Monte Carlo bosses plead for support
Organisers of the Monte Carlo Rally are urging fans not to turn their back on the event, which will be the first high-profile casualty of the World Rally Championship's event rotation system next season
The WRC will run several events every other year to create room in the schedule for rallies in new countries, meaning that classic events including Monte Carlo, the 1000 Lakes, Rally GB, and Acropolis will take their turns to be dropped from the calendar.
Monte Carlo is first to lose its place, and next season's event will instead be the opening round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
But rally organiser, the Automobile Club de Monaco, has made a plea to fans and the media to get behind the event regardless of the absence of the WRC cars.
"We believe that a rebirth in the rally spirit will come about by opening up the event to a large number of people," said an ACM spokesman. "But the importance of media coverage cannot be overstated."
World Rally Cars will not be permitted on the event and competitors will have a free choice of tyres, rather than being restricted to Pirelli's WRC control tyre. The entry fee has also been cut from £3,500 to £2,600 and the ACM hope to raise interest in the IRC.
"As a part of the IRC, we believe we can form a strong bond with competitors who consider themselves amateurs - a category largely overlooked by the world championship," added the spokesman.
"We settled on a group of high quality rallies, allowing competitors freedom in the selection and itinerary of their routes.
The ACM also released the precise route for the 2009 Monte Carlo Rally, which is as follows:
Wednesday January 21 Start Monaco 0740 SS1 Roquesteron 0915 SS2 La Motte Chalancon-St Nazaire Le Desert 1322 SS3 St Jean en Royans-Col de Gaudissart 1550 Service Valence 1730 Thursday January 22 SS4 Labatie D'Anadaure-St Pierre sur Doux 1028 SS5 St Bonnet-St Bonnet 1101 SS6 Lamastre-Gilhoc-Alboussiere 1226 Service Valence 1346 SS7 Labatie D'Anadaure-St Pierre sur Doux 1527 SS8 St Bonnet-St Bonnet 1600 SS9 Lamastre-Gilhoc-Alboussiere 1725 Service Valence 1830 Friday January 23 SS10 Montauban S/Ouveze-Eygalayes 0923 Service Monaco 1825 SS11 Sospel-La Bollene Vesubie 1940 SS12 Lantosque-Luceram 2033 Service Monaco 2200 SS13 Sospel-La Bollene Vesubie 2315 SS14 Lantosque-Luceram 0008
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