally of global standing; on the other, those of the ACM, which does not want to disfigure this monument to motorsport.

To maintain its specificity, the Monte-Carlo Rally will not return to the WRC in 2011. For drivers and supporters, this decision is damaging. A real challenge with its asphalt with changing grip, the event has built an unmissable reputation and offered a first challenge at the start of the season to WRC drivers. In addition, fans of the Monte-Carlo Rally will not be able to enjoy the driving skills of the world's best drivers, unless committed on a case-by-case basis, such as Sébastien Ogier and Mikko Hirvonen in 2010.

Beyond 2011, will the Monte-Carlo Rally be able to re-enter the World Championship? It is still too early to say, but we can rightly believe that the antagonisms which have prevented a rapprochement in recent weeks will continue to exist. The ACM, satisfied with being able to bring together a quality field each year despite the absence of the World Championship label, will be able to continue the adventure in IRC.

If the Monte-Carlo Rally disappears from the calendar, the FIA ​​and North One Sport have chosen not to replace the Monaco round. The calendar for the next World Championship should therefore be limited to 14 events, which is already one more than this year. As AUTOhebdo revealed this week, the Rally planned for Abu Dhabi should disappear from the first version of the calendar, in favor of the Jordan Rally, which would be contested for a second year in a row. The 2011 WRC program should be voted on and communicated in the coming days by the FIA.