Changes aplenty as rally season kicks off
Tomorrow will mark the start of the 2020 World Rally Championship, with some significant changes for the new season.
This year will see just three manufacturers fighting for the title after the withdrawal of Citroen at the end of 2019.
There have also been some surprising changes in driver and co-driver line-ups which should make for a very interesting season.
Newly crowned Manufacturers’ title holder, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT retain the services of Thierry Neuville and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul, Sebastien Loeb with Daniel Elena and Dani Sordo partnered by co-driver Carlos Del Barrio.
The real ace at the end of 2019 was Hyundai’s appointment of the new Drivers’ Champion Ott Tanak with co-driver Martin Jarveola.
The Estonians’ move from Toyota Gazoo Racing has certainly strengthened the Korean carmaker’s hope of retaining the Manufacturers’ title and bringing home the Drivers’ title. It also created a major shakeup in the drivers’ market place.
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT will experience a complete change in the line-up. Leading the team will be WRC Champion Sebastien Ogier with co-driver Julien Ingrassia and, after 13 years of driving Fiestas, Welshman Elfyn Evans with his co-driver Scott Martin move to a Yaris for 2020.
Then 19-year old Finn Kalle Rovanpera becomes the youngest ever WRC works driver, partnered by Jonne Halttunen. Last up is Katsuta Takamoto with Daniel Barrit in the hot seat. Ex-Japanese Formula 3 driver Takamoto is a protégé of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Tomi Makkinen and has proved his ability in WRC and WRC 2 very quickly.
Last up is M-Sport Ford, retaining both Teemu Suninien and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen, plus Gus Greensmith with Elliot Edmondson alongside.
The new member of the M-Sport team is Esapekka Lappi. Last season’s experience with Citroen and two previously with Toyota will stand the Finn in good stead for the coming season.
With the exception of Hyundai’s
Dani Sordo all the above will start the first event of 2020, the legendary Monte Carlo Rally that celebrates its 88th year.
Competitors will face a total distance of 1 366km with 16 special stages totalling 323km through the French Alps.
This is a tarmac rally that challenges the best with very unpredictable weather – it can change from ice to snow and totally dry in a single special stage, making correct tyre choices absolutely vital.
This afternoon competitors will make final adjustments to the cars on the 3.35km shakedown stage, prior to tomorrow afternoon’s official start in Casino Square Monaco and two night stages. More than a quarter of last year’s route has been remodelled for 2020, with a central service park once again in Gap.