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GAP, FRANCE – The 94th Rallye Monte-Carlo roared into life on Thursday night, delivering a quintessential "Night of the Long Knives" that turned the leaderboard on its head. Under the pitch-black skies of the French Alps, the 2026 season opener reminded the world that in the WRC, bravery often outweighs machinery. But it wasn't a veteran master taming the elements; it was 24-year-old Oliver Solberg, promoted to the factory Toyota Gazoo Racing squad, who emerged from the frozen chaos as the shock leader.
The drama began on SS1 (Toudon – Saint-Antonin), a classic test returning after a 17-year hiatus. On wet but manageable tarmac, Elfyn Evans drew first blood for Toyota, edging Solberg by 5.6 seconds. However, the rally truly began on SS2 (Esclangon – Seyne-les-Alpes). The notorious stage, absent since 2016, was a nightmare of black ice and slush. While others tiptoed, Solberg threw caution to the wind, decimating the field with a time over 30 seconds faster than his nearest rival. His daring performance on the studded rubber vaulted him into a commanding lead, leaving legends like Sébastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville trailing in his wake.
The final test of the night, SS3 (Vaumeilh – Claret), descended into farce as thick fog blanketed the mountain. Visibility dropped to near zero, prompting furious radio messages from crews. Sébastien Ogier, hunting his 11th Monte victory, mastered the gloom to set the fastest time before the stage was eventually red-flagged for safety reasons. The neutralization caused confusion, but the headline remained: Solberg heads to the overnight halt with a stunning 44.2-second cushion.
In the Rally1 field, the surprises continued with rookie Jon Armstrong. The Irishman, making his top-flight debut in the M-Sport Ford Puma, drove with maturity beyond his years. despite a scare on SS3 where he slid off the road, the red flag protocol saw him awarded a notional time, keeping him firmly in the fight for a podium position—a sensational start for the underdog.
It was a disastrous night, however, for Toyota's other rising star. Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen saw their rally end almost before it began. Pajari crashed heavily early in the loop, retiring his GR Yaris Rally1 on the spot. Both crew members were reported unhurt, but the damage to the car was terminal for the day.
In WRC2, the battle was equally fierce. The much-anticipated return of Lancia saw a mixed start, with their Ypsilon Rally2 machines showing pace but struggling for consistency against the established order. Frenchman Eric Camilli capitalized on his local knowledge to lead the category in his Škoda Fabia RS, holding off a spirited charge from Léo Rossel in the Citroën.
As crews head to Gap for the short overnight rest, the service park is buzzing. The tire lottery has only just begun, and with more snow forecast for Friday's leg, the mountain is far from finished.
Standings After Day 1 (SS3)
Overall Top 10 (WRC1 & WRC2 Mix)
- Oliver Solberg (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – 38:42.5* (Time est.)
- Elfyn Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +44.2s
- Sébastien Ogier (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1:08.7
- Jon Armstrong (Ford Puma Rally1) +1:12.4
- Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1:15.9
- Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1:44.0
- Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1:55.2
- Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +2:10.5
- Eric Camilli (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +3:45.1 [1st WRC2]
- Léo Rossel (Citroën C3 Rally2) +3:52.8 [2nd WRC2]
WRC2 Top 5
- Eric Camilli (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2)
- Léo Rossel (Citroën C3 Rally2) +7.7s
- Chris Ingram (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +14.2s
- Arthur Pelamourgues (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) +25.6s
- Cédric Cherain (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +38.9s
(Note: Times for SS3 are provisional due to the red flag and notional times awarded to later runners.)
Report: Neil McDaid
