All Change for the 2014 Rallye de Monte-Carlo

High octance motor sport returns to the Côte d’Azur this coming January with the 82nd edition of the famed Rallye de Monte-Carlo.

2014 will be off to a great start for motor sport enthusiasts on the French Riviera with the traditional Rallye de Monte-Carlo, which runs from Tuesday 14th to Sunday, 19th January. The rally once again has the honour of being the first event on the WRC calendar.

There are a number of changes for this 82nd edition of the rally, with the town of Gap being chosen as the new service base and hub for the event, taking over from Valence. The route has also undergone significant change, and this year includes a return to the Hautes-Alpes department.

For this rally, the reconnaissance for the drivers and teams will be taking place from Saturday 11th, to Monday, 13th January, during which time the entrants are afforded the opportunity to complete administrative and technical checks. The official starting ceremony is on at 2:30pm on Tuesday 14th in Place du Casino in Monte-Carlo, and the shakedown takes place on Wednesday 15th January in and around the roads of Châteauvieux, 6km south of Gap.

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The rally starts proper on Thursday 16th with three special stages, totalling approximately 120km. Each stage will be run twice, and there is a scheduled stop at midday in service park at Gap.

The second day of the event, Friday 17th January, will be the longest day of the rally, with 177 km of special stages, including Vitrolles to Faye via Col d’Espreaux, which will be run twice, Selonnet to Breziers via Col des Garcinets, Sisteron to Thoard, and Digne to Chaudon Norante. There will also be a night run around Col du Corobin and competitors will then return to Parc Fermé in Port Hercule in Monaco.

Saturday 18th January, the final day of the rally, will comprise two special stages around the vallée de la Vésubie, with both day and night ascents of Col de Turini and the Col de Brouis. The first car is expected to arrive back at Parc Fermé at around 11.30 pm.

The 2014 Rallye de Monte-Carlo comes to an end after a gruelling 380 km of racing at 11 am, Sunday 19th January in the Place du Palais in Monaco Ville.