IRC Rally Monte-Carlo preview : The competitors

Rallye Monte-Carlo organisers have attracted a plentiful and star-studded entry that befits the event’s centenary celebrations. Indeed, such was the demand for spaces, that the original ceiling of 100 cars had to be increased by 20. After receiving more than 300 requests, the ACM made a selection to ensure both professional and amateur drivers could take part.

Juho Hanninen, the defending IRC champion, heads the starters in his Skoda Motorsport Fabia Super 2000. The Finn finished second on Rallye Monte-Carlo last year after leading in 2009 and is now as equally adept on asphalt as he is on gravel. Hanninen is joined in the Czech Republic team by Jan Kopecky, runner-up in the IRC for the last two seasons, 2008 IRC champion Nicolas Vouilloz from France, and Belgian Freddy Loix, whose tally of six IRC wins is more than any other driver has achieved in the series.

Several Skoda importers will be represented on the IRC season-opener. Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen will turn out for Skoda UK, while Skoda Auto Deutschland will make its IRC debut with a Fabia for 23-year-old German Mark Wallenwein.

Peugeot has also recruited a quality line-up to pilot its trio of works-assisted 207 Super 2000s. Norway’s Petter Solberg, the 2003 world rally champion, has extensive Monte-Carlo experience and will be backed up by reigning French champion Bryan Bouffier and Le Mans 24 Hours racer Stephane Sarrazin, who finished third on Rallye Monte-Carlo in 2009. Legendary French driver Francois Delecour will also be at the wheel of a 207 S2000.

Guy Wilks joins Peugeot UK for 2011 after switching from the rival Skoda UK squad. Bruno Magalahes will continue to represent Peugeot Sport Portugal and will be looking to build on the maiden victory he achieved last season. Rising star Thierry Neuville will line up for Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg.

Finn Toni Gardemeister has twice finished on the Monte-Carlo podium and will drive a 207 on a rare international outing, as will four-time IRC event winner Giandomenico Basso from Italy. Petter Solberg’s older brother Henning will be in action in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000, which is also the car of choice for French driver Julien Maurin.

PROTON Motorsports is entering a brace of Satria Neo S2000s for Australian Chris Atkinson and Swede P-G Andersson. The Malaysian manufacturer’s rally partner MEM has conducted an extensive overhaul of the Satria Neo as it seeks to unlock the car’s potential.

Ex-Formula One driver Alex Caffi makes his Rallye Monte-Carlo debut in a Skoda Fabia, while former Ferrari F1 driver Patrick Tambay’s son Adrien will drive an R3T-specification 207 alongside experienced navigator Denis Giraudet.

Maurizio Verini, a one-time Italian and European rally champion, will compete in a Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. The 67-year-old was once co-driven by Marcello Lotti, the General Manager of the IRC. Austrian promise Andreas Aigner and Irish privateers Daniel Barry and Eamonn Boland will also represent the Japanese make.

Multiple Swiss champion Florian Gonon is the lead Subaru Impreza driver in the field, while Czech Vojtech Stajf will also compete in an Impreza and his previous Monte-Carlo experience.

IRC 2WD Cup

Interest in the IRC 2WD Cup has rocketed over the winter following a change to the regulations to increase the scope of drivers and cars allowed to take part. Previously, competing crews had to use cars from the registered IRC manufacturers to score IRC 2WD Cup drivers’ points, although competitors using Clio R3s were allowed to accumulate points on the three Clio R3 European Trophy events that ran in tandem with IRC rounds during 2010.

However, from this season the rules will be relaxed to enable drivers in any two-wheel-drive rally car built to Group A, Group N and Group R regulations to be eligible for the IRC 2WD Cup drivers’ title, although only those car makes registered as an IRC manufacturer will be permitted to score manufacturers’ points.

Young Briton Harry Hunt returns to defend his title in a Citroen DS3 R3 following his switch from an M-Sport Ford Fiesta. He will face strong opposition from Clio R3 drivers Pierre Campana, Andrea Crugnola and Eric Mauffrey, fellow DS3 exponents Marc Amourette and Mathieu Arzeno, Honda Civic runners Lionel Comole and Marcel Piepers, French promise Jeremi Ancian in a 207 and a host of drivers in Abarth’s 500 R3T, including former IRC 2WD Cup frontrunner Manuel Villa.