New technical regulations and a change of tyre manufacturer has made preparations for the challenging Monte Carlo Rally among the most demanding for World Rally Championship teams in recent times. Not since the introduction of the Rally1 cars in 2022 has the WRC undergone such significant changes, heaping even more importance on teams to do the best job possible with their Monte pre-event tests.
The reason testing is even more crucial is because this year Rally1 cars will run without hybrid power, after the FIA decided to remove what was a key element of the original 2022 Rally1 package. This means cars have shed 87 kilograms and will run with a reduced 35mm air restrictor.
