For this first round of the rally season, the mythical Monte Carl', contested from Thursday to Sunday, will however have a major absentee, the last winner of the event Sébastien Loeb.

For now, the nine-time French world champion in the category, who has just returned from the Dakar, does not know if he will again be involved in a partial program like last season with Ford.

On the roads of the south of France, the way therefore seems clear for his compatriot Ogier, semi-retired at 39 from rallies and a luxury freelancer at Toyota, who will try to sign a ninth victory on his land synonymous with a record of the test, he and Loeb currently counting eight each.

Frenchman Sebastien Ogier and his co-driver Vincent Landais at the WRC Japan Rally in Okazaki, November 12, 2022 © Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP/Archives

But his young teammate at Toyota Kalle Rovanperä, 17 years his junior, is not left behind and intends to start his season with a victory and then try to keep his crown acquired at barely 22 years old last season.

If he already claims to be "more confident for the rally than last year, when everything was so new with the car", the Nordic knows however that the task will be delicate throughout the season.

Thirteen innings

This season, Toyota will also field Welshman Elfyn Evans and Japanese Takamoto Katsuta, who will replace Ogier at the wheel of the third factory Toyota when he is not at the start, to retain his constructor title.

Opposite, at Hyundai, the Frenchman Cyril Abiteboul, freshly arrived at the head of the South Korean team, will be able to count in particular on the Belgian Thierry Neuville, third in the championship in 2022, and the arrival of the Finn Esapekka Lappi, former from Toyota, to hold off its Japanese rival, starting this weekend.

Cyril Abiteboul, formerly Renault team manager in Formula 1, during practice for the Sakhir Grand Prix in Manama (Bahrain), March 30, 2019 © Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP/Archives

"The crews have painted a clear picture of the delicate nature of Rallye Monte-Carlo and what it takes to win it, it's obvious that they are up to the challenge," assured Abiteboul.

Irishman Craig Breen, engaged with Hyundai this season, will share his driving with Spaniard Dani Sordo, starter for the first round of the year.

Third manufacturer entered in the WRC, M-Sport Ford will rely on its new recruit from Hyundai, the 2019 world champion and reigning Estonian vice-champion Ott Tänak, to try to fight at the forefront.

At his side, the French Pierre-Louis Loubet will complete his first full season in the WRC.

"It's a fantastic opportunity (...) but it's also a big responsibility and I take it very seriously. So I'm trying to keep a cool head, and we'll see what we do throughout the season", commented before the resumption of the Corsican driver.

Frenchman Pierre-Louis Loubet and his co-driver Vincent Landais at the WRC Acropolis rally in Pyrgos (Greece), September 10, 2022 © Aris Messinis / AFP/Archives

As for the calendar, the Monte-Carlo rally inaugurates a season of thirteen rounds which will see the return of the Mexican and Chilean rounds and the arrival of the Central European rally at the end of October, straddling Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.

© 2023 AFP