The 2007 FIA World Rally Championship season got underway last night with the start of one of the most famous events in the series, the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo. Thursday’s opening leg took in just two stages, but the challenge proved enormous for many as the 46 kilometres of competition were run in darkness over twisty mountains roads in central France. Reigning World Champion Sébastien Loeb took the early lead in the all-new Citroën C4 WRC, which was running competitively for the first time on both his and the team’s home event.

Rally Monte-Carlo is famed for its treacherous conditions. Traditionally crews are faced with a tricky combination of snow, ice, wet and dry asphalt and tyre choice is always critical. To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the event moved its base from the Principality of Monaco to the city of Valence, home to many of the stages on which the rally built its reputation. With many of the stages not having been used in a decade, the challenge of the weather and new roads looked to be immense, however milder conditions and a lack of snow and ice has resulted in a more traditional Tarmac rally.

The crews were faced with another six stages and 152 competitive kilometres today and Loeb, his team-mate Daniel Sordo and the new Citroën Sport cars continued to control proceedings. Loeb started the leg with 23.9 seconds over Sordo and the pair have been trading fastest times throughout the day to return to Valence first and second in the overall standings. Ford’s Marcus Grönholm, the event’s 2006 winner, has maintained a consistent third position but is now 50.5 seconds adrift after gear selection problems during the morning’s stages.

Chris Atkinson heads Subaru’s challenge, the Australian fourth and in a battle with Mikko Hirvonen (Ford) who took time to get into the rhythm this morning. Rounding off the top six is Toni Gardemeister in a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo - Results after Leg 2
 

1. Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena		Citroën C4 WRC	1 hr 57 min 41.1sec
2. Daniel Sordo/Marc Marti		Citroën C4 WRC	1 hr 58 min 06.3sec
3. Marcus Grönholm/Timo Rautiainen		Ford Focus RS WRC	1 hr 58 min 56.8sec
4. Chris Atkinson/Glenn Macneall		Subaru Impreza WRC	2 hr 00 min 11.4sec
5. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen		Ford Focus RS WRC	2 hr 00 min 28.6sec
6. Toni Gardemeister/Jakke Honkanen		Mitsubishi Lancer WRC	2 hr 00 min 35.3sec

 
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