Rally-eMag 015 January 2014 | Page 19

Rallye Monte Carlo / Rally review Latvala carefully selecting the right tyre 19/40 Changes Rallye Monte Carlo always is different from other WRC events. This time the rally again had a different format from all other WRC event this year. On Monday there was a ceremonial start in the heart of the famous town near its harbour. The rally started on Thursday however. For the first time in a long time this start was in the Alps, rather than in the Ardeche. This meant the rally center was based in Gap for the first two days. On Friday evening the whole WRC family moved to Monte Carlo for the final day. This final day did not start until the second half of the afternoon. Consequently the finish was late on Saturday. Prize giving was on Sunday. To put it shortly everyone spent a complete week in the area. Former Monte winner François Delecour was one of the vicitms of stage one. yet is the fact that it is the championship opener. All teams have been working very hard in the offseason between the last rally (Wales) and the first of the new season. What did they achieve? Where are the teams in relation to each other? How good are the new drivers? This year, like last year, there was Hyundai, the ‘new kid on the block’. So all eyes were focused on them. And everyone was impressed. Th