2012 Monte Carlo Rally
The 80th Monte Carlo Rally was held from 17 to 22 January 2012. A total of 18 special stages were run on asphalt and partly on snow and ice.
- 2.1 final
- 2.2 stages
Reports
Day 1 ( Wednesday, January 18 )
With best time in the first and second special stage took over Jari -Matti Latvala (Ford ) took the lead on the morning of the first day. With half a minute behind Sébastien Loeb followed in Citroën. The tire choice was extremely difficult because the track was partially covered with snow. In the fourth special stage itself Latvala rolls over and separates, Loeb takes the lead without a fight. Despite a small accident which ended in a snowbank, Dani Sordo was at the end of the day in second place classified with the MINI. They were followed by Petter Solberg (Ford) and Sébastien Ogier ( Škoda ).
Day 2 ( Thursday, January 19 )
Loeb / Elena built in stages 5-7 the lead further. Solberg and Sordo fought for second place, the duel went with 3.7 seconds ahead of Solberg for. Ogier falls out in the afternoon, in a fast curve, he lost control of his vehicle. The duel between Sordo and Solberg is constantly changing back and forth in the afternoon. After the second day Sordo was again before Solberg. Mikko Hirvonen, new teammate of Loeb at Citroën, was in fourth place with a gap of 3.40,4 minutes.
Day 3 ( Friday, January 20 )
On the third day, the tire choice was not easy. Some of the roads were wet, then frozen and snow lay in some stages. Loeb had found the optimal mix and increased the lead further. Sordo consolidated second place, he took in the course of moving to stages Solberg from about one minute. In WP12 Solberg had chosen the wrong tires and in WP 13, he had a puncture. Evgeny Novikov (Ford) was in fifth place just 5.4 seconds behind Hirvonen.
Day 4 (Saturday, 21 January)
World champion Loeb managed his lead and was already on Saturday shortly before his sixth win in Monte Carlo, as on Sunday, only the Power Stage was run. Hirvonen won the special stage on the Col de Turini and came with progressive driving experience ever more familiar with the Citroen. Although Dani Sordo lost time, but was able to claim second place ahead of Solberg, who won the 16th and 17th special stage. In the overall standings did not change at the five best.
Day 5 ( Sunday, January 22 )
On the last day of the Rallye Monte Carlo with the 5 -kilometer Power Stage was on the program. Sebastien Loeb secured the win this special stage and won the rally, which he led as early as the 4th WP. At the finish Loeb had 2:45 minutes ahead of Sordo. Petter Solberg was in third place on the podium of the first three. The comment of the winner: "Better it could not be. "