Oliver Solberg gives that lesson in class and character announced with the success at Estonia 2025, Matteo Fontana engraves on the WRC boards the first overall victory of a Rally3, and immediately after the first double. The final podium: Solberg, Evans resists, Ogier bows
January 25, 2026
WRC26 #01 Monte-Carlo. Oliver Solberg wins, the historic exploit is Matteo Fontana’s one-two [VIDEO]
Monte CarloPrincipality of Monaco, 25 January. 94th Monte-Carlo Rally. Snow in the evening, ice at night and in the morning, ice that melts and becomes mud and slush, snow in dirty and slippery water. And then ice again, in patches, in covered slabs, a ray of sunshine at the end (weather and figuratively)… you discover everything along the way. It’s nail stuff. This is certain and literal, come on Turini and Braus passes upset by the weather. Icons a little less white and iconographic, but more dangerous, if not fatal. Nail stuff, 4 to 6 wheels for each car, but it’s not enough, and sometimes it’s suddenly too much. Stuff made of nails and… of Vendetta Panda 4×4 on the harassment of Cayenne, G-Class Brabus or Hummer. You do little or nothing with 200 or 400 horsepower, it’s a day when it’s exhilarating to get to your destination, drive clean, drive…
Ed is the day that becomes a great day. Memorable and sensational. The day when, with all this, the excellent and calibrated driving on the circumstances allows to Matteo Fontana to masterfully bring to victory one Fiesta Rally3 in the first special of the day. It’s the family celebration, the success of “Davide” Fontana against “Goliath” Monte-Carlo on a day that everyone will remember. It’s never happened before, the reigning WRC3 World Champion enters and writes history. Great Monte-Carlo, yes and always. With all its inconveniences, hysteria, unknowns and nerves on edge. Gentlemen, I digress, find a Mr. Promoter, make a Mr. Regulationand let’s start again with a wise, intelligent, competent 2027. The WRC has taught a lot in its extraordinary history. Please don’t let the teaching be lost. We’re off to a good start, and we’re sticking to events like this Monte-Carlo.
L‘opening of Super Sunday on the Col de Braus with the victory of Matteo Fontana it is almost and in itself a declaration of intent. It won’t be an easy epilogue, courage yes but a lot of control. On the Col de Braus / La Cabanette, 12 and a half kilometres, three Rally2s take place behind Fontana. Rossel’s Lancia, Cherain’s Skoda and Jurgenson’s Ford. The first Rally1 is the Hyundai of Adrien Fourmauxthe same time as Elfyn Evans’ Toyota. Neuville is tenth, leader Solberg 11th with the windshield broken at the start, half a minute behind Fontana, other Rally1s further and further behind.
Si goes to Power Stage general rehearsalfirst pass on the legendary Col de Turini della La Bollène-Vésubie / Moulinetjust under 24 kilometers. Dantesque, incredible conditions. You don’t believe it, huh? Well yes, it is the repetition of a dream. Like at the end of the first, it is Matteo Fontana and Yohan Rossel again, Evans thirdRally1 first, Solberg sixth at 20 seconds, Ogier close behind. What happens? Nothing, it’s just a “Monte” in shape fit for the Winter Olympics! Oliver Solberg maintained leadership42 seconds ahead of Evans, despite a small spin, Neuville hits the concrete and then slides into the ditch, but arrives.
Conditions in recovery towards a sort of “normality” on the last passage to the Col de Braus. Vince Fourmaux davanti in Solberg and NeuvilleOgier is fifth and Evans at 21 seconds, Solberg returns to fly a minute ahead of the disoriented flock, albeit with a small “digression”. Exploit Rally2 by Eric CamilliJon Armstrong, who was sixth and was definitively cut out of a more than decent race due to an accident at the start of the special stage, and John McErlean who also hit the wall, gave up. There is another super excellent race, it is that of Roberto DapràSkoda, which, with great attention and growing expertise, climbs the top ten. He finished eighth overall, second in Rally2 behind only Citroen Leo Rossel.
Cthe Turini. 1,600m Slm The WRC temple. Power Stage. We are at the epilogue. We start off with the road looking almost clean, but as we go up the Monte-Carlo 2026 shows its true face. Beautiful. At the “col” the spectacle is pure, a slow motion fresco of beasts that are difficult to tame, overhangs on one side, rock spurs on the other, the very white forest and a few unreliable lines on the asphalt. The intentions are clear from the start. For Solberg and Ogier the unchangeable objectiveof the moment and global, is maintain their respective positions. Per Evansinstead, there is that extra push of the points of the day in a broader perspective. Oliver Solberg-Elliot Edmondson win the 94th Rallye Monte-CarloEvans-Scott Martt Martin second to 51.8, Sébasten Ogir-Vincent-Vinncent Ladies to 2’02. Chicking 2′ . Kalle Rovanpera will have to do a reset and start again Oliver Solberg, Son of Petter “Hollywood”. Me first! Solberg Junior, the youngest at “Monte”, unbeaten since he drove a Rally1.
Ethe final “receipt” of the Rally comes out. Power Stage a Evans ahead of Solberg, Ogier, Toyota, Fourmaux, Hyundai, and Yohan Rossel, Lancia. The points from 5 to 1. The Super Sunday record another Unpublished exploit. The best result of the day, in fact, is Yohan Rossel, Rally2 Lanciathen Evans, Formaux, Fontana, Solberg. And there it is first ranking of the 2026 World Cup: Solberg 32 pointsEvans 27, Ogier 20. “Dress Code”, the Toyota suit. We start with a hat-trick. Less than a month now of waiting. From 12 to 15 February it is the 73rd Rally Sweden.
© Images. Toyota TGR, Red Bull Content Pool, Hyundai Motorsport, Ford M-Sport, WRC.com, Lancia Corse
Ccalendar WRC 2026
22-25 January, Monte Carlo Rally. Asphalt-snow-ice – Gap
12-15 February, Rally Sweden. Snow – Child
12-15 March, Rally Safari Kenya. Terra – Nairobi
09-12 April, Rally Croatia. Asfalto – Rijeka
23-26 April, Canary Islands Rally. Asphalt – Las Palmas
07-10 Maggio, Portugal Rally. Land – Porto Matosinhos
28-31 Maggio, Rally Japan. Asphalt – Toyota, Aichi
25-28 June, Rally Acropolis. Terra – Lamia
16-19 July, Rally Estonia. Terra – Street
30 July-02 August, Rally Finland. Terra – Jyväskylä
27-30 August, Rally Paraguay. Terra – Encarnacion
10-13 September, Rally Chile Bio Bio. Terra – Concepcion
01-04 October, Rally Italia Sardegna. Terra – TBA
12-15 November, Rally Saudi Arabia. Terra – Jeddah
