Monte Carlo Pre-event

The 2026 WRC season kicks off with one of motorsport’s most iconic events: Rallye Monte-Carlo. Legendary mountain roads, unpredictable weather, and mixed grip conditions once again set the stage for a true test of skill and strategy. As crews return to the Alps, precision and experience will be just as important as outright speed. The tricky WRC event is where ice, snow, and dry asphalt can appear in the same corner, giving the drivers an extra challenge.

This year, the WRC-1 class feature 11 drivers, 3 of them in a new seat. Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson in the Toyota, the 2025 WRC2 champion that also drove WRC1 in Estonia where he won the competition. Hayden Paddon and John Kennard in the Hyundai, became the ARC champion in 2025. The last new driver is found in the M-Sport team, Jon Armstrong with co-driver Shane Byrne, that claimed second place in the ERC 2025, and had a strong finish of the season, securing victory in the last two races.

The total number of drivers entrying Monte Carlo is 66.

Sami Pajari in the season opener for 2025. Photo: Marco Rimola