The 2019 Monte Carlo Rally (also known as the 87e Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo) was a motor racing event for rally cars that was held over four days between 25 and 28 January 2019. It marked the eighty-seventh running of the Monte Carlo Rally, and was the first round of the 2019 World Rally Championship. It was also the first round of the World Rally Championship-2 and the newly created WRC-2 Pro class. The 2019 event was based in the town of Gap in the Hautes-Alpes department of France and consists of sixteen special stages. The rally covered a total competitive distance of .
Reigning World Drivers' and World Co-Drivers Champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were the defending rally winners. M-Sport Ford WRT, the team they drove for in 2018, were the defending manufacturers' winners. The Škoda Motorsport crew of Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler were the defending winners in the World Rally Championship-2 category, but did not enter the rally. In the World Rally Championship-3 category, Italian privateers Enrico Brazzoli and Luca Beltrame were the reigning rally winners, but did not defend their title as the WRC-3 category was discontinued in 2019.
Ogier and Ingrassia successfully defended their titles. Their team, Citroën World Rally Team, were the manufacturers' winners. The victory also marked the 100th world rally success for the French manufacturer. The M-Sport Ford WRT crew of Gus Greensmith and Elliott Edmondson became the first crew to win an event in the WRC-2 Pro category, while Yoann Bonato and Benjamin Boulloud won the wider WRC-2 class, finishing second in the combined WRC-2 category.
Background Entry list The following crews are entered into the rally. The event is open to crews competing in the World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2 and WRC-2 Pro, the FIA R-GT Cup, and privateer entries not registered to score points in any championship. Eighty-four crews registered to compete, including eleven competing with World Rally Cars and eleven in World Rally Championship-2. Three of these crews were nominated to score points in the WRC-2 Pro class, but one withdrew before the rally and the crew became a regular WRC-2 entrant.
No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Tyre World Rally Car entries 1 Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia Citroën Total WRT Citroën C3 WRC 3 Teemu Suninen Marko Salminen M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 4 Esapekka Lappi Janne Ferm Citroën Total WRT Citroën C3 WRC 5 Kris Meeke Toyota Yaris WRC 7 Pontus Tidemand Ola Fløene M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 8 Ott Tänak Martin Järveoja Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 10 Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 11 Thierry Neuville Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 19 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 33 Elfyn Evans M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 89 Andreas Mikkelsen Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC World Rally Championship-2 Pro entries 21 Gus Greensmith M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta R5 30 Kalle Rovanperä Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 World Rally Championship-2 entries 22 Yoann Bonato Yoann Bonato Citroën C3 R5 23 Ole Christian Veiby 24 Nicolas Ciamin Nicolas Ciamin Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 25 Guillaume De Mevius Citroën C3 R5 26 Adrien Fourmaux Adrien Fourmaux Ford Fiesta R5 27 Grégoire Munster Louis Louka Grégoire Munster Škoda Fabia R5 28 "Pedro" "Pedro" Hyundai i20 R5 29 Rhys Yates Denis Giraudet Rhys Yates Škoda Fabia R5 35 Manuel Villa Luca Beltrame Manuel Villa Škoda Fabia R5 Other major entries 20 Mauro Miele Luca Beltrame Mauro Miele Citroën DS3 WRC 31 Takamoto Katsuta Daniel Barritt Tommi Mäkinen Racing Ford Fiesta R5 34 Stéphane Sarrazin Stéphane Sarrazin Hyundai i20 R5 50 "Hervé Knapick" "Hervé Knapick" Citroën DS3 R5 Source:
Route The rally route is made up of in competitive stages, making the 2019 route the shortest since the 2004 event. The route will be shorter than the one used in 2018. The Thoard — Sisteron and Bayons — Bréziers were removed from the itinerary and replaced by a new stage from La Bréole to Selonnet and the revival of the Avançon — Notre-Dame-du-Laus stage, which had not been contested for a decade. The opening day's stages were also revised to be better-centred around the rally base in Gap. The second and third leg of the rally were unchanged from the 2018 event. The route was revised after the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile introduced rule changes for the 2019 championship that limited the maximum distance of a route to .
