# 2004 Monte Carlo Rally

The 2004 Monte Carlo Rally (formally the 72$^e$ Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo) was the first round of the 2004 World Rally Championship. The race was held over three days between 23 and 25 January 2004, and was won by Citroën's Sébastien Loeb, his 5th win in the win in the World Rally Championship.

## Background
### Entry list

| No. | Driver | Co-Driver | Entrant | Car | Tyre |
| World Rally Championship manufacturer entries ||||||
| 1 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | P |
| 2 | Mikko Hirvonen | Jarmo Lehtinen | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | P |
| 3 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| 4 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| 5 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 307 WRC | M |
| 6 | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 307 WRC | M |
| 7 | Markko Märtin | Michael Park | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | M |
| 8 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | M |
| 9 | Gilles Panizzi | Hervé Panizzi | Mitsubishi Motors | Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 04 | M |
| 10 | Gianluigi Galli | Guido D'Amore | Mitsubishi Motors | Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 04 | M |
| World Rally Championship entries ||||||
| 11 | Antony Warmbold | Gemma Price | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | M |
| 61 | Nicolas Vouilloz | David Fiorini | Bozian Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 62 | Miguel Campos | Nuno Rodrigues da Silva | Bozian Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 63 | Olivier Burri | Jean-Philippe Patthey | Olivier Burri | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | P |
| 64 | Riccardo Errani | Stefano Casadio | Riccardo Errani | Škoda Octavia WRC Evo3 | P |
| 65 | Alexandre Bengué | Caroline Escudero-Bengué | Alexandre Bengué | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 66 | Eamonn Boland | Francis Regan | Eamonn Boland | Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01 | P |
| 67 | Philippe Roux | Paul Corthay | Philppe Roux | Ford Focus RS WRC'02 | P |
| 69 | Roman Kresta | Jan Tománek | Roman Kresta | Hyundai Accent WRC | M |
| 70 | Jussi Välimäki | Jakke Honkanen | Jussi Välimäki | Hyundai Accent WRC | M |
| 71 | Jozef Béreš Jr. | Petr Starý | Jozef Béreš Jr. | Hyundai Accent WRC | M |
| 72 | Moreno Fidiani | Maria Grazia Bergonzi | Moreno Fidiani | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V |
| JWRC entries ||||||
| 31 | Mirco Baldacci | Giovanni Bernacchini | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | P |
| 32 | Urmo Aava | Kuldar Sikk | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | P |
| 33 | Guy Wilks | Phil Pugh | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | P |
| 34 | Alessandro Broccoli | Giovanni Agnese | Sab Motorsport | Fiat Punto S1600 | P |
| 35 | Kosti Katajamäki | Timo Alanne | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | P |
| 36 | Kris Meeke | Chris Patterson | McRae Motorsport | Opel Corsa S1600 | P |
| 37 | Luca Cecchettini | Nicola Arena | Autorel Sport | Renault Clio S1600 | P |
| 38 | Abdo Feghali | Joseph Matar | Astra Racing | Ford Puma S1600 | P |
| 39 | Nicolas Bernardi | Denis Giraudet | Renault Sport | Renault Clio S1600 | P |
| 40 | Guerlain Chicherit | Michel Perin | Citroën Total | Citroën Saxo S1600 | P |
| 41 | Natalie Barratt | Carl Williamson | Risbridger Motorsport | MG ZR S1600 | P |
| 42 | Mathieu Biasion | Philippe Coquard | H.F. Grifone SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | P |
| 43 | Jari-Matti Latvala | Miikka Anttila | Astra Racing | Ford Puma S1600 | P |
| 44 | Alan Scorcioni | Massimo Daddoveri | H.F. Grifone SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | P |
| 45 | Per-Gunnar Andersson | Jonas Andersson | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | P |
| 46 | Xavier Pons | Oriol Julià Pascual | RACC Motor Sport | Fiat Punto S1600 | P |
| 47 | Luca Tabaton | Gisella Rovegno | H.F. Grifone SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | P |
| 48 | Conrad Rautenbach | Peter Marsh | Birkbeck Rallysport | Ford Puma S1600 | P |
| 49 | Luca Betti | Michele Rosso | Meteco Corse | Peugeot 206 S1600 | P |
| 50 | Oliver Marshall | Craig Parry | Prospeed Motorsport | Renault Clio S1600 | P |
| 51 | Larry Cols | Filip Goddé | Renault Sport | Renault Clio S1600 | P |
| Source: ||||||

