Thierry Neuville Joins WRC Stars at Monza Rally Show
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World Rally Championship (WRC) fans are in for a treat as the Monza Rally Show returns, featuring a stellar lineup of rally legends. This year’s event, running from December 5 to 8, will spotlight newly crowned WRC champion Thierry Neuville alongside other motorsport stars.
Celebrating Pirelli’s WRC Legacy
This year’s Monza Rally Show marks the end of an era as Pirelli bids farewell to its role as the exclusive tire supplier for the World Rally Championship. For the past four years, Pirelli has provided critical tire technology that has shaped WRC’s competitive landscape. Starting next season, Hankook will assume this pivotal role.
Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli’s Rally Operations Manager, reflected on the milestone: “Monza is a homecoming for us. This event is both a celebration of our WRC journey and an acknowledgment of the lessons and success we’ve achieved over these four incredible years.”
A Star-Studded Driver Lineup
Joining Neuville is an impressive roster of rally legends and rising stars:
- Kalle Rovanperä: The young Finn and two-time WRC champion continues to dazzle with his prowess.
- Sébastien Ogier: The French rally maestro, with eight WRC titles under his belt, remains a force to be reckoned with.
- Dani Sordo: A Hyundai veteran known for his consistency and experience.
- Adrien Fourmaux: Representing M-Sport-Ford in the Ford Puma Rally1.
- Sami Pajari: Fresh off a WRC2 title, making his highly anticipated debut in Toyota’s Rally1 car.
- Jari-Matti Latvala: Toyota’s team principal and rally veteran, adding his expertise to the weekend’s competition.
Even Jari-Matti Latvala, Toyota’s team principal and a former WRC driver, will hit the track.
Event Highlights
The Monza Rally Show will span three days, featuring:
- Nine special stages, covering a total of 154.38 km of timed competition.
- On Sunday, the Masters’ Show will take place on Monza’s iconic straight. Here, drivers like Neuville, Ogier, Sordo, and Fourmaux will battle it out for ultimate bragging rights.
For fans, the event offers an exclusive opportunity to ride alongside their favorite WRC stars during passenger laps.
A Historic Motorsport Event
Since its debut in 1978, the Monza Rally Show has been a unique blend of motorsport excellence and spectacle. While it traditionally draws WRC heavyweights, the event has seen luminaries from other disciplines, notably Valentino Rossi, a seven-time Monza Rally champion and MotoGP legend.
Monza played a pivotal role in the 2020 and 2021 WRC seasons, hosting the final rounds in pandemic-affected seasons. Both years saw Sébastien Ogier clinch victories, securing his seventh and eighth WRC titles.
This year’s Monza Rally Show promises to deliver a high-octane mix of nostalgia, celebration, and competition. For fans and participants alike, it’s a fitting stage to honor Pirelli’s contributions and look ahead to the next chapter of the WRC. With top-tier talent and a storied venue, the 2023 Monza Rally Show is poised to be an unmissable spectacle.
