Monte Carlo Rally: Ones to watch

#1 Kris Meeke

2009 Monte: Retired
IRC wins: 4

Car: Peugeot 207 S2000
Team: Peugeot UK
Co-driver: Paul Nagle

The one regret Meeke could have after his stunning 2009 season was that his ultimately triumphant year started with a massive crash on the Monte. Victory on the series' showpiece event therefore remains a big gap on his otherwise glowing IRC CV - but knowing that the Monte is an ultra-challenging rally and crowded with one-off entrants, Meeke has already declared that he won't take any crazy risks trying to win this one. Another IRC title is his priority.

#2 Mikko Hirvonen

2009 Monte: Did not enter
WRC wins: 11

Car: Ford Fiesta S2000
Team: M-Sport
Co-driver: Jarmo Lehtinen

World Rally star Hirvonen's IRC debut serves two purposes: to advertise the potential of Ford's brand new S2000 Fiesta (which is already flying off the factory shelves, even before its first competitive rally) and to brush up on his own asphalt skills. He knows he can beat arch-rival Sebastien Loeb on gravel, but Citroen can still take 1-2 finishes almost for granted on tar - and this year's WRC calendar featuring three asphalt rounds. This could be a very useful weekend for both Hirvonen and Ford.

#3 Jan Kopecky

2009 Monte: 4th
IRC wins: 2

Car: Skoda Fabia S2000
Team: Skoda Motorsport
Co-driver: Petr Stary

Kopecky steadily built up speed through 2009 until he became Meeke's closest title rival - only to crash early in the Sanremo Rally having closed to within a point of the eventual champion. Given his performances in the second half of '09, which included commanding back-to-back asphalt wins in the Czech Republic and Spain, Kopecky is sure to be a strong championship threat again this year and a definite podium contender in Monte Carlo.

#4 Sebastien Ogier

2009 Monte: 1st
IRC wins: 1

Car: Peugeot 207 S2000
Team: Peugeot
Co-driver: Julien Ingrassia

By the end of last year's Monte Carlo Rally, Ogier was rallying's brightest rising star. He had followed up a commanding Junior WRC title in his rookie year with a startling World Rally Car debut in Wales (where he led on the icy opening day) and then a well-judged Monte win on his S2000 and IRC debut. His halo then slipped a little with some inconclusive WRC outings for the Citroen Junior team, but he raised his game in the summer and earned Citroen's continued backing. A second Monte win would be no surprise at all.

#5 Juho Hanninen

2009 Monte: Retired
IRC wins: 1

Car: Skoda Fabia S2000
Team: Skoda Motorsport
Co-driver: Mikko Markkula

Hanninen took control of the first half of the Monte last January, only to suffer a puncture and then crash out. That set the tone for a year in which he showed plenty of speed, but lost several results to incidents and bad luck - leaving him four places and 28 points behind team-mate Kopecky in the final standings. He needs to ensure that he emerges as Skoda's leading title contender this year, and that now means fending off new boy Guy Wilks in the UK car as well as factory partner Kopecky.

#6 Stephane Sarrazin

2009 Monte: 3rd

Car: Peugeot 207 S2000
Team: Peugeot
Co-driver: Jacques Julien Renucci

Peugeot Le Mans racer Sarrazin may only go rallying sporadically these days, but he's still right on the pace whenever he takes to the stages - as he proved with third place on last year's Monte. He recovered to that podium finish after an early error, and was quick enough to be in the fight for victory. To win the Monte Carlo Rally and the Le Mans 24 Hours in the same year would be a staggering achievement - but it's not out of the question for Sarrazin.

#7 Nicolas Vouilloz

2009 Monte: Retired
IRC wins: 4

Car: Skoda Fabia S2000
Team: Skoda Motorsport
Co-driver: Benjamin Veillas

The 2008 IRC champion was overshadowed when Meeke and the factory Skodas turned up for 2009. Vouilloz still delivered three podiums, but was rarely a threat for victory and by the end of the year he was having to obey team orders and pick up penalties to help Meeke's cause. His mission for the Monte and beyond is to prove he can still hold his own as the IRC gets ever more competitive.

#8 Toni Gardemeister

2009 Monte: Retired

Car: Abarth Grande Punto S2000
Team: Astra Racing
Co-driver: Tomi Tuominen

Suzuki's WRC exit meant a quiet 2009 for Gardemeister, who contested only a handful of rallies around the world. The highlight of his season was a brilliant drive on the Monte, where he was set to take his Astra-run Abarth to second place until a last-gasp alternator failure. He returns with the same package for 2010, eager to make up for that disappointment and to restart his full-time top-level rallying career.

#9 Bruno Magalhaes

2009 Monte: Did not enter

Car: Peugeot 207 S2000
Team: n/a
Co-driver: Carlos Magalhaes

Portuguese star Magalhaes made a great impression on his two home rounds of last year's IRC - finishing a close second on the Madeira and challenging for a similar result on the Azores event before transmission issues intervened. Tackling the Monte for the first time is a very different challenge, though. He wants to make a full-time IRC switch this year and is planning a cautious start on this unfamiliar event.

#10 Guy Wilks