The 2026 World Rally Championship has officially roared into life on the Port of Monaco, setting the tone for a season steeped in history, transition and renewed ambition. Just days before the start of the 94th Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo, the sport’s elite gathered on Quai Albert Ier for the ceremonial launch of the new WRC campaign — a moment that blended motorsport theatre with unmistakable Monegasque prestige.
Set against the harbour backdrop and framed by a purpose-built stage installed by the Automobile Club de Monaco, the event brought together drivers, teams and manufacturers from across the WRC and WRC2 fields. Fans packed the quayside as the five manufacturers currently represented across the top two categories unveiled their 2026 liveries and line-ups, while crews offered early reflections ahead of one of the most demanding rallies on the calendar.
The ceremony concluded with a symbolic gesture: Prince Albert II of Monaco, present throughout the event, was presented with a rally helmet by ACM President Michel Boeri and WRC Promoter CEO Jona Siebel — a clear signal that the season had officially begun.
Ogier, Once More at the Centre of the Story
As ever, all eyes turn to Sébastien Ogier. Reigning world champion and winner of the 2025 Monte-Carlo Rally, Ogier returns to the Alpine roads with Vincent Landais aboard the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, once again carrying car number one. Now chasing an unprecedented eleventh Monte-Carlo victory, the Frenchman remains the benchmark against which the rest of the field measures itself.
“Monte-Carlo is a rally that still makes me dream,” Ogier said ahead of the start. “We’ll do everything we can to continue the momentum.”
But the 2026 field ensures there will be no shortage of challengers. Within Toyota, Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin are determined to finally break their Monte-Carlo duck, while Hyundai arrive with a formidable trio led by Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe — already twice winners on these roads. Adrien Fourmaux, third overall in 2025, returns with increased confidence and familiarity inside the Korean squad, openly stating his belief that he can fight at the front.
Further intrigue comes from M-Sport Ford, where Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne make their Rally1 debut, while Hayden Paddon and John Kennard return to WRC competition for the first time since 2018 — a veteran presence adding depth and unpredictability to the field.
Lancia Returns, WRC2 Heats Up
Before the Rally1 cars rolled onto the stage, attention turned to WRC2 — and to one of the most symbolic moments of the evening. For the first time since 1993, Lancia is back in the World Rally Championship. Entered in WRC2 with the Ypsilon HF Rally2, the Italian marque’s return carries enormous historical weight, particularly at Monte-Carlo.
Yohan Rossel and Arnaud Dunand, winners of the category in 2025, headline the effort alongside Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov. “Winning again with a brand like Lancia would be something special,” Rossel admitted, acknowledging the legacy now resting on his shoulders.
The WRC2 field is deeper than ever, with 25 crews entered. Among them are Eric Camilli and Thibault de La Haye in the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, and Léo Rossel with Guillaume Mercoiret in the Citroën C3 Rally2 — both proven Monte-Carlo performers in a category where experience and tyre calls often outweigh outright pace.
A Bigger Entry, A Bolder Statement
In a move welcomed across the paddock, organisers confirmed an expanded entry list for the 94th running of the Monte-Carlo Rally. Originally capped at 60 crews, the event will now feature 66 entries after officials confirmed the Gap Fontreyne service park could accommodate the additional logistical demands.
The decision underscores the rally’s enduring pull. Crews from 22 countries, representing nine manufacturers across multiple FIA categories, will line up between January 22 and 25 — a reminder that Monte-Carlo remains one of the few rallies capable of attracting factory stars and privateers alike in equal measure.
Eleven Rally1 cars from Toyota, Hyundai and M-Sport will headline the field, setting up a heavyweight contest from the very first kilometre.
A Route That Looks Back — and Forward
The 2026 route places renewed emphasis on Monte-Carlo’s historic DNA: narrow alpine roads, rapidly changing grip levels and winter conditions that can swing from dry asphalt to black ice in a matter of corners. Tyre strategy will again be decisive, particularly across the high-altitude stages of the Turini and Col de Braus.
Yet the rally also looks forward. Saturday night will see competitive WRC action return to Monaco itself for the first time since 2008. A 2.69-kilometre stage through Port Hercule, partially following the Formula 1 circuit, will run over two laps and include chicanes and a spectacular donut section designed as much for precision as for show.
The first car is scheduled to start at 6:35pm, with free access for spectators and several hours of action as the world’s best rally drivers take on one of motorsport’s most iconic settings.
Monaco at the Heart of the Spectacle
Beyond the stages, Monaco will host a dedicated fan zone on Quai Antoine Ier from January 21 to 25. The area will feature WRC simulators, interactive displays, live stage broadcasts, official merchandise and food outlets, along with demonstration runs from Rally1 cars representing Toyota, Hyundai and M-Sport.
The rally will conclude on Sunday with the Wolf Power Stage, followed by the traditional podium ceremony at Port Hercule — bringing the event full circle, from alpine endurance to urban celebration.
A Season on the Brink of Change
The 2026 season also carries broader significance. It marks the final year of the current Rally1 regulations, in place since 2022, before a new technical era begins in 2027. With sweeping changes ahead, Monte-Carlo once again stands as the proving ground — a rally where reputation is built, momentum is forged, and history is never far from the present.
When the cars leave the harbour and head into the mountains, the WRC season will not begin quietly. It will begin, as it always should, at full volume — on the roads of Monte-Carlo.