Itinerary and weather conditions
The 93rd edition of the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo, scheduled from January 23 to 26, 2025, marks the opening round of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Renowned for its challenging mix of tarmac and snow-covered stages, this year’s rally introduces a demanding itinerary that will test drivers’ skills and adaptability.
The rally commences with reconnaissance runs from January 20 to 22, followed by a shakedown session on January 22 in Gap, which was used in 2024.
- 23/1 (Thursday): The official start at 14:30 from Place du Casino in Monaco leads into a 52.23 km night-time stage featuring three special stages: Digne-les-Bains/Chaudon-Norante, Esparron/Oze, and Avançon/Notre-Dame-du-Laus.
- 24/1 (Friday): Competitors face 107.38 km of racing, with three stages repeated twice in the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence regions.
- 25/1 (Saturday): Considered by many the most challenging day, it encompasses 132.10 km in the Drôme area, including stages like La Motte-Chalancon/Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert and the new Aucelon/Recoubeau-Jansac.
- 26/1 (Sunday): The rally concludes with three stages between Gap and Monaco, totaling 51.88 km. The final Power Stage, La Bollène-Vésubie/Peïra-Cava, culminates with the prize-giving ceremony at Place du Casino at 16:15.
As always the Monte-Carlo Rally is notorious for unpredictable weather, significantly influencing the event results year after year. For the 2025 edition, forecasts indicate mild and dry conditions for most days, with temperatures ranging from highs of 10°C to lows of 0°C around Gap, the rally base. However, Friday’s stages, set in higher altitude regions, may encounter variable conditions, including potential ice and snow, despite the overall mild forecast.
The presence of ice or snow will bring challenges in tyre selection, specially as this is Hankook first event as official tyre provider for 2025 and vehicle handling. The transition to new Hankook tires, replacing Pirelli as the sole supplier, adds an extra layer of complexity as drivers and teams must quickly adapt to the performance characteristics of these tyres under varying conditions.