2012 WRC Rally Monte-Carlo Review

The 2012 World Rally Championship Season started with a return to Rally Monte-Carlo, for the first time since 2008. It was held from January 17 through January 22, 2012. This extra-long all-asphalt event began and ended a few hundred miles north of Monaco, in Valence. Eight-time WRC champion, French Citroën Total World Rally Team driver, Sébastien Loeb started the year with another victory.

This was the sixth win at Monte-Carlo for Loeb. Following him were former teammate Dani Sordo {MINI John Cooper Works WRC) of Spain in second, and in third place was Norway's Petter Solberg (back with factory Ford World Rally Team), who is no longer a privateer.

As a review of this season opening event, I've posted a list (in chronological order) of links to some daily reviews from WRC.com, and highlight videos.


Monte maestro Loeb in control after day one
Posted at WRC.com on January 19, 2012

Sebastien Loeb will start day two of Rallye Monte-Carlo - the opening round of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia - leading by more than one minute following a dramatic start to the legendary event on Wednesday [January 18, 2012]...


Thursday wrap: Loeb maintains Monte advantage
Posted at WRC.com on January 19, 2012

Sebastien Loeb has completed day two of Rallye Monte-Carlo with his lead of the FIA World Rally Championship presented by Nokia qualifier firmly intact following another impressive display in his Citroen DS3 WRC...


Friday wrap: Loeb grows Monte lead
Posted at WRC.com on January 20, 2012

...Despite his commanding margin of 2m12.4s over second-placed MINI driver Dani Sordo, Loeb said the treacherous conditions that greeted the crews on Friday’s second stage served as a timely reminder of the challenging nature of this rally...


Saturday wrap: Loeb closes on Monte win
Posted at WRC.com on January 21, 2012

...With Loeb continuing to dominate out front, the battle for the final podium places has taken centre stage today. Dani Sordo continues to hold second in his MINI John Cooper Works WRC but Petter Solberg has closed to within 19.1s of the Spaniard in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC after winning three of Saturday’s four stages...


BREAKING NEWS: Loeb wins Rallye Monte-Carlo
Posted at WRC.com on January 22, 2012

Sebastien Loeb has won Rallye Monte-Carlo for a sixth time following a dominant performance behind the wheel of the Citroen DS3 WRC he shares with Monegasque co-driver Daniel Elena...


Sunday wrap: Loeb lands maximum Monte points
Posted at WRC.com on January 22, 2012

...By claiming 25 points for victory plus three bonus points for winning the event-closing Power Stage, Loeb leaves the Principality with a maximum score in his bid to win the FIA World Rally Championship...


The wrc.com review: Rallye Monte-Carlo
Posted at WRC.com on January 23, 2012

...So it’s an incredibly strong line-up, with Solberg seemingly adapting to the Ford a little quicker than Hirvonen has got to grips with the Citroen. It’s not just been a question of learning the car for him: the culture shock for Hirvonen as a Finn in a very French team is going to be far greater than it is for Solberg coming back to Ford, and Citroen have had to alter their working practices too. For example, the team debriefs - which used to be in French during the Loeb-Ogier era - are now all in English...

2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Highlights
By BestOfRallyLive/Michelin - Uploaded to YouTube by Racingdownload




WRC Rallye Monte Carlo 2012 [HD]
Posted to YouTube by SUD Rallye (creators)




Rallye Monte Carlo 2012 [HD]
Posted to YouTube by Rallye Mad (creators)