I have always wanted to spectate on the Monte,and have decide to do it next year for the first time.At the early stages of planning trip but something crossed my mind,do you need winter studded tyres fitted to hire car with the likely hood of ice and snow on the roads? , and do the hire car companies put winter tyres on as standard during winter or do you need to request them and pay extra?

No studded tyres. They want profit so you'll have car with winter tyres.

No need for studded tires.
Winter tires are more than sufficient combined with driving skills.
Take a few pro lessons and you'll be the conqueror of Col de Turini http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/king.gif

You absolutely need winter tyres, no need for studs tough. Th problem is that most rental company's don't put those tyres on their vehicle's. Only if you do renting in for example Grenoble they put them standard on the car. Mostly you will have to ask for them and pay extra.http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

A bird's eye view:

WRC 2012 Rally Monte Carlohttp://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...es/biggrin.gifay 1 SS01/03 "Le Moulinon/Antraigues" - YouTube

WRC 2012 Rally Monte Carlohttp://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...es/biggrin.gifay 1 SS02/04 "Burzet/St Martial" - YouTube

WRC 2012 Rally Monte Carlo: Shakedown in "VALENCE" - YouTube

Buy winter tyres for your own car and drive down http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif We've got winter tyres on our Fiat 500 and I spent a good part of November and December last year driving around people as if they were on slicks on the Col de Turini in the snow and I was on studded tyres.

Any map?

Nice idea D but most of us are on tight budgets and restricted time that makes a cheap flight to Lyon and back from Nice with a cheap hire car the most attractive option. I could buy winter tyres but then there's the ferries, the petrol and the tolls to get to Valence and worst of all - 13hours driving to get back to Pas de Calais from Monaco

Is there any tour companies doing the full Monte Carlo? Rallytravel isn't doing Shakedown or the first two days which is annoying since they have rooms at the famous Col de Turini hotel.

Looking at a few of us Aussies going up to experience the best rally in a long time with a huge entry list (combined WRC/IRC). Is it hard for first timers who can only speak English to get good spectating positions to get around the rally? Anyone got some experiences to help me? http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

It is only WRC, no IRC in 2012... But anyway it will be good rally for sure http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

The biggest problem for newcomer is the lack of access roads in the mountains. There is only few of them and those could be full of spectator cars. In last three years it was ok except roads to Turini which I recommend to take very very soon not to remain stuck somewhere (I think the absence of WRC cars plus stages held in working days helped this issue). Stages being closed I think 2-3 hours before start depending on stage, maybe with WRC it will be more.

Generally You can't choose much possibilities to access stages, so You have to either drive the stages before they are closed and choose a place You like. Or to drive any access road and than walk through the stage (usually no problem with that even quite short time before start). The good thing is that the route will be very similar to IRC years so it's possible to identify many places in videos. But there is still a lot of time...

Just booked flights and hotels...http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...es/biggrin.gif

I bring this topic back to the page nr1, because it is almost exactly 2 months from today to the rally:-)
It will be part of SWRC and PWRC. So, soon we can start compiling the entry list for the event.

Craig Breen is almost sure.

Okay, welcome to Finland in winter and show us driving without winter tires. Here is allso "drivers" without suitable tires, but normally they will crash.

The 3 months old quote was about spectating. You really don't need studs to spectate Rally Monte Carlo. I also don't think that Monte Carlo is run in Finland.

Hi guys!

planning to go to MC and would be very happy if can have some help/suggestion for a hotel with a reasonable price.
highly appreciated for any other tips & suggestions for this rally since will be my first time to visit.

thanks
Omer

In Valence you can find easily hotels on reasonable price, example's are B&B hotels, Campanille, Etap, Ibis etc... The only thing is that you have to book them in time. For the last night you can find a hotel in Menton, wich is not far from Monaco and same kind of price like in Valence. From there it isn't so far to stages like Turini.

Breen's season will start with RMC.

thank you very much!

Hope this event will continue to be a highlight of the year as it has been for the last few and not just another WRC event..

Any news/rumours of any "special" entries yet or live tv?