History 1990s

1991 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Monaco)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1991 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Monaco)

Date: January 26–30, 1991

Start Location: Valence, France

Finish Location: Monte Carlo, Monaco

Total Distance: 644.40 km of special stages

Surface: Asphalt and snow

The 1991 Monte Carlo Rally kicked off the season with a classic display of unpredictable conditions and strategic tire choices. Carlos Sainz, fresh off his first world title, kept his composure amid ice-covered passes and blacktop transitions to score a decisive win. With sharp tire calls, careful driving, and precise pacenotes, Sainz controlled the event from the front and set the tone for another strong campaign.

Route

Col de Turini: Fog, snow, and icy switchbacks made this the rally’s most iconic and unpredictable test.

Col de la Couillole: Narrow, fast, and grip-variable—rewarded those with the best tire gamble.

Sisteron-Thoard: Mixed asphalt and shaded ice with rapid elevation changes—tire temperature and pacenote trust were essential.

The 1991 route returned to traditional Monte terrain—tight, winding tarmac high in the French Alps, coated in patches of snow and ice:

With conditions changing by the hour, teams leaned heavily on weather scouts and tire crews to survive the Alpine gauntlet.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner

Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165

2nd Place

François Delecour & Michel Perin · Ford Sierra Sapphire 4x4

3rd Place

Didier Auriol & Bernard Occelli · Lancia Delta Integrale 16V

Sainz’s calm, calculated drive was a perfect blend of speed and safety—proving that he could lead from the front even on rallying’s trickiest surface mix.

Navigation & Challenges

Tire Strategy: With split-surface stages, Sainz often ran a mix of compounds—his calls were consistently correct.
Black Ice and Blind Crests: Visibility and traction changed within meters—perfect co-driver timing was essential.
Night Stages: Traditional night runs through the Alps added drama and forced peak focus in difficult visibility.

The 1991 Monte Carlo Rally was a tactical victory as much as a driving one—Carlos Sainz proved his title wasn’t a fluke by winning the hardest rally to control.

← Previous Event 1991 Paris–Tripoli–Dakar Rally (France–Libya–Niger–Mali–Mauritania–Senegal)

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