Rally Monte Carlo 2008 stage summaries

Day four: Sunday 27 January

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SS15/SS17: La Bollene Vesubie - Moulinet.
22.68km. 0950hrs/1151hrs
After the overnight move to Monaco, the final day starts with the legendary Col du Turini. The first 10km are uphill on a nice and flowing road, but the closer the top you get, the more snow and spectators you see by the roadside. And more snowballs too. When we reach the top there are always thousands of spectators, and it's an incredible atmosphere. Okay, it's just a couple of corners, but it's fantastic to drive through. We have to be careful though; it's always so slippery. After that point it's a tricky and steep descent towards the village of Moulinet and a series of icy corners. Judging braking levels here is very difficult - especially if spectators have kicked snow onto the road.

Sunday 27 January
SS16/SS18: Luceram - Loda.
6.25km. 1108hrs/1309hrs
The final proper stage of the rally starts from Luceram village and climbs up towards the Col St Roch. It climbs very quickly, with a lot of hairpins, and then develops into a typical Alpine piece of road - quite fast and flowing, with hairpins to slow the rhythm. Towards the end it gets a little bit faster, and there are rocks on the roadside to watch out for. There used to be some big roadside drops on the last section of this stage, but fortunately organisers have shortened it for this year. Unlike last year, Sunday is certainly not just a Sunday drive. Make the wrong tyre choice in the morning and you're in big trouble.

Sunday 28 January
SS19: Monaco circuit.
2.7km. 1510hrs
One of the best super specials I would say. It a special atmosphere; you are on the Formula one track, you are in Monaco - it's nice. If I was a spectator, I'd want to see this Superspecial. The cars are going extremely fast and it's certainly not a Mickey-Mouse stage.

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