Toyota’s five-car line-up locked out the top positions in the warm-up for the season opener. The fastest time was set by Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta, who beat the reigning world champion and the most successful driver in Rally Monte Carlo history, Sébastien Ogier, by 1.3 seconds.
Oliver Solberg, signed to Toyota’s factory team for this season, set the third-fastest time on the shakedown, finishing 2.6 seconds off the pace. Elfyn Evans (+3.2) and Sami Pajari (+3.3) completed Toyota’s top-five sweep.
Hyundai’s drivers failed to show comparable pace on the short test stage near Gap. The quickest of the Hyundai trio was Adrien Fourmaux, who ended up almost ten seconds slower than Katsuta and placed ninth. His new team-mate Hayden Paddon finished tenth. Hyundai’s lack of speed was partly explained by the fact that the team’s drivers were running studded tyres on the stage, despite the asphalt being completely dry.
Thierry Neuville did not get off to a smooth start to the new season, as he damaged his car’s suspension on his second shakedown run. The Belgian was left with only 15th place on the test stage.
Rally Monte Carlo gets properly under way on Thursday evening, when three special stages are run.
The headquarters of the classic event are once again located in the city of Gap, but the rally caravan will move to Monaco on Saturday evening, where a short super special stage will be contested on the streets of the principality. The rally concludes in Monaco on Sunday.
Rally Monte Carlo shakedown results:
| POS | Driver | Time | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | 2:31.8 |
| 2. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | +1.3 |
| 3. | Oliver Solberg | Toyota | +2.6 |
| 4. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +3.2 |
| 5. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +3.3 |
| 6. | Josh McErlean | Ford | +5.0 |
| 7. | Jon Armstrong | Ford | +5.5 |
| 8. | Gregoire Munster | Ford | +6.1 |
| 9. | Adrien Fourmaux | Hyundai | +9.8 |
| 10. | Hayden Paddon | Hyundai | +10.6 |
Rally Monte Carlo itinerary (CET):
Wednesday 21 January
14:01 Shakedown: Gap (4.25 km)
Thursday 22 January
16:05 SS1: Toudon / Saint-Antonin (21.90 km)
18:35 SS2: Esclangon / Seyne-les-Alpes (23.80 km)
20:35 SS3: Vaumeilh / Claret 1 (15.06 km)
Friday 23 January
09:04 SS4: Laborel / Chauvac-Laux-Montaux 1 (17.95 km)
10:32 SS5: Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert / La Motte-Chalancon 1 (28.70 km)
11:50 SS6: La-Bâtie-des-Fonts / Aspremont 1 (17.79 km)
13:25 Service (33 min)
15:16 SS7: Laborel / Chauvac-Laux-Montaux 2 (17.95 km)
16:44 SS8: Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert / La Motte-Chalancon 2 (28.70 km)
18:05 SS9: La-Bâtie-des-Fonts / Aspremont 2 (17.79 km)
Saturday 24 January
08:31 SS10: La Bréole / Bellaffaire 1 (29.93 km)
09:55 SS11: Vaumeilh / Claret 2 (15.06 km)
11:15 Service (33 min)
12:31 SS12: La Bréole / Bellaffaire 2 (29.93 km)
14:00 Remote service (20 min)
18:35 SS13: Monaco Circuit (2.69 km)
Sunday 25 January
08:05 SS14: Col de Braus / La Cabanette 1 (12.50 km)
09:35 SS15: La Bollène-Vésubie / Moulinet 1 (23.45 km)
11:09 SS16: Col de Braus / La Cabanette 2 (12.50 km)
13:15 SS17: La Bollène-Vésubie / Moulinet 2 (23.45 km) *Power Stage
