History 1990s

1990 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Monaco)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1990 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Monaco)

Date: January 21–25, 1990

Start Location: Various European cities (concentration run)

Finish Location: Monte Carlo, Monaco

Total Distance: 604.63 km of special stages

Surface: Asphalt and snow

The 1990 Monte Carlo Rally was the season opener and debut for Lancia’s updated Delta Integrale 16V. Didier Auriol wasted no time in showcasing its strengths, dominating through the Alps with a confident and composed drive. Tire strategy, road position, and night-stage consistency all played major roles in what became Auriol’s second Monte Carlo win—and a warning to rivals of Lancia’s continued strength.

Route

Col de Turini: A treacherous night stage with shifting grip and steep drops—one of rallying’s most iconic tests.
Col de la Couillole: Tight, uphill sections requiring absolute traction and smart gear use in snowy hairpins.
St. Auban–Sigale: Long mixed-grip stage where visibility and tire temperature played huge roles in time gaps.

The rally blended dry tarmac, ice, and snow across iconic Alpine stages, making conditions unpredictable from one corner to the next:

Auriol’s mastery of transitions and his confidence on snow-slicked tarmac set the pace across the entire rally.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Didier Auriol & Bernard Occelli · Lancia Delta Integrale 16V
2nd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
3rd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Piironen · Lancia Delta Integrale 16V

Auriol’s win was a combination of speed, snow-driving finesse, and flawless tire choices—helping Lancia begin 1990 right where they left off: on top.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Tire Strategy: Teams often gambled with slicks, studs, or intermediates based on incomplete forecasts—Auriol’s team rarely missed.
  • Weather Shifts: Elevation changes brought sudden snow or black ice—reactive pace note accuracy was vital.
  • Night Driving: Long night stages in fog and snow punished fatigue and rewarded rhythm over aggression.

The 1990 Monte Carlo Rally was a tactical and technical masterclass—Didier Auriol’s measured aggression and the Lancia 16V’s debut sent a clear signal for the season ahead.

← Previous Event 1990 Paris–Dakar Rally (France–Libya–Niger–Chad–Mali–Mauritania–Senegal)
Back to Events Index
1990 Rallye de Portugal (Portugal) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.