The WRC’s new points system, being tested for the first time in Monte Carlo, has not garnered much praise from drivers before the season’s start, and Toyota’s French driver is not a fan of the system either.
The new points system in a nutshell: Conditional points for the top ten finishers will be available on Saturday, with the leader in the overall competition set to receive 18 points, the second place 15 points, third place 13 points, and from fourth place onwards a system of 10-8-6-4-3-2-1. To claim Saturday’s points, drivers must finish the rally on Sunday.
On Sunday, points are up for grabs for the seven fastest drivers of the day. The fastest on Sunday’s stages earns seven points, with second place onwards points distributed as 6-5-4-3-2-1. On top of all this, there is still the Power Stage at the rally’s conclusion, following the old familiar system – the top five of the last special stage are awarded points on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis.
The change aims to prevent drivers from cruising and saving their tires for the Power Stage on Sunday.
“Sunday could become more interesting, but still, this is wrong. Victory is completely undervalued,” Ogier stated at the service area in Gap before his home event.
What’s peculiar about the system is that no points are awarded based on the rally’s final results.
“This has been made complicated, and the general audience won’t understand it. Only rally nerds will get it. Some might wonder, ‘this guy won, but he didn’t get the most points – how is that possible?’ That will happen at some point,” Ogier predicted.
The eight-time world champion Ogier sees little to no good in the change.
“I don’t understand what they were thinking when they made this. I can’t comprehend,” Ogier expressed strongly.
“If someone has problems at the start of the rally, they can then save their tires and car all weekend, so they can push fully on Sunday and grab 12 points. Meanwhile, a driver who has been working their tail off all weekend might only get maybe 18 points on Saturday night. It’s not logical,” the French star emphasized.
This year’s Rally Monte Carlo is set in Ogier’s home region around the city of Gap. The part-time Toyota driver has a chance to achieve an incredible feat in his home event, as he aims for his tenth victory in the classic event.
“I don’t really care about the points. My clear top priority is to win the entire rally,” Ogier outlined.
Rally Monte Carlo will start on Thursday evening with two special stages.
