2010 Monte Carlo Rally
The 78th Monte Carlo Rally took place from 19 to January 23, 2010 instead and was the opening round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge 2010. Winner was Juho Hänninen and Mikko Hirvonen ahead of Nicolas Vouilloz.
Route
The Monte Carlo Rally in 2010 reached over 405 timed kilometers on 15 special stages. On the evening of 19 January, the rally was opened by a nearly nine-kilometer prologue. The result did not drain into the rating, but determined the starting order for the first stage, on which the ten fastest of the prologue in reverse order went out on the track. The rally went through the French Alps and decided on the third leg, which led over the Col de Turini and ended at the border with Monaco. The rally led by paved roads that could be snowy or icy in some places. Due to extremely changeable weather conditions, the tire choice played a crucial role.
Participant
For event 63 participants were reported, the driver of the most competitive Super 2000 class made up the forward positions among themselves. To favorites included the reigning Rally World Championship runner- Mikko Hirvonen, the new Ford Fiesta S2000 rally drove in his first application for M-Sport. Other early contender were defending champions Kris Meeke IRC and last year's winner Sébastien Ogier, both on Peugeot 207 S2000. With the same vehicle and Stéphane Sarrazin, Bruno Magalhães and Franz Wittmann went junior, who made his debut in a Super 2000 car, at the start. For Škoda January Kopecký, Juho Hänninen, Nicolas Vouilloz and Guy Wilks attended to Škoda Fabia S2000. WRC pilot Toni Gardemeister started on an Abarth Grande Punto S2000, while Bryan Bouffier a Subaru Impreza WRX STi was driving. One of the most prominent participants was the Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica with a Renault Clio R3.
Course of the rally
During the prologue Robert Kubica was forced to abandon when his vehicle failed after just four kilometers with engine failure. The first test evaluated and could not compete, therefore.
Fastest in the first special stage was Mikko Hirvonen. Sébastien Ogier secured the second special stage and closed tightly again the leader in the overall standings. Then Hirvonen won the third special stage, while Ogier lost two minutes, as he slipped on snow, which was thrown by spectators on the road from the track. The following fourth and last special stage of the first stage Ogier set the fastest time and was able to work your way in the overall standings. After the first day Mikko Hirvonen led more than 40 seconds ahead of Kris Meeke.
One kilometer after the start of the fifth special stage was the rally for the until then second-placed Kris Meeke ended when he fell into an icy curve to slip and consequently straight slammed into a wall and an embankment hinunterschlitterte. The fastest times on each special stage achieved Nicolas Vouilloz, Mikko Hirvonen, Juho Hänninen and Sébastien Ogier, who decided three tests for themselves. Stéphane Sarrazin lost at the beginning of stage time, when he crashed into a snowbank. Toni Gardemeister came in a fast corner on ice into a skid, and he also crashed into a snowbank. Although he set the stage yet over, but then withdrew because of irreparable damage to the engine due to its departure from the rally back. At the end of the day Hirvonen led with just under 50 seconds ahead of Hänninen.
On the third and final stage Sébastien Ogier attacked, the first special stage in the morning secured. After the first of the crucial four night stages that led over the Col de Turini, Ogier went with the fastest time over again in the standings to Juho Hänninen and shortened the gap to Mikko Hirvonen to less than 40 seconds. The subsequent special stage won Stéphane Sarrazin. Meanwhile, the previously sixth-placed Franz Wittmann junior was forced to close because it collided with a wall and thereby damaged both suspensions. Juho Hänninen set the fastest time on the penultimate special stage. At the same time he advanced in the overall standings against second place, as Sébastien Ogier could not take the last special stage due to a defective alternator. This decided Stéphane Sarrazin again for themselves.
Mikko Hirvonen, who always led the overall standings from the start, won by nearly two minutes ahead of Juho Hänninen. This Hirvonen scored right at the debut of the new Ford Fiesta S2000 rally the first victory with this vehicle. Third place was taken at the end of Nicolas Vouilloz. 36 of 63 participants started reaching the goal.