Rallye Monte-Carlo – Day One

The new era of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) got underway in earnest on the night-time stages of Rallye Monte-Carlo as the hybrid-powered Rally1 cars made their much-anticipated debut on Thursday evening.

Photo:Hyundaimotorsport

The first two stages of the 13-event 2022 season saw the all-new Hyundai i20 N Rally1 cars complete their first competitive kilometres with the team’s three crews eager to put the new challengers through their paces.

The spectacular lights of Monaco opened the new chapter of WRC in style with the ceremonial start before the wheels were put in motion on the opening timed test – the 15.20km Luceram-Lantosque stage. Crews then headed immediately onto La Bollène-Vésubie/Moulinet (23.25km), featuring the iconic Col de Turini climb and descent. There was important information to gather for all three crews on the opening evening with the new Rally1 cars, as they aim to build momentum over the course of the rally weekend.

After 38.45km of special stages, Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe hold sixth overall, with team-mates Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja in eighth and Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson in tenth. 15 more stages are set to take place over the coming three days.

Crew Notes: Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (#11 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)
Cautious start for the Belgian crew on the opening stages
Sixth position overall, 28.5-seconds from the current leaders
Neuville said: “It has been a very tricky opening day for us. From the beginning it was difficult to get good speed. We struggled with the brakes and gearbox, as well as a few other things, but nevertheless we are happy to be at the end of the day. The mechanics will now check the car to prepare it for tomorrow’s stages. A trouble-free run would be a good target for Friday.”

Crew Notes: Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (#8 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)
Estonians completed the evening stages but battled some technical issues in their new car
The team will investigate overnight to prepare the #8 car for its first full day on Friday
Tänak said: “We cannot be completely disappointed with this first day. We made it through both stages, which is good. Obviously, we have a few issues but nothing that has stopped us, so we will try to fix as much as possible and continue tomorrow. We knew coming here that it would be important to get as much mileage under our belts as possible.”

Crew Notes: Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (#2 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)

First WRC event as a manufacturer crew
Solberg unable to hear his co-driver clearly due to intercom issues
Solberg said: “A difficult day for us. We had some issues with the intercom. I could only really hear the engine, and not so much my co-driver. I did my best and we’re through the first two stages, so that’s the main thing. We haven’t had this problem before, so we hope it’s good tomorrow. The Hyundai i20 N Rally1 is working well otherwise. We keep positive and we’ll be ready to go again.”

Deputy Team Director Julien Moncet said: “It has not been an ideal start, but we have to be proud of ourselves for getting three cars to the start of the rally. They are still here after the first stages; this is a positive. We would, of course, have liked to have a better performance. We know we have a lot of work to do but it’s only the first day. We have new regulations and a brand-new car, so we’re learning all the time. Our target now is to solve all the problems we have seen today across our three crews because tomorrow is a long day without midday service. Reliability will be the key. In Monte, if you can bring the cars home then a good result is usually not far away.”

Friday at a glance

The second of Rallye Monte-Carlo’s four days of action will see crews head north for a repeat loop of three stages: Roure/Beuil (18.33km), Guillaumes/Péone/Valberg (13.49km) and Val-de-Chalvagne/Entrevaux (17.11km)
Crews will have just a tyre fitting zone at the midday service, which will place great importance on a smooth, trouble-free run on both loops.

Classification after Day One

1 S. Ogier B. Veillas Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 25:48.4
2 S. Loeb I. Galmiche Ford Puma Rally1 +6.7
3 E. Evans S. Martin Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +11.2
4 A. Fourmaux A. Coria Ford Puma Rally1 +17.9
5 G. Greensmith J. Andersson Ford Puma Rally1 +21.9
6 T. Neuville M. Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +28.5
7 C. Breen P. Nagle Ford Puma Rally1 +29.2
8 O. Tänak M. Järveoja Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +41.1
8 T. Katsuta A. Johnston Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +48.2
9 O. Solberg E. Edmondson Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +58.8