Drivers, fans and Liam Lawson enjoy return of Monaco Circuit stage

The return of World Rally Championship cars tackling Monaco’s famous Grand Prix circuit has proved a hit with drivers who wish the initiative to become a more permanent fixture in the future.

Monaco’s famous circuit echoed to the sound of WRC for the first time since 2008 as a shortened version of the Formula 1 track played host to a 2.65km super special stage for this year’s Monte Carlo Rally.

The event has previously held a stage utilising the grand prix circuit in the 2007 and 2008 editions of the rally. Subaru’s Chris Atkinson and Ford’s François Duval famously clocked identical fastest times when the Monaco circuit last featured as part of a stage in 2008.

This year’s edition witnessed crowds flocking to the circuit despite inclement weather to watch the WRC’s elite complete a stage constructed using the start/finish straight and harbour area of the circuit. 

Racing Bulls Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson was in attendance, with the Kiwi afforded several runs of the stage driving a Ford Puma Rally1 car before the stage was live. Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux won the stage by 0.7s from Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta.

Why SS13 — Monaco Circuit stage felt different

The WRC hosting super special stages in city centres bringing the rally to the fans is nothing new, but holding such a stage in such an iconic venue such as the Monaco Grand Prix circuit is an initiative that many in the severe park feels is important to grow the category.

The promotion of the WRC has been a hot topic in recent years, with the subject thrust back into the spotlight as the championship welcomes a new commercial rights holder and owner. From a manufacturer’s perspective, the exposure is crucial.

Oliver Solberg Elliott Edmondson, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

“This is what we need to have in the WRC. Even though the weather is like this, it is full of people and there is a great atmosphere, and this kind of thing we need to have. Bringing it to the people,» said Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala.

Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville echoed Latvala’s sentiment and is hopeful the stage will return at future Monte Carlo WRC rounds.

“It was cool and well done to the organisers and the organisation, and this is what rallying needs as well. The crowds are there, and the show was good despite the disastrous weather conditions. I think it is something they should do again,” Neuville told Motorsport.com.

“I think we need to go to the crowds. This is something I enjoy when it is something nice like a historical circuit. It makes it even more special.”

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

His teammate Adrien Fourmaux added: “It was quite cool to drive on the circuit and I think it is a really good initiative to drive in Monaco because I feel for a few years now the fans in Monaco are not following the rally so much because they just have the start and the finish here. Now we can give them a show, the car the noise and the atmosphere.

“I think we should do the whole track — one lap,» he smiled.

Grégoire Munster, Louis Louka, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Super special stages are usually not among drivers favourites when it comes to WRC events, but M-Sport-Ford’s Josh McErlean went as far as saying that the Monaco stage was “massive for the sport.” 

“It is quite bananas to think where you are at and what you are doing. The stage was obviously quite difficult for us on slick tyres and the cobbles were extremely slippy,” said McErlean. 

“It is a nice way to end the day and for the sport it is massive. It is what it needs and hopefully more cities and towns can do things like this.” 

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— The Motorsport.com Team