History 2000s

2002 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Monaco)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2002 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Monaco)

Date: January 18–20, 2002

Start Location: Monaco

Finish Location: Monaco

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

Competitive Stages: ~388 km

Surface: Asphalt/Snow

Kicking off the new season, the 2002 Monte Carlo Rally lived up to its reputation for unpredictable weather and mixed surface grip. Tommi Mäkinen made an immediate impact with Subaru by taking a dramatic and calculated win, leveraging his experience and the Impreza WRC's stability on icy alpine stages to secure his fourth Monte Carlo triumph.

Route

Col de Turini: The legendary nighttime climb through snowbanks and hairpins — a fan-packed spectacle requiring complete control and bravery.
Sisteron: Split grip between snow and asphalt challenged tire choice and note discipline.
St. Jean en Royans: Fast downhill sections on worn tarmac with fog and unpredictable traction zones.

The rally featured narrow mountain tarmac roads across the French Alps, many coated in ice, snow, or dry patches — often within the same stage. Key tests included:

Mild snowfall early and melting ice later made tire strategy and cautious aggression the most decisive factors across the weekend.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Tommi Mäkinen & Kaj Lindström · Subaru Impreza WRC
2nd Place
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena (Citroën Xsara WRC) *
3rd Place
Carlos Sainz & Marc Martí · Ford Focus RS WRC

*Loeb originally finished first on the road but received a time penalty for an illegal tire change — handing victory to Mäkinen. Sainz capitalized on the chaos to claim a steady podium for Ford.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Mixed Grip: Choosing tires and adapting pace to rapidly changing surface conditions was the most critical skill.
  • Tire Strategy: A wrong compound or pressure could cost minutes — Citroën's misstep highlighted this sharply.
  • Night Driving: Visibility and reflection off snowbanks during the Turini run tested co-driver timing and trust to the fullest.

Tommi Mäkinen’s victory marked a seamless transition to Subaru and confirmed his legendary status as a Monte Carlo specialist — while also setting the tone for one of the most unpredictable WRC seasons in recent memory.

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