Romain Pugliese, race director of the Monte-Carlo Rally: “A real and beautiful Monte-Carlo, sportingly complicated”

Every year, the Automobile Club de Monaco takes on a serious challenge. The organizers of the most famous WRC round try to offer a route that is both original and selective. At the same time, it must allow the event to run smoothly while being telegenic.

Published 21/01/2025 à 14:30

Loïc ROCCI

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Romain Pugliese, race director of the Monte-Carlo Rally: “A real and beautiful Monte-Carlo, sportingly complicated”

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What was the ACM’s philosophy in choosing the special stages that make up the 2025 route?

It is quite simple: we always try to find technically complicated sections that will allow for a fairly high sporting interest. Of course, we have to adapt to the topography of the terrain. First, we look among the municipalities that agree to host us, also basing ourselves on the experience of previous years by looking at where events have taken place.

Enthusiasts often criticize the Monte-Carlo for no longer offering very long special stages. Why this trend?

Both from a sporting and safety perspective, it is easier to manage short special stages. Given the number of public areas to set up and the people to deploy on the ground, it is easier to have reduced sections. In the same way, in the event of an interruption or cancellation, having a sector with few kilometers is easier to administer and we are likely to lose only a few kilometers instead of 50 km. In race management, managing an SS in which there would be several dozen cars at the same time is also a complicated thing to do.

What were the main issues that had to be resolved in order to set up this route?

They are essentially administrative. First of all, we have to obtain authorisations from the municipalities. Then, we have to adapt to the demands, particularly in terms of the environment, which are now very restrictive. Finally, there is everything concerning security. For the rest, we are quite free to do what we want once we have all the necessary authorisations from the various elected officials.

In your opinion, which ES will be the most important stages for victory?

It is really not easy to designate just one. I think that the difficult times of Thursday evening will immediately create gaps. The conditions that will be encountered during the day on Friday will further complicate the debates, in particular with the passage of the Moissière pass (located in a ski resort, these few kilometers are always snow-covered. Ed.). Then, the long loop on Saturday (131,4 km timed. Ed.), will also make differences. I cannot single out a particular section and I am convinced that we are going to witness a real and beautiful Monte Carlo, sportingly complicated.

Comments collected by Loïc Rocci

Loïc ROCCI

Journalist specializing in rallying past, present and future... and with a southern accent

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