### Itinerary

All dates and times are CET (UTC+1).
| Date | Time | No. | Stage name | Distance |
| Leg 1 — 144.13 km |||||
| 23 January | 07:48 | SS1 | Selonnet — Bréziers 1 | 22.64 km |
| 23 January | 08:26 | SS2 | Piégut — Urtis 1 | 20.18 km |
| 23 January | 10:09 | SS3 | Selonnet — Bréziers 2 | 22.64 km |
| 23 January | 10:47 | SS4 | Piégut — Urtis 2 | 20.18 km |
| 23 January | 13:05 | SS5 | Laborel — L'Aubergerie | 26.68 km |
| 23 January | 13:48 | SS6 | Rosans — L'Epine | 31.81 km |
| Leg 2 — 140.79 km |||||
| 24 January | 08:18 | SS7 | Lantosque — Col de Braus | 34.41 km |
| 24 January | 11:21 | SS8 | Tourette du Château — St Antonin 1 | 24.80 km |
| 24 January | 12:04 | SS9 | Sigale — Col de Bleine 1 | 28.39 km |
| 24 January | 15:52 | SS10 | Tourette du Château — St Antonin 2 | 24.80 km |
| 24 January | 16:35 | SS11 | Sigale — Col de Bleine 2 | 28.39 km |
| Leg 3 — 104.20 km |||||
| 25 January | 08:45 | SS12 | Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 1 | 32.58 km |
| 25 January | 09:38 | SS13 | Lantosque — Lucéram 1 | 19.52 km |
| 25 January | 12:05 | SS14 | Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 2 | 32.58 km |
| 25 January | 12:58 | SS15 | Lantosque — Lucéram 2 | 19.52 km |
| Source: |||||

## Report
### Overall

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Team | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| 1 | 3 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:12:03.0 | | 10 |
| 2 | 7 | Markko Märtin | Michael Park | Ford Motor Co Ltd | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 4:13:15.6 | +1:12.6 | 8 |
| 3 | 8 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co Ltd | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 4:13:22.6 | +1:19.6 | 6 |
| 4 | 5 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 307 WRC | 4:13:29.8 | +1:26.8 | 5 |
| 5 | 6 | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 307 WRC | 4:20:19.9 | +8:16.9 | 4 |
| 6 | 9 | Gilles Panizzi | Hervé Panizzi | Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports | Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 04 | 4:22:14.6 | +10:11.6 | 3 |
| 7 | 1 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 4:22:45.2 | +10:42.2 | 2 |
| 8 | 63 | Olivier Burri | Jean-Philippe Patthey | Scuderia Chicco d'Oro | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 4:29:58.1 | +17:49.1 | 1 |

### World Rally Cars
#### Classification

| Position | Position | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| Event | Class | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:12:03.0 | | 10 |
| 2 | 2 | 7 | Markko Märtin | Michael Park | Ford Motor Co Ltd | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 4:13:15.6 | +1:12.6 | 8 |
| 3 | 3 | 8 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co Ltd | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 4:13:22.6 | +1:19.6 | 6 |
| 4 | 4 | 5 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 307 WRC | 4:13:29.8 | +1:26.8 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 307 WRC | 4:20:19.9 | +8:16.9 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 | 9 | Gilles Panizzi | Hervé Panizzi | Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports | Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 04 | 4:22:14.6 | +10:11.6 | 3 |
| 7 | 7 | 1 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 4:22:45.2 | +10:42.2 | 2 |
| Retired SS9 | Retired SS9 | 2 | Mikko Hirvonen | Jarmo Lehtinen | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS9 | Retired SS9 | 4 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS5 | Retired SS5 | 10 | Gianluigi Galli | Guido D'Amore | Mitsubishi Motors | Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 04 | Accident | Accident | 0 |

