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Monte Carlo Rally 2001 - 18/21.01.2001

„. I am up here because I’ve won races. At the 2001 Monte Carlo Rally I will do my best to finish 1^st in the Group N classification. After my 4^th place at the last Monte Carlo Rally (Group N), this year I am ready to fight for a top result. Some Group N regulation changes let us start with a lighter Lancer Evolution and the weather conditions will play an important rule. I am ready to enjoy the support of my fans who will come to this world famous rally event and I am proud to get the chance to win in the Group N class“

With this in mind, the Swiss rally driver Olivier Gillet went to the Monte Carlo Rally 2001 with his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 prepared by GTO Evolution. In the same class (Group N) famous drivers like the four times World Rally Champion Gustavo Trelles (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 prepared by MRT by Nocentini) and the Manfred Stohl (2000 World Rally Champion, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 prepared by TopRun) will be there with their Lancer Evolution. Other pilots like Galli and Pozzo are starting too and will be trying their very their best.

Thursday 19 January 2001, 18.30: We are here at the place du Casino, near the famous Café de Paris, waiting for the start of the 69^th Rally of Monte Carlo. Yesterday we got the chance to visit the Mitsubishi Marlboro Ralliart World Rally Team. Tommi Mäkinen and Freddy Loix answered the questions of the journalists and explained their 2001 target: to get the number 1 back on their new red Lancer Evolution. Not an easy job to do. Peugeot, Ford, Subaru, Skoda and Hyundai all want the same!

Back to the race: the car starting with the number 1 is a Peugeot 206 WRC, then comes a Ford Focus WRC and Tommi Mäkinen Mitsubishi Lancer Group A. With major changes to the suspension, the new Lancer should be easier to drive and finally more effective. After the WRC cars the first lancer Evolution Group N with Manfred Stohl pass the time control. After him come Gustavo Trelles, Gigi Galli and Pozzo. Some Kit cars like the Citroen Saxo and the Fiat Punto Kit (with co-driver Nicola Arena, a friend of ours) start their rally before the second group of Lancer Evolution comes. The Swiss driver Olivier Gillet with his number 44 is followed by many Italian drivers.

Friday 20 January 2001: At 07.00 the real work begins: 2 hours displacement to St.André les Alpes. After the fuel and tyre service the first special stage is waiting: Roquesteron.

On the way to St.André the first éclat: in the middle of the road we find the all new blue Subaru Impreza WRC of Markko Märtin. His 300 bhp rocket stricken: electronic problem.... For him the Monte Carlo ends before the first special stage.

Our choice: we will go to the second special stage. From here we will observe the battle. On the road there is some snow and most of the drivers chose snow tyres. The temperature is low but no ice in sight. Most of the drivers pass through the bends in a spectacular way as we notice that Liatti with his Hyundai WRC is missing (motor problem). In the Group N the challenge between Trelles, Stohl, Galli is won by Gassner with a Proton (Lancer Evolution). The second group of Lancers is loosing time overtaking slower cars. After the first 6 special stages Stohl is the Group N leader, Gassner second.

The second day begins with an incredible performance from the Italian Gigi Galli and the Swiss Olivier Gillet. On the special stage number 7 they finish in 7^th and 8^th position overall, about 42 and 45 seconds  behind Tommi Mäkinen and about 10-15 seconds behind the Ford Focus WRC of Sainz and Delecour.

  At the end of the second day Colin McRae is the leader in the top class, followed by Tommi Mäkinen loosing just 3.5 seconds from the leader. In the Group N the Mitsubishi Lancer battle is won by Olivier Gillet, Galli is loosing about 1 min. and Stohl at more than 2 minutes.

Sunday 21 January: The most famous special stage is on the program. For the first time the „Turini“ will be attacked under the sunshine: till now the „Turini“ was driven in the night. The second new: the „Turini“ will be driven not only one time but two times. As the drivers fire their engines in Monaco, they already know that on the „Turini“ there will be not only snow but also black ice. Every mistake could be fatal. In the battle between Tommi Mäkinen and Colin McRae the winner is: Tommi.... Colin, like at the Monte 2000, damaged his Focus and passed the „Turini“ very slow. Carlos Sainz with the second Focus and Delecour with another Focus tried to attack Tommi without success. Then the Monte Carlo winner of 1999 and 2000 was seriously interested in delivering his Lancer Evo back to Monaco in the first position over all and drove in a spectacular way. Olivier Burri too damaged his Toyota Corolla WRC prepared by Orlando and had to stop after some beautiful results: 3th overall after the special stage number 3, 9^th overall after two days of racing. The Group N leader Olivier Gillet with the Lancer Evo 6 damaged his rear wheel and had to slow down. The very experienced Trelles tried to attack Stohl, second in the Group N class and finished the special stage number 15 in 9^th  position, losing only 2 little seconds from Freddy Loix with the second official Mitsubishi Lancer group A.

Too late for changes in the final classification: Mäkinen wins like 1999 and 2000 followed by Carlos Sainz and Delecour, both on a Focus WRC. The Skoda of Armin Schwarz, the Peugeot of Gardemeister and the Lancer Evo 6 of Loix follow. The winner of the Group N class (winner of the Challenge Prince Albert too) is Olivier Gillet: Stohl and Trelles get the second and third place. The difficulties of this Monte Carlo were explained by Gustavo Trelles: he was very happy to finish the rally. A lot of drivers destroyed their cars on this tricky black ice: Panizzi and Auriol with the official Peugeot, Gassner, Galli, Burri, Sollberg finished their race with a damaged car.

No Matter, in a few days (08-11 february) the world Championship will continue in Sweden and our heroes will have repaired their cars and will be ready to continue the challenge.

Group N leaders:

Special stage 1: Olivier Gillet (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)

Special stage 2: Gassner (Proton Lancer Evo )

Special Stage 3: Gassner (Proton Lancer Evo )

Special Stage 4: Gassner (Proton Lancer Evo )

Special Stage 5: Stohl (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)

Special Stage 6: Stohl (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)

Special Stage 7: Stohl (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)

Special Stage 8: Olivier Gillet (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)

Special Stage 9: Olivier Gillet (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)

Special Stage 10: Olivier Gillet (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)

Special Stage 11: Olivier Gillet (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)

Special Stage 12: Olivier Gillet (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)

Special Stage 13: Olivier Gillet (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)

Special Stage 14: Olivier Gillet (Lancer Evo 6 Gr.N)