The Monte Carlo Rally is always a challenge to photograph. Access roads are few and far between, while thousands of spectators restrict movements. Gendarmerie and marshals can be a bit hit or miss.
With that said, however, Monte Carlo always serves up some eye-catching images. Here’s a selection of 10 which show the diversity of the event, the freshness of the sport’s new cars and the rally’s new location.
01. Sébastien Loeb & Isabelle Galmiche, M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 (Photo: Marcin Rybak)
Hot-footing it in from the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Loeb’s 80th WRC win was all the more remarkable considering his lack of pre-event testing and having a brand-new co-driver sat alongside. At 47 years of age Loeb became the oldest winner of a WRC rally, proving he still has what it takes. In this image, some creative off-camera-flash lighting shows ‘Le Maestro’ at work.
02. Sébastien Ogier & Benjamin Veillas, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 (Photo: Marcin Rybak)
Save for a puncture and a jump-start of the final day, it would have been Ogier and new co-driver Veillas on the top step of the podium outside Casino Square. This was a very sunny Monte, the warm glowing winter light providing plenty of color in this scene.
03. Elfyn Evans & Scott Martin, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 (Photo: Colin McMaster)
This is the Gorge du Cians. In 1997 I photographed Colin McRae and Nicky Grist cycling up this road to the Valberg ski station. Twenty-five years later it was used as a road section on Friday and I wanted to show it. The Monte stages have incredibly limited access and some very restricted movements once in position, hence why you see more accredited WRC photographers shooting on the slow public liaison sections than on the actual flat-out competitive sections. In this instance, I’m guilty as charged.
04. Monaco harbor service park (Photo: Colin McMaster)
Relocating the event from Gap in the Hautes Alpes to Monaco meant that at last the rally had a beautiful, permanent service park again.
05. Kalle Rovanperä & Jonne Halttunen, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 (Photo: Colin McMaster)
The new Rally1 car regulations have made designers consider packaging and cooling, whilst pushing the aerodynamics to the maximum within the constraints of the rules. This rear shot shows the high rake-angle of Toyota’s Yaris, the cooling fans in the bumper and the sculpted side air intakes needed to assist with hybrid battery cooling.
06. Ott Tänak & Martin Järveoja, Hyundai i20 N Rally1 (Photo: Reinhard Klein)
Hyundai suffered a terrible start to its 2022 campaign. The slightest of offs for Tänak on the notorious Sisteron stage was enough to damage the i20’s cooling system terminally. This stunning winter scenery would not have lightened the mood for the Estonian.
07. Craig Breen & Paul Nagle, M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 (Photo: Marcin Rybak)
Tunnel vision for Breen as he bagged the most points he could on the season opener.
08. Oliver Solberg & Elliott Edmondson, Hyundai i20 N Rally1 (Photo: Marcin Rybak)
This image just about sums up the rally for Solberg and Hyundai. Somewhat broken.
09. Craig Breen and Malcolm Wilson (Photo: Colin McMaster)
Breen was the highest placed of the permanent WRC drivers on the season opener. Job done in many respects and every reason to celebrate with his new boss Malcolm Wilson.
10. Sébastien Ogier, Isabelle Galmiche & Sébastien Loeb (Photo: Colin McMaster)
Flanked either side by eight times Monte Carlo rally winners, Isabelle Galmiche really did steal the show. School math teacher by trade, this part-time co-driver became the first female to win a WRC rally since Fabrizia Pons triumphed alongside Pierro Liatti on the 1997 Monte. One feels this image will be a popular one for many years to come in the McKlein archive.