#### Special stages

| Day | Stage | Stage name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leaders |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS1 | Selonnet — Bréziers 1 | 22.64 km | Stage cancelled | Stage cancelled | Stage cancelled | Stage cancelled |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS2 | Piégut — Urtis 1 | 20.18 km | Marcus Grönholm | Peugeot 307 WRC | 17:20.9 | Marcus Grönholm |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS3 | Selonnet — Bréziers 2 | 22.64 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 15:45.6 | Marcus Grönholm |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS4 | Piégut — Urtis 2 | 20.18 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 16:53.7 | Marcus Grönholm |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS5 | Laborel — L'Aubergerie | 26.68 km | Marcus Grönholm | Peugeot 307 WRC | 18:04.1 | Marcus Grönholm |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS6 | Rosans — L'Epine | 31.81 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 18:15.2 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (24 Jan) | SS7 | Lantosque — Col de Braus | 34.41 km | Notional stage time | Notional stage time | Notional stage time | | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (24 Jan) | SS8 | Tourette du Château — St Antonin 1 | 24.80 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 18:14.9 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (24 Jan) | SS9 | Sigale — Col de Bleine 1 | 28.39 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 20:11.6 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (24 Jan) | SS10 | Tourette du Château — St Antonin 2 | 24.80 km | Stage cancelled | Stage cancelled | Stage cancelled | | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (24 Jan) | SS11 | Sigale — Col de Bleine 2 | 28.39 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 20:36.1 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 3 (25 Jan) | SS12 | Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 1 | 32.58 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 25:09.0 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 3 (25 Jan) | SS13 | Lantosque — Lucéram 1 | 19.52 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 13:59.4 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 3 (25 Jan) | SS14 | Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 2 | 32.58 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 24:03.9 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 3 (25 Jan) | SS15 | Lantosque — Lucéram 2 | 19.52 km | Marcus Grönholm | Peugeot 307 WRC | 13:46.1 | Sébastien Loeb |

#### Championship standings

| Pos. | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Co-drivers' championships | Co-drivers' championships | Co-drivers' championships | Manufacturers' championships | Manufacturers' championships | Manufacturers' championships |
| Pos. | Move | Driver | Points | Move | Co-driver | Points | Move | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | | Sébastien Loeb | 10 | | Daniel Elena | 10 | | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | 14 |
| 2 | | Markko Märtin | 8 | | Michael Park | 8 | | Citroën Total WRT | 10 |
| 3 | | François Duval | 6 | | Stéphane Prévot | 6 | | Marlboro Peugeot Total | 9 |
| 4 | | Marcus Grönholm | 5 | | Timo Rautiainen | 5 | | Mitsubishi Motors | 3 |
| 5 | | Freddy Loix | 4 | | Sven Smeets | 4 | | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | 2 |

### Junior World Rally Championship
#### Classification

| Position | Position | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| Event | Class | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| 10 | 1 | 39 | Nicolas Bernardi | Denis Giraudet | Renault Sport | Renault Clio S1600 | 4:35:41.1 | | 10 |
| 12 | 2 | 32 | Urmo Aava | Kuldar Sikk | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 4:39:49.1 | +4:08.0 | 8 |
| 14 | 3 | 36 | Kris Meeke | Chris Patterson | McRae Motorsport | Opel Corsa S1600 | 4:43:15.6 | +7:34.5 | 6 |
| 15 | 4 | 34 | Alessandro Broccoli | Giovanni Agnese | Sab Motorsport | Fiat Punto S1600 | 4:43:23.2 | +7:42.1 | 5 |
| 16 | 5 | 51 | Larry Cols | Filip Goddé | Renault Sport | Renault Clio S1600 | 4:47:04.1 | +11:23.0 | 4 |
| 17 | 6 | 31 | Mirco Baldacci | Giovanni Bernacchini | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 4:47:53.9 | +12:12.8 | 3 |
| 18 | 7 | 37 | Luca Cecchettini | Nicola Arena | Autorel Sport | Renault Clio S1600 | 4:59:14.6 | +23:33.5 | 2 |
| 19 | 8 | 45 | Per-Gunnar Andersson | Jonas Andersson | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 5:01:22.5 | +25:41.4 | 1 |
| 20 | 9 | 42 | Mathieu Biasion | Philippe Coquard | H.F. Grifone SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | 5:04:54.4 | +29:13.3 | 0 |
| Retired SS12 | Retired SS12 | 43 | Jari-Matti Latvala | Miikka Anttila | Astra Racing | Ford Puma S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS11 | Retired SS11 | 35 | Kosti Katajamäki | Timo Alanne | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS11 | Retired SS11 | 50 | Oliver Marshall | Craig Parry | Prospeed Motorsport | Renault Clio S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS9 | Retired SS9 | 46 | Xavier Pons | Oriol Julià Pascual | RACC Motor Sport | Fiat Punto S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS9 | Retired SS9 | 47 | Luca Tabaton | Gisella Rovegno | H.F. Grifone SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS7 | Retired SS7 | 40 | Guerlain Chicherit | Michel Perin | Citroën Total | Citroën Saxo S1600 | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |
| Retired SS6 | Retired SS6 | 38 | Abdo Feghali | Joseph Matar | Astra Racing | Ford Puma S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS5 | Retired SS5 | 33 | Guy Wilks | Phil Pugh | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS5 | Retired SS5 | 44 | Alan Scorcioni | Massimo Daddoveri | H.F. Grifone SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS4 | Retired SS4 | 49 | Luca Betti | Michele Rosso | Meteco Corse | Peugeot 206 S1600 | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |
| Retired SS3 | Retired SS3 | 41 | Natalie Barratt | Carl Williamson | Risbridger Motorsport | MG ZR S1600 | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |
| Retired SS3 | Retired SS3 | 10 | Conrad Rautenbach | Peter Marsh | Birkbeck Rallysport | Ford Puma S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |

