Ogier will once again compete part-time for Toyota this year. Naturally, the legendary Rally Monte Carlo is part of the French driver’s schedule, as the event takes place near his hometown.
Monte Carlo’s base is once again in the city of Gap, close to Ogier’s roots. The Frenchman is the most successful driver in the history of the Rally Monte Carlo , with nine victories to his name.
A tenth win is on Ogier’s mind, but he is also dealing with significant uncertainty ahead of the season opener. The WRC’s top-class cars have undergone major changes this year, with hybrid units no longer in use and new tyres supplied by the championship’s new partner, Hankook.
“There are so many changes, so I think this will probably be the Monte Carlo Rally where I’m the least prepared ever, but it’s probably the same for everybody,” Ogier told RallyJournal.com.
“With the change in regulations, the technical rules for the car, and the new tyres – there are so many parameters that are changing,” Ogier listed.
Last season, Ogier fought a fierce battle with Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville in Monte Carlo. Neuville ultimately claimed victory, earning maximum points for the weekend and taking the championship lead, which he held until the season’s end.
Ogier and Neuville are once again among the top contenders, but the French star believes the situation is far from clear.
“Honestly, it’s hard to predict anything at the moment. We’ll have only one test day in January, which will be very important to try to learn as much as we can about this whole new package. After that, we’ll just do our best,” Ogier said with a laugh.
The Rally Monte Carlo is scheduled for 23–26 January.
