Challenge & setup

• Essentially an asphalt rally but unpredictable mountain weather brings varied conditions. Competitors must expect snow, ice and dry asphalt – often encountering all in the same stage.
• Crews must balance the need for grip in winter weather with that required for dry asphalt. Shrewd tyre selection providing the best compromise for frequently changing conditions is key.
• Experience and the ability to ‘read’ conditions pays dividends.  
• Acclimatising to hybrid-powered Rally1 cars in competition for the first time.
• Limited service. There is no mid-leg service on any of the four days. Once crews depart Monaco in the morning, only they can work on their cars, using tools carried in the vehicle, until they return in the evening. Problems could result in big time losses – or worse.

 

Car setup

• Asphalt suspension.
• Wacky tyre selections which can include studded rubber on opposite corners of the car, matched with dry weather asphalt rubber.
• Pirelli brings a choice of P Zero asphalt tyres in soft and supersoft compounds. For more severe conditions it has Sottozero winter tyres – non-studded for wet or soft snow conditions and studded for compact snow and ice.  
• Two spare tyres are normal.