Monte Carlo Rally: Gard resident Yohan Rossel's crazy 4-second victory in WRC2

A victory in the first round of the world championship. Photos DPPL/FFSA Damien Saulnier

Le 92e rallye de Monte Carlo a tenu toutes ses promesses. Photos DPPL/FFSA Damien Saulnier – Damien Saulnier

Huitième au scratch, Yohan Rossel s’est imposé en WRC2 (deuxième niveau mondial) à l’issue de l’ultime spéciale lors du 92e rallye de Monte-Carlo. Récit.

Already winners in 2023 in the WRC2 category, Yohan Rossel from Gard and his co-driver Arnaud Dunand (Citroën C3) won again in the Monte-Carlo, the first round of the World Rally Championship, last weekend. A victory at the end of an impressive battle against the Spaniard Pepe Lopez (Skoda) and the Russian Nicolai Grayzin, their Citroën teammate.

On Sunday, in three times, the French won (by 4 seconds!) in a category with 21 competitors, and which foreshadows the future of the WRC because it is more financially accessible. Yohan Rossel, who will be 29 on February 13, told Midi Libre all this before leaving, happy, on his honeymoon…

How do you win in three special stages and with a 15-second delay, all on the slopes of the legendary Col de Turini ?

Monte Carlo is long, it's four grueling days. I now have some experience of this event. During the first three days, my two opponents were unleashed and in some times, I was pushing hard to gain tenths! On Sunday, with dry ground and a more aggressive transmission, we played our all to arrive at the start of Turini 9 tenths behind. My experience allowed me to approach this final ES (special stage) lucidly. I had to stay calm and determined. I gave it my all. The tires were destroyed at the finish! When I saw that Lopez was losing time from the first intermediate, I felt better…

You will be doing the seven rounds of the World Championship with Citroën Belgium, the DG Sports…

I am keeping the 2023 technical team that followed me with PH Sport and Bernard Piallat. I have the same engineer, the same mechanics… including my friend Thibault Alzapiedie who works at Rossel Compétition. I know DG well since its manager, Alain Georges, invited me to the Boucles de Spa which I won in 2021. The Monte-Carlo is a rally that the Citroën Racing technicians master perfectly. Our success is due to meticulous preparation. Last year, we had trouble with the soft tires that I was overheating. The work during the off-season was particularly to work on this type of problem. Last Sunday, we took two on board as backup, which allowed us to make a difference, too.

What does Arnaud Dunand, your co-pilot, bring you?

He is a very hard worker. Like me, he comes from the FFSA Youth Rally program. From the first tests, when I had to find a new co-driver, I understood that he would be very effective.

How do you see the rest of the season?

In February, we will have an engine upgrade on the C3 and others concerning its efficiency on gravel. I won the asphalt rallies last year, I must now also aim for victories on gravel. It will be exciting, with six drivers capable of winning.

WRC2 factory driver, what does that mean??

It's a job that allows me to live my passion with a fully funded season. I have the label “broke driver”. I had contacts for WRC1 but Citroën was the best option. I set myself a goal, to bring them the title and I'm going to roll my neck out to achieve it.

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