The legendary asphalt event, once part of the ERC schedule during the series’ formative years, hosts the opening round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship between 25 - 28 January. These are the champion ERC drivers to watch this weekend.
Roberto Daprà
ERC pedigree: ERC4 champion and Junior ERC runner-up in 2023
Rallye Monte-Carlo 2024: Having impressed during two seasons in two-wheel-drive machinery in the FIA European Rally Championship, Daprà is making the big leap to WRC2 in 2024. While the ACI Team Italia driver (above) lacks experience in four-wheel-drive cars, he brings with him significant talent and potential in equal measure.
Nikolay Gryazin
ERC pedigree: Junior ERC champion (Rally2) in 2018
Rallye Monte-Carlo 2024: With four ERC event wins to his name, Gryazin placed fourth on last July’s BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia. He drives an AEC - DG Sport Competition Citroën C3 Rally2 in 2024 after several seasons competing with Škoda power.
Chris Ingram
ERC pedigree: Junior ERC champion in 2017, ERC champion in 2019
Rallye Monte-Carlo 2024: Ingram is not only starting his third Rallye Monte-Carlo, he’s also kicking off his WRC2 campaign on the event, which he hopes will total seven rounds after he attracted support from Monaco-based Suisscourtage Assurances.
Stéphane Lefebvre
ERC pedigree: Junior ERC champion in 2014
Rallye Monte-Carlo 2024: Armed with the all-new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 for Rallye Monte-Carlo, Frenchman Lefebvre begins 2024 as a WRC2 title contender.
Andreas Mikkelsen
ERC pedigree: ERC champion in 2021
Rallye Monte-Carlo 2024: A three-time winner in the ERC, Mikkelsen steps up to Rally1 power for the first time as part of a selected programme with the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team. He’s the reigning WRC2 champion.
Oliver Solberg
ERC pedigree: Junior ERC champion (Rally2) in 2020
Rallye Monte-Carlo 2024: The 2020 Rally2-based Junior ERC champion is gearing up to launch his WRC2 title bid on next month’s Rally Sweden. He’s using his Rallye Monte-Carlo outing to keep ‘match’ fit.
Five other ERC graduates on Rallye Monte-Carlo duty
Jan Černý: The four-time ERC podium finisher (above) has made winning the FIA WRC3 title his goal in 2024, starting with the Gap-based season opener. The Czech is being backed by Costa Adeje Tenerife Sur, an area of the Spanish island where he now lives.
Bryan Bouffier: Five-time ERC event winner Bouffier finished third in the 2017 European standings. He competes in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 for the first time on Rallye Monte-Carlo.
Adrien Fourmaux: M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s French star (below) won on his last ERC appearance, the 2020 Rally Islas Canarias.
Grégoire Munster: Munster starts his first full season at Rally1 level with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team. He previously competed in the ERC aboard Rally2 and Rally4 machinery.
Ghujvanni Rossi: Capable Corsican Rossi, who showed form during back-to-back Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT campaigns and also impressed on selected ERC4 appearances in 2023, upgrades to Rally3 level – and WRC3 – at the wheel of a Renault Clio.
Finland
Italy
Hungary