ROUND 1 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 24 - 27 January 2008
Rally Route
The rally retains many of last year's innovations while adding several more for 2008. The opening three days are based in Valence, but then the event heads south to Monaco for a fourth day of action high above the Principality in the mountains of the Alpes Maritimes. This is the only WRC round to run four full days' competition. Thursday evening's opening action is in darkness throughout and heads into the Vercors mountains, east of Valence.
On Friday the route moves south-west of the city into the Ardèche before Saturday's longest day of the rally north-west of Valence. A free transit section takes competitors to Monaco before Sunday's final loop, which brings the return of the legendary Col de Turini after a year's absence. After the success of last year's test, the rally ends with a short super special stage around the harbour area of Monaco's Grand Prix circuit. Drivers tackle 19 stages in total, covering 365.09km in a route of 1481.25km.
Thursday 24 January: Day 1 Valence - Valence
Start Valence 17.30 SS1 St Jean en Royans - Col de La Chau 28.12km 18.46 SS2 La Cime du Mas - Col de Gaudissart 17.58km 19.36 Serv A Valence (45 mins) 21.01 Finish Valence 21.46
Total 45.70km
Friday 25 January: Day 2 Valence - Valence
Serv B Valence (15 mins) 06.50 SS3 St Pierreville - Col de la Fayolle 29.52km 08.24 SS4 Burzet - Lachamp Raphael 16.30km 10.02 SS5 St Martial - Le Chambon - Beleac 12.66km 10.48 Serv C Valence (30 mins) 13.02 SS6 St Pierreville - Col de la Fayolle 29.52km 14.51 SS7 Burzet - Lachamp Raphael 16.30km 16.29 SS8 St Martial - Le Chambon - Beleac 12.66km 17.15 Serv D Valence (45 mins) 19.11 Finish Valence 19.56
Total 116.96km
Saturday 26 January: Day 3 Valence - Valence
Serv E Valence (15 mins) 05.55 SS9 Labatie d'Andaure - Lalouvesc 19.37km 07.31 SS10 St Bonnet - St Bonnet 25.36km 08.13 SS11 Lamastre - Gilhoc - Alboussiere 21.66km 09.38 Serv F Valence (30 mins) 11.01 SS12 Labatie d'Andaure - Lalouvesc 19.37km 12.52 SS13 St Bonnet - St Bonnet 25.36km 13.34 SS14 Lamastre - Gilhoc - Alboussiere 21.66km 14.59 Serv G Valence (45 mins) 16.04 Finish Valence 16.49
Total 132.78km
Sunday 27 January: Day 4 Monaco - Monaco
Start Monaco 07.50 RSZ Gilette (15 mins) 08.50 SS15 La Bollene Vesubie - Moulinet 22.68km 09.50 SS16 Luceram - Loda 15.34km 11.08 SS17 La Bollene Vesubie - Moulinet 22.68km 11.51 SS18 Luceram - Col des Portes 6.25km 13.09 RSZ Gilette (13 mins) 13.54 SS19 Monaco - Circuit 2.70km 15.10 Finish Monaco 15.14
Total 69.65km Rally total 365.09km
