The FIA World Rally Championship launched its 2026 season in Monaco…
The Port Hercule start ramp set the scene for a spectacular opening night, with cars and crews presented in front of fans, officials, and His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, alongside Automobile Club de Monaco President Michel Boeri. Among the headline names was Sébastien Ogier, reigning world champion and ten-time winner of the Monte-Carlo Rally, who arrives once again as one of the favourites for victory.
Speaking exclusively to Monaco Info, Ogier said he is approaching this year’s rally “with great humility,” despite a remarkable 2025 season that delivered both a world title and his record tenth Monte-Carlo win. For the French driver, the iconic event remains deeply personal. Born in the Alps, he grew up watching the rally from the roadside, and he still considers Monte Carlo the most symbolic round on the calendar. “When people think of rallying, they think of Monte Carlo,” he said, adding that extending his record here remains a powerful motivation.
That hunger, he insists, has not faded. “If the desire is no longer there, you might as well stay at home,” Ogier explained, noting that the unique atmosphere and technical challenge of the event continue to drive him. Winter conditions, with rapidly changing grip between dry tarmac, ice, and snow, make the rally one of the most complex of the season, demanding constant adaptation and absolute precision.
On the technical side, Ogier confirmed that Toyota has introduced small but important evolutions to its car for what will be the final season of this generation of Rally1 machinery. Continuous development, he said, remains key to staying ahead of the competition.
The 2026 World Rally Championship will be contested over 14 rounds, with the Monte-Carlo Rally running from January 22 to 25, marking the first major test of the season and, once again, a defining moment in Ogier’s campaign.
