History 2000s

2001 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Monaco)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2001 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Monaco)

Date: January 19–21, 2001

Start Location: Monaco

Finish Location: Monaco

Total Distance: ~1,300 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: ~388 km

Surface: Asphalt/Snow

The 2001 Rallye Monte-Carlo kicked off the new WRC season with its signature blend of narrow mountain tarmac, patchy snow, and strategic tire gambles. Tommi Mäkinen once again proved masterful in mixed conditions, using careful tire calls and calm execution to take victory in the final year of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI’s WRC frontline use.

Route

Col de Turini: The rally’s most iconic test — long night stages with icy hairpins and narrow cliffside roads packed with fans.
Sisteron: A strategic tire challenge — featured both dry tarmac and deep ice within the same stage.
Lucéram–Lantosque: Fast descents and variable grip made it a make-or-break test of commitment and adaptability.

Based in the French Alps above the principality, the Monte Carlo stages are notorious for sudden changes in elevation, temperature, and traction. Key stages included:

Changing surface grip required near-perfect pacenote trust and real-time adaptation by both driver and co-driver throughout the event.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Tommi Mäkinen & Risto Mannisenmäki · Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
2nd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Ford Focus WRC
3rd Place
François Delecour & Daniel Grataloup · Peugeot 206 WRC

Mäkinen’s consistency kept him clear of trouble, while Sainz pushed hard in the final leg but couldn’t close the gap. Delecour delivered a surprise podium for Peugeot with a clean, confident drive.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Surface Variability: Drivers had to handle wet tarmac, dry asphalt, slush, and black ice — often within one stage.
  • Tire Choices: The wrong compound could destroy a rally — Mäkinen’s conservative picks paid off repeatedly.
  • Col de Turini Pressure: The night run through Turini created intense media and fan attention — magnifying every braking and throttle choice.

Tommi Mäkinen’s third consecutive Monte Carlo victory showed his cool under pressure and supreme mastery of low-grip driving — a testament to both experience and precise execution.

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