Monaco Kicks Off 2026 WRC Season Ahead of Rallye Monte-Carlo

Monaco hosted the season launch of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship on Saturday, 17 January, with H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco in attendance. The event highlighted the return of Lancia to WRC2, Škoda Motorsport’s 125th anniversary, and the debut of several Rally1 drivers, including Jon Armstrong with M-Sport Ford and Hayden Paddon with Hyundai Motorsport.

Reigning champions Toyota GAZOO Racing, led by Sébastien Ogier, closed the ceremony as the spotlight turned to the Principality for the start of Rallye Monte-Carlo.

The rally officially begins this Thursday, 22 January, with crews departing Monaco for Alpine stages, returning Saturday evening for the Monaco Circuit Super Special Stage, and concluding on Sunday with the Wolf Power Stage. This marks the first major WRC event of the season and brings international attention to Monaco as a motorsport hub.