#### Special stages

| Day | Stage | Stage name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leaders |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS1 | Selonnet — Bréziers 1 | 22.64 km | Stage cancelled | Stage cancelled | Stage cancelled | Stage cancelled |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS2 | Piégut — Urtis 1 | 20.18 km | Per-Gunnar Andersson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 19:40.7 | Per-Gunnar Andersson |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS3 | Selonnet — Bréziers 2 | 22.64 km | Per-Gunnar Andersson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 16:41.1 | Per-Gunnar Andersson |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS4 | Piégut — Urtis 2 | 20.18 km | Nicolas Bernardi | Renault Clio S1600 | 18:05.2 | Per-Gunnar Andersson |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS5 | Laborel — L'Aubergerie | 26.68 km | Urmo Aava | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 20:11.7 | Urmo Aava |
| Leg 1 (23 Jan) | SS6 | Rosans — L'Epine | 31.81 km | Kosti Katajamäki | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 20:14.0 | Kosti Katajamäki |
| Leg 2 (24 Jan) | SS7 | Lantosque — Col de Braus | 34.41 km | Notional stage time | Notional stage time | Notional stage time | | Kosti Katajamäki |
| Leg 2 (24 Jan) | SS8 | Tourette du Château — St Antonin 1 | 24.80 km | Kris Meeke | Opel Corsa S1600 | 20:10.5 | Urmo Aava |
| Leg 2 (24 Jan) | SS9 | Sigale — Col de Bleine 1 | 28.39 km | Nicolas Bernardi | Renault Clio S1600 | 21:51.8 | Nicolas Bernardi |
| Leg 2 (24 Jan) | SS10 | Tourette du Château — St Antonin 2 | 24.80 km | Stage cancelled | Stage cancelled | Stage cancelled | | Nicolas Bernardi |
| Leg 2 (24 Jan) | SS11 | Sigale — Col de Bleine 2 | 28.39 km | Mirco Baldacci | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 22:56.6 | Nicolas Bernardi |
| Leg 3 (25 Jan) | SS12 | Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 1 | 32.58 km | Nicolas Bernardi | Renault Clio S1600 | 27:10.5 | Nicolas Bernardi |
| Leg 3 (25 Jan) | SS13 | Lantosque — Lucéram 1 | 19.52 km | Nicolas Bernardi | Renault Clio S1600 | 15:28.4 | Nicolas Bernardi |
| Leg 3 (25 Jan) | SS14 | Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 2 | 32.58 km | Larry Cols | Renault Clio S1600 | 26:37.4 | Nicolas Bernardi |
| Leg 3 (25 Jan) | SS15 | Lantosque — Lucéram 2 | 19.52 km | Larry Cols | Renault Clio S1600 | 15:12.0 | Nicolas Bernardi |

#### Championship standings

| Pos. | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships |
| Pos. | Move | Driver | Points |
| 1 | | Nicolas Bernardi | 10 |
| 2 | | Urmo Aava | 8 |
| 3 | | Kris Meeke | 6 |
| 4 | | Alessandro Broccoli | 5 |
| 5 | | Larry Cols | 4 |