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As COVID-19 epidemic wreaked havoc in 2020 WRC calendar and forced cancellation of rally after another and even replacement events got cancelled, FIA began to get desperate. Without semblance of even half-full season it would be hard to justify calling champions of that season as proper champions. Thus, something very unorthodox was conceived.
Monza Rally Show has been organised annually since 1978, giving drivers of various racing disciplines a chance to compete and show their talent to wider audience outside of the competitive seasons. As name implies, it was just a show and had nothing to do with proper full length rally.
But for 2020, event was enlarged with intention to look like a proper WRC event. To achieve this, three (3!) repeated stages outside the actual Monza Circuit were booked and rest of the rally consisted of various loops constructed around the circuit itself posing as special stages, with service after every one of those. Amazingly, this got stage distance to a respectable 241 kilometers. While this is pitiful, it's still way better than other truncated events of the latter part of the 2020 season.
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| 2020:
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Ogier, Sebastien
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Toyota Yaris WRC
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85.64 km/h
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| 2021:
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Ogier, Sebastien
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Toyota Yaris WRC
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95.45 km/h
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Route of Monza Rally ran around the actual circuit, mostly in access and service roads which were wet and slippery gravel or even times, grass. Roads were liberally lined with concrete blocks and hay bales to form twisting labyrinths around the same roads.
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The actual Monza circuit was also used, forming part of the route in varying degree. This explains huge variance on average speeds, on stage where much of the circuit was used cars were much faster than over muddy gravel.
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The most interesting part was three repeated stages up in the mountains. Late date meant low temperature and snow - together with scenery it's very easy to confuse this part of the rally with Monte Carlo.
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Driver wins
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Ogier, Sebastien (2)
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Manufacturer wins
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Toyota (2)
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