Itinerary
All dates and times are CET (UTC+1). Date Time No. Stage name Distance 24 January 10:00 — Gap [Shakedown] 3.35 km Leg 1 — 166.47 km 24 January 19:38 SS1 La Bréole — Selonnet 20.76 km 20:41 SS2 Avançon — Notre-Dame-du-Laus 20.59 km 25 January 9:11 SS3 Valdrôme — Sigottier 1 20.04 km 10:14 SS4 Roussieux — Laborel 1 24.05 km 11:37 SS5 Curbans — Piégut 1 18.47 km 14:23 SS6 Valdrôme — Sigottier 2 20.04 km 15:26 SS7 Roussieux — Laborel 2 24.05 km 16:49 SS8 Curbans — Piégut 2 18.47 km Leg 2 — 93.38 km 26 January 8:48 SS9 Agnières-en-Dévoluy — Corps 1 29.82 km 10:46 SS10 St.-Leger-les-Mélèzes — La-Bâtie-Neuve 1 16.87 km 12:47 SS11 Agnières-en-Dévoluy — Corps 2 29.82 km 14:08 SS12 St.-Leger-les-Mélèzes — La-Bâtie-Neuve 2 16.87 km Leg 3 — 63.98 km 8:20 SS13 La Bollène-Vésubie — Peïra Cava 1 18.41 km 9:08 SS14 La Cabanette — Col de Braus 1 13.58 km 10:55 SS15 La Bollène-Vésubie — Peïra Cava 2 18.41 km 12:18 SS16 13.58 km Source:
Report World Rally Cars Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja took the early lead during the first two night stages. However, their lead was short-lived as Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul moved to the front after the cancellation of the third stage. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia then took over the rally as the Belgian crew missed a junction. Eventually, the six-time world champions won the rally for the sixth time in a row. Neuville and Gilsoul were second, 2.2 seconds behind Ogier and Ingrassia, thus making 2019 the closest finish to the Monte Carlo Rally in history. The previous closest finish was the 1979 edition, with Bernard Darniche winning by just 6.6 seconds over Björn Waldegård.
Classification Position Driver Entrant Car Time Points Event Class Event Stage 1 1 1 Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia Citroën Total WRT Citroën C3 WRC 3:21:15.9 0.0 25 4 2 2 11 Thierry Neuville Nicolas Gilsoul 3:21:18.1 +2.2 18 3 3 3 8 Ott Tänak Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 3:23:31.1 +2:15.2 15 2 4 4 19 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena 3:23:44.1 +2:28.2 12 0 5 5 10 Miikka Anttila Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 3:23:45.8 +2:29.9 10 0 6 6 5 Kris Meeke Sebastian Marshall Toyota Yaris WRC 3:26:52.1 +5:36.2 8 5 11 7 3 Teemu Suninen Marko Salminen M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 3:39:12.7 +17:56.8 0 1 20 8 7 Ola Fløene M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 3:50:50.5 +29:34.6 0 0 Retired SS10 33 Elfyn Evans Scott Martin M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC Accident 0 0 Retired SS10 89 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC Lost wheel 0 0 Retired SS9 4 Esapekka Lappi Janne Ferm Citroën Total WRT Citroën C3 WRC Engine 0 0
Special stages Day Stage Stage name Length Winners Car Time 24 January — Gap [Shakedown] 3.35 km 1:56.8 SS1 La Bréole — Selonnet 20.76 km 13:02.0 SS2 Avançon — Notre-Dame-du-Laus 13:18.5 25 January SS3 Valdrôme — Sigottier 1 20.04 km Stage cancelled SS4 Roussieux — Laborel 1 24.05 km 14:42.1 SS5 Curbans — Piégut 1 18.47 km 13:49.1 SS6 Valdrôme — Sigottier 2 20.04 km Latvala / Anttila 13:39.5 SS7 Roussieux — Laborel 2 24.05 km 14:26.6Ogier/Ingrassia SS8 Curbans — Piégut 2 18.47 km 13:25.5 26 January SS9 Agnières-en-Dévoluy — Corps 1 29.82 km 20:54.0 SS10 16.87 km 10:12.1 SS11 Agnières-en-Dévoluy — Corps 2 19:54.5 SS12 16.87 km 9:53.2 27 January SS13 La Bollène Vésubie - Peïra Cava 1 18.41 km 11:40.3 SS14 La Cabarette - Col de Braus 1 13.58 km 9:52.4 SS15 La Bollène Vésubie - Peïra Cava 2 18.41 km 11:25.5 SS16 13.58 km 9:37.3
Championship standings Drivers' championships Co-drivers' championships Manufacturers' championshipsMoveDriverPointsMoveCo-driverPointsMoveManufacturerPoints 1 29 Julien Ingrassia 29 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 30 2 Thierry Neuville 21 Nicolas Gilsoul 21 Citroën Total WRT 25 3 Ott Tänak 17 Martin Järveoja 17 25 4 Kris Meeke 13 13 M-Sport Ford WRT 14 5 Sébastien Loeb 12 Daniel Elena 12
World Rally Championship-2 Pro Classification Position Driver Entrant Car Time Points Event Class Class Event 7 1 21 3:34:20.5 0.0 25 6 18 230 3:47:48.3 +13:27.8 18 0
Special stages Results in bold denote first in the RC2 class, the class which both the WRC-2 Pro and WRC-2 championships run to.
