The opening round of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship on January 18-24 will feature four legs en route from Monaco to Gap.
Shakedown will take place in Gap on Wednesday, January 20, before the official send-off from Monte Carlo’s Casino Square the next day at 6:10pm.
As in January, action will begin with two night-time stages: Entrevaux-Rouaine (21.11km), which was partially icy in 2015, and Barles-Seynes les Alpes (20.23km), a new test which takes in Col du Fanget (1,454 metres). Competitors will arrive in Gap shortly before midnight. The day’s Tyre Fitting Zone will be in Monaco, 86km from the start of SS1!
Friday’s stages will be based in the Champsaur area north of Gap, home of Sébastien Ogier. The day will take the form of two visits to Corps-La Salle en Beaumont (14.54km), Aspres les Corps-Chauffayer (25.55km) and Les Costes-Chaillol (17.67km).
Leg 3’s stages are Lardier, Valencia-Faye (51.17km) and Sisteron-Thoard (36.35km), plus the new St Léger les Mélèzes-La Batie Neuve test (17.03km) which passes via the Ancelle ski resort near Gap. The first car is due back in Monaco at 8pm.
The final day features two attempts at Col de l’Orme-Saint Laurent (12.02km, the Power Stage) and a brand new version of Col du Turini (La Bollène Vésubie-Peira Cava, 21.24km).
The event will end in Monaco early Sunday afternoon after 16 stages totalling 374.89km.