What makes the feat surprising is that the unknown quantity set two fastest times of the overall rally despite competing in Monte Carlo with a third-category Ford Fiesta Rally3 car. These were not merely class fastest times – Fontana also beat all the top-category drivers.
The achievement is explained by the extremely wintry conditions that prevailed at this year’s Rally Monte Carlo. Fontana started the stages among the later runners, meaning that snow and ice had melted at the braking points – in practice, the stages had become significantly faster compared to when the Rally1 cars ran. Even so, no credit should be taken away from Fontana: very few drivers can say they have set two fastest times in the World Rally Championship, and in Monte Carlo no less.
On Sunday morning’s opening stage, the 12.5-kilometre Col de Braus/La Cabanette test, Fontana was 2.2 seconds quicker than Yohan Rossel, who was driving a Rally2 Lancia. The improvement in conditions is underlined by the fact that the best Rally1 driver on the stage was fifth-placed Adrien Fourmaux in a Hyundai, who lost more than 22 seconds to Fontana.
On the very next stage on Sunday morning, Fontana was once again the fastest. This time, the Italian completed the 23.45-kilometre special stage 1.1 seconds quicker than Rossel. On this stage, Toyota Rally1 driver Elfyn Evans was third, but more than ten seconds off the lead.
Fontana also ended up as the fourth-fastest driver in the Super Sunday classification and was rewarded with two World Championship points. These points were naturally the first of the 22-year-old Italian’s career.
Fontana had already shown his speed in the World Championship last season, when he claimed the WRC3 class title. He took class wins in Rally Sardinia, Paraguay, Chile and Saudi Arabia.
Aside from Sunday, Rally Monte Carlo did not run perfectly for Fontana this time. He retired once already on Thursday evening. However, there are never too many entrants in the WRC3 class, and Fontana ultimately finished second in the category. The victory went to Frenchman Eric Royre.
