The 2026 FIA World Rally Championship roars into life this week at Rallye Monte-Carlo, where Sébastien Ogier begins his title defence on home roads with history firmly in his sights.
Just weeks after sealing a ninth world crown in Saudi Arabia, Ogier returns to the rally he has made his own. Born in Gap – once again the event’s base – the Toyota driver has already won Monte-Carlo 10 times across WRC and Intercontinental Rally Challenge competition. Victory this weekend would move him clear as the most successful driver at a single WRC event.
Monte-Carlo opens a 14-round season which also marks the final year of Rally1 regulations, adding extra weight to every result from the outset. And although the cars are familiar, the challenge is anything but – with heavy snow predicted across the weekend.
The championship’s most unpredictable event remains a ruthless test of judgement. Over 17 stages and almost 340 competitive kilometres, crews will face constantly changing asphalt conditions – dry, wet, icy and snow-covered often within the same stage – where tyre choice can decide the outcome as much as driving.
Ogier leads a formidable Toyota GAZOO Racing line-up which again includes Elfyn Evans, still chasing a world title after five runner-up finishes, and new signing Oliver Solberg. The Japanese manufacturer also fields cars for Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari, both looking to convert flashes of speed into sustained results on one of the calendar’s toughest tests.
Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team arrives intent on reclaiming early momentum in what it knows is a critical year. Thierry Neuville, the 2024 WRC champion and twice a Monte-Carlo winner, heads the attack alongside Adrien Fourmaux, who impressed on his Hyundai debut here last season. New Zealand’s Hayden Paddon returns to rallying’s top level for the first time since 2018 in the third i20 N Rally1.M-Sport Ford lines up with a youthful and ambitious squad at the season opener. Grégoire Munster makes a one-off start after claiming his maiden WRC stage win at Monte-Carlo last year, while Josh McErlean builds on a solid Rally1 debut season. Fresh from a breakout FIA European Rally Championship campaign, Northern Irishman Jon Armstrong makes his top-class debut on the sport’s most unforgiving stages.
In WRC2, an iconic name returns as Lancia makes its long-awaited comeback to the championship.
The debut of the Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale marks the brand’s first WRC appearance since 2000 – a symbolic moment at the event where Lancia remains the most successful manufacturer of all time.
The action begins on Thursday afternoon and concludes on Sunday afternoon in Monaco. Saturday night adds a spectacular twist, with the championship returning to the streets of Monaco for a competitive super-special stage around Port Hercule for the first time since 2008.
Just as newspapers and magazines are paid for, digital editorial content will also have to be paid for.
Please subscribe and help us keep this machine running!
It’s only €50 per year – subscribe now
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today.
Kerry Motorsport News 