The IRC Monte Carlo Rally, run from 19 – 21 January, was as dramatic and thrilling as any Box Office hit from Hollywood. Adding to the sense of drama, I came across the final overall classification of the rally. The results published on Saturday morning excluded the fact that all rally cars had to drive to the Service Park in Monte Carlo after the completion of the final stage on the Col de Turini. Suffering from alternator problems on the final loop of stage, Petter Solberg/Chris Patterson (Peugeot 207 S2000) finished the stage but their Peugeot machine was forced to stop along the side of the road before reaching its final destination. This means that all cars that behind Solberg (who was classified as seventh), move one place up. After a challenging event for the Norwegian, this blow adds to his poor luck over he event.
FINAL Classification:
01) B. Bouffier (Peugeot) – 03hr 32m 55,6s
02) F. Loix (Skoda) + 32,5s
03) G. Wilks (Peugeot) + 01m 19,7s
04) S. Sarrazin (Peugeot) + 01m 21,9s
05) F. Delecour (Peugeot) + 01m 22,4s
06) J. Hanninen (Skoda) + 01m 29,3s
07) N. Vouilloz (Skoda) + 03m 18,5s
08) J. Kopecky (Skoda) + 07m 45,9s
09) G. Basso (Peugeot) + 08m 46,0s
10) T. Gardemeister (Peugeot) + 09m 09,0s