Rallye Monte-Carlo photo shoot
Before the Rallye Monte-Carlo action starts this evening, the championship's biggest stars took part in a season-opening photo shoot in Monaco. Say hello to the WRC class of 2017.
New-look World Rally Cars from Toyota, M-Sport, Hyundai and Citroën drew crowds in Monaco's famous Place du Casino, while their drivers got together for some serious-looking group shots in the Casino grounds.
This week's Rallye Monte-Carlo entrants were joined by fellow top-line drivers Mads Østberg, Lorenzo Bertelli and Martin Prokop, all of whom will start campaigns later in the season.
The competition proper gets underway from 1811hrs with a ceremonial start in Monaco.
Crews face a 286-kilometre journey back to service in Gap, and on the way they will take in two demanding night stages of more than 20 kilometres each: Entrevaux-Val de Chalvagne-Ubray at 2014hrs and Bayons-Breziers 1 at 2257hrs.
Scheduled to run in sub-zero temperatures, ice and black ice are expected, and it will be a late finish for teams with the cars arriving in service after midnight.
