The Monte-Carlo 2022 route revealed

The organizers of the opening round of the World Rally Championship unveiled the new route this Friday.

Published on 23/07/2021 à 14:00

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Last year, Christian Tornatore (General Commissioner of the Monaco Automobile Club and Director of rally Monte-Carlo) had announced the color. While the new regulations will come into force with Rally1s now hybrid, the 90th edition (January 17-23) will be held in Monaco and will therefore offer a very “southern” route.

Always seeking to renew itself, the ACM will go strong with a program that is 95% different from 2021. Everything will begin on Thursday in the early evening with what will be akin to Turini night. Two time trials in the Nice hinterland (Lucéram/Lantosque, 15,31 km and La Bollène-Vésubie/Moulinet, 23,52 km) will set the tone with the passage at night of the famous pass.

Friday will feature a loop of three stages to be run twice with a tire change and a regroup at Puget-Théniers. The ES between Roure and Beuil (ES3/7, 18,44 km) will cross the Couillole. It will be followed by Pierlas/Ilonse (SS4/7, 19,90 km), a section where Seb Loeb had plunged into a ravine in 2006. The SS5/8 (21,10 km) between La Tour-sur-Tinée/Saint-Jean-la-Rivière via Utelle had been fatal to François Duval the same year.

Although short (94,10 km), the stage scheduled for Saturday will perhaps be the most difficult since that is where there could be snow. In the Fugeret/Thorame-Haute (SS9, 18,50 km), which is also called the Colle Saint-Michel or Saint-Geniez/Thoard (ES11/13, 20,76 km) which appears as the justice of the peace of the rally, twists and turns will undoubtedly occur, unless the Col d'Espinouse (which almost was used in 2021) reserves surprises in the unprecedented Saint-Jeannet/Malijai (SS10/12, 17,04 km) . In order to avoid endless connections, the competitors will not return to Monaco again until the evening. This time, the tire change and regrouping will be held in Digne-les-Bains.

Sunday's stage will be long with another 67,52 km and 4 special stages north of Grasse. The SS14/16 La Penne/Collongues (19,45 km) will take up a piece of the famous St Auban while Briançonnet/Entrevaux (ES15/17, 14,31 km), which will serve as a Power Stage, will be the only common section with the previous appointment. After more than 319 km timed, the survivors will return to Monaco for the final podium.

Monte-Carlo 2022 program (Mileages and times given as an indication until the official publication of the itinerary)

Monday January 17 to Wednesday January 19, recognitions

Thursday January 20 departure ceremony from the podium of Place du Casino