The Rally Monte Carlo 2025 is in the racing books and Instagram stories! And what a ride! I was practically glued to the edge of my seat to the end of the event. But let’s face it: the real MVPs of this rally weren’t the drivers (well, not just the drivers) but the wild weather conditions. Rain, snow, ice, and back again – it was a real test of skill and grip… except for Sebastien Ogier, who somehow managed to snatch his tenth Monte win!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
So, what was the Rally Monte Carlo 2025 like?
Let’s keep it simple: chaos.
It was early in the season, and the experienced drivers looked like they were trying to relearn the ABCs of driving, struggling to get a handle (pun intended!) on the new Hankook tires. Choosing between Soft, Super Soft, Studded, and Non-studded winter compounds became a high-stakes gamble that cost valuable points. And the rookies? Some, like Sami Pajari, had a baptism of fire, while others, like Munster and Fourmaux (yes, not a rookie, but basically starting from scratch), managed to adapt.
What stood out the most?
First of all, we had the season-opening ceremony. I still have no idea what that was about, but whatever.
Then we had the one and only Gregori Munster. Let me tell you, this guy almost immediately became the second most popular person in Gap (after Ogier, of course). He was practically drowned in Valentine’s cards and even had to scrape them off his Hyundai. That’s what I call popularity!
And let’s give a shout-out to Elfyn Evans: his neon green helmet was so bright, I’m pretty sure you could have seen it from space.
Wednesday’s shakedown
Ott Tänak came in with his Hyundai, making his message loud and clear: he was coming for the WRC championship 2025 title. Neuville, move over! Ott blasted through the course, clocking the best time.
It was impressive, but things don’t always go as planned, do they?
Thursday’s Adventure
The rally started, and Sebastien Ogier, the local hero, took the lead, showing everyone that he knew these roads like the back of his hand. At this point, you could almost hear the collective ‘Whaaat?’ from the other drivers.
Neuville was hot on his heels in second overall, but then, bam! Ogier made a mistake, clipped a pillar, and opened the door for Neuville to snatch the lead. My first thought? ‘Okay, this is interesting… but how long is this going to last?’ And as it turned out, I was right to be skeptical.
Friday’s Slippery Sections
On the second day of the rally, the love from Monte Carlo fans was on full display, but with a twist. The fans decided to greet the leaders, Ogier and Neuville, with a full-on fireworks display! Red flashes lit up the gray mountains like a scene from a movie, spicing up the event, but at what cost? All that smoke decreased the visibility for the drivers. It was a pretty awesome show, but were the drivers as impressed? Not, I guess.
But as impressive as the fireworks were, the real problem was the weather. One minute it was raining, the next it was snowing, and then bam! Ice.
Friday morning conditions were so slick it was practically a skating rink. It was a test of skill or luck, depending on who you ask.
But hey, it wasn’t all chaos for everyone. Ott Tänak seemed as cool as a cucumber (or as cool as anyone can be while driving a rally car on ice!), charging ahead with a speed and determination that reminded me of someone who left their iron on at home! He was practically a bulldozer, sweeping away everything in his path – at least until the middle of the day.
Then came the big question: Super Soft or Studded? It was like a high-stakes version of ‘eeny, meeny, miny, moe.’
Adrien Fourmaux decided to gamble on Studded tires, which paid off with a win on SS6. However, the tire choice didn’t help poor Thierry Neuville, who flatted out at the same stage. Meanwhile, Kalle Rovanperä clawed back two positions and Ogier one because, you know, why not?
After the service break, the Super Soft compounds were all the rage, but guess what? Neuville had another flat-out on the same damn corner! I swear that spot had it in for him.
Meanwhile, Ogier danced as he took the overall lead. Fourmaux secured second, Evans third, Rovanperä fourth, and Tänak, who started so strongly, dropped back to fifth. Ouch.
Saturday’s Shakes
On Saturday, drivers decided to ditch the studs, most opting for Soft or Super Soft tires. Despite some icy patches, they were willing to take the risk for better grip. M-Sport Ford, Gregori Munster decided to start the day with a stage win. And then our old friend Thierry… had more problems. He had to stop to nurse his Hyundai back to life, while his team-mate Adrien Fourmaux showed his rallying skills and jumped to second overall on SS11, with the third Hyundai of Ott Tänak moving up to third overall. What a rollercoaster!
By Saturday’s mid-day, things started to get spicy.
In the top four, some drivers seemed to have fueled up with a great lunch. Elfyn Evans entered full attack mode, determined to snatch the second overall position from Fourmaux. Meanwhile, Tänak was on a mission to join them on the podium.
But some drivers just got plain mad! Thierry Neuville, for instance, gave us a clinic on ‘what not to do ‘ by hitting the rocks…again! In the evening, the Toyota service area was transformed into something of a rock stage as hundreds of fans tried to shake Ogier’s hand, while in the WRC, everyone was trying to figure out what tires to use on Sunday as the weather promised more ice.
Sunday’s Finale
Sunday’s finale started with a bad call for Thierry Neuville, who ended up with a €10,000 fine. A fine is better than a DNF, I guess. Even though it’s €10k for not having four freely rotating wheels after SS6.
Then, things started to get wild. McErlean and Muster were the only drivers who refused to use Studded tires. Meanwhile, Evans and Fourmaux entered a full-blown war for the silver medal.
Toyota’s heartbreaking moment came when Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari waved goodbye to the battle after both flew out. Then, as if we hadn’t seen enough drama, Munster followed the option by crashing out on SS17.
Finally, when the dust settled, Fourmaux secured a third, Evans took second, and to the crowd’s roaring, Ogier took his tenth win at Monte Carlo. Ten! That’s legendary stuff. Sebastien Loeb, with only eight wins, can only be jealous.
So, what did I love the most?
First, Rally Monte Carlo 2025 was an entire free-for-all, with different drivers taking the top spot. This level of competitiveness was a pure joy to watch.
Second, removing hybrids from the Rally1 cars was a game changer because we didn’t have to watch drivers retire one by one with technical issues. I mean, most drivers actually finished the event this time!
And last but not least, the Hankook tires added that extra pinch of spice. Choosing the right compound became the weekend’s puzzle, making the days more about tire strategy than raw speed.
What I didn’t like? The lack of snow! But no worries, Rally Sweden is just around the corner to fix that, promising plenty of snowbanks and icy challenges. So, get ready because the next WRC event starts on February 13th!
So, that was the Rally Monte Carlo 2025! Which were your favorite moments, and who do you think will take the win in Rally Sweden?
Let me know what your thoughts are. If you loved this review, share it with your fellow rally fans!
