The 94th Rallye Monte-Carlo roared into life on the afternoon of Thursday, January 22, as 66 crews launched the 2026 World Rally Championship season from the iconic harbour of Monaco. Under grey skies and light rain at Port Hercule, the world’s best rally drivers rolled down the start ramp and immediately headed for a brutal opening loop of Alpine night stages that set the tone for one of the sport’s most demanding events.
From the very first interviews, the message was clear: this year’s Monte-Carlo will be anything but straightforward. Ten-time winner Sébastien Ogier summed it up bluntly, warning that conditions would be “very difficult,” while Adrien Fourmaux spoke of the unique challenge ahead, mixing uncertainty, darkness and the ever-present threat of snow. The prospect of icy mountain roads, combined with passionate crowds lining the stages, promised both spectacle and danger in equal measure.
Despite the drizzle, a large crowd packed the harbour to witness the ceremonial start, with Rally1 cars departing every two minutes amid palpable tension. Earlier in the afternoon, the atmosphere was far more relaxed as drivers and teams engaged with fans in the Port Hercule fan zone. Autograph sessions, school visits and photo opportunities allowed spectators rare access to the stars of the championship just hours before competition began.
Once the formalities ended, the focus shifted sharply to performance. The rally opened with a punishing first special stage between Toudon and Saint-Antonin, followed by two night tests deep in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Crews faced rapidly changing grip levels, particularly at altitude, where sections such as the Col du Fanget threatened ice and snow as temperatures dropped after sunset.
With unpredictable weather, narrow mountain roads and zero margin for error, the opening evening delivered exactly what the Monte-Carlo Rally is famous for: immediate pressure, strategic tyre gambles and a reminder that the WRC season begins not gently, but at full intensity.