Day Stage Stage name Length Winners Car Time 24 January — Gap [Shakedown] 3.35 km 2:04.9 SS1 La Bréole — Selonnet 20.76 km 14:28.9 SS2 Avançon — Notre-Dame-du-Laus 20.59 km 14:41.1 25 January SS3 Valdrôme — Sigottier 1 20.04 km Stage cancelled SS4 Roussieux — Laborel 1 24.05 km 15:57.8 SS5 Curbans — Piégut 1 18.47 km Rovanperä / Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 14:37.3 SS6 Valdrôme — Sigottier 2 20.04 km Rovanperä / Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 14:11.6 SS7 Roussieux — Laborel 2 24.05 km Ford Fiesta R5 15:17.8 SS8 Curbans — Piégut 2 18.47 km Rovanperä / Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 13:58.3 26 January SS9 Agnières-en-Dévoluy — Corps 1 29.82 km Ford Fiesta R5 21:56.1 SS10 St-Léger-les-Mélèzes — La Bâtie-Neuve 1 16.87 km Rovanperä / Halttunen Ford Fiesta R5Škoda Fabia R5 10:57.8 SS11 Agnières-en-Dévoluy — Corps 2 Rovanperä / Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 20:38.4 SS12 16.87 km Ford Fiesta R5 10:30.9 27 January SS13 La Bollène-Vésubie — Peïra-Cava 1 18.41 km Rovanperä / Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 12:19.9 SS14 La Cabanette — Col de Braus 1 13.58 km Rovanperä / Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 10:15.7 SS15 La Bollène-Vésubie — Peïra-Cava 2 18.41 km Rovanperä / Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 12:01.4 SS16 La Cabanette — Col de Braus 1 13.58 km Rovanperä / Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 10:07.2
Championship standings Drivers' championships Co-drivers' championships Manufacturers' championshipsMoveDriverPointsMoveCo-driverPointsMoveManufacturerPoints 1 25 25 25 2 18 Jonne Halttunen 18 18
World Rally Championship-2 Classification Position Driver Entrant Car Time Points Event Class Class Event 8 1 22 3:35:12.4 0.0 25 4 10 2 26 3:37:19.3 +2:06.9 18 1 12 3 23 3:39:29.1 +4:16.7 15 0 14 429 3:42:10.8 +6:58.4 12 0 16 524 3:43:33.2 +8:20.8 10 0 24 635 3:55:18.5 +20:06.1 8 0 Retired SS14 25 Martijn Wydaeghe Citroën C3 R5 Accident 0 0 Retired SS12 28 "Pedro" Daytona Race Hyundai i20 R5 Accident 0 0 Retired SS11 27 Grégoire Munster Louis Louka Grégoire Munster Škoda Fabia R5 Accident 0 0
Special stages Results in bold denote first in the RC2 class, the class which both the WRC-2 Pro and WRC-2 championships run to.
Day Stage Stage name Length Winners Car Time 24 January — Gap [Shakedown] 3.35 km 2:07.8 SS1 La Bréole — Selonnet 20.76 km 14:02.8 SS2 Avançon — Notre-Dame-du-Laus 20.59 km 14:24.8 25 January SS3 Valdrôme — Sigottier 1 20.04 km Stage cancelled SS4 Roussieux — Laborel 1 24.05 km 16:07.6 SS5 Curbans — Piégut 1 18.47 km 14:45.4 SS6 Valdrôme — Sigottier 2 20.04 km 14:19.6 SS7 Roussieux — Laborel 2 24.05 km 15:36.1 SS8 Curbans — Piégut 2 18.47 km 14:21.1 26 January SS9 Agnières-en-Dévoluy — Corps 1 29.82 km 22:04.8 SS10 St-Léger-les-Mélèzes — La Bâtie-Neuve 1 16.87 km 11:01.2 SS11 Agnières-en-Dévoluy — Corps 2 20:54.2 SS12 16.87 km 10:31.8 27 January SS13 La Bollène-Vésubie — Peïra-Cava 1 18.41 km 12:07.1 SS14 La Cabanette — Col de Braus 1 13.58 km 10:07.6 SS15 La Bollène-Vésubie — Peïra-Cava 2 18.41 km 11:56.3 SS16 La Cabanette — Col de Braus 1 13.58 km 9:59.2
Championship standings Drivers' championships Co-drivers' championshipsMoveDriverPointsMoveCo-driverPoints 1 Yoann Bonato 25 25 2 Adrien Fourmaux 18 Renaud Jamoul 18 3 15 15 4 Rhys Yates 12 Denis Giraudet 12 5 Nicolas Ciamin 10 Yannick Roche 10
Notes
References
External links
2019 Monte Carlo Rally in e-wrc website The official website of the World Rally Championship