The organisers of the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo published the
provisional entry list for their event yesterday [Friday], the opening round in the 2008
FIA World Rally Championship.
Like in 2007, 49 crews are due to start - and at least 18 will compete in World Rally Cars.
Despite having planned to entry three cars on all events next year though, the
Subaru World Rally Team will revert to a two-car line-up and as such Xavier Pons will not take part.
The other manufacturer entries are as expected, although interestingly Matthew Wilson's co-driver, Michael Orr is not listed - instead the space is left blank, assumingly still to be confirmed.
Other drivers' at the wheel of WRC cars include former Junior Rally Championship runner,
Conrad Rautenbach, who like on the Rally GB, will use a
Citroen Xsara WRC. Four Peugeots are entered, with Laurent Carbonaro, Jean-Marie Cuoq and Philippe Roux due to compete in 307 WRC's, while Frederic Romeyer will a 206 WRC.
Of the rest, around 17 will battle it out for Group N honours, while a further twelve will be in contention for the A7 class victory.
Francois Delecour is listed with co-driver, Denis Giraudet, however his car is still to be confirmed.
As the Rallye Monte Carlo will not count towards either the Junior World Rally Championship or the Production Car World Rally Championship, no points' will be up for grabs in either of those categories.
The draft entry list is as follows, the competition numbers have still to be confirmed:
1.
Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC M
2.
Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC M
3.
Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 M
4.
Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 M
5.
Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2006 M
6.
Chris Atkinson Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2006 M
7.
Gigi Galli Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 M
8.
Francois Duval Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 M
Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC M
Per-Gunnar Andersson Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC M
Henning Solberg Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 A8
Matthew Wilson Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 A8
Khalid Al-Qassimi BP Ford Focus RS WRC 06 A8
Conrad Rautenbach Citroen Xsara WRC A8
Laurent Carbonaro Peugeot 307 WRC A8
Jean-Marie Cuoq Peugeot 307 WRC A8
Philippe Roux Peugeot 307 WRC A8
Frederic Romeyer Peugeot 206 WRC A8
