Over the years the Monte Carlo Rally has generally had a particular charisma which has given it that certain sparkle. This year’s event certainly seemed to have that special attraction, in no small part because 9 times World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb made a return, albeit a ‘one-off’ appearance for the Citroen team. Loeb certainly lived up to expectations and his performance initially threw a cat amongst the WRC pigeons as Sebastien moved into an early lead. Gradually though status quo returned, Loeb dropped back after damaging his DS3WRC’s rear suspension. Ogier went on to win the event; Latvala was 2nd, with Mikkelsen 3rd. It was a fantastic clean sweep for the VW team. They had such a clear advantage through the 2nd half of the rally that their tactics were able to be relatively safe regarding tyre choice and strategy.

It still wasn’t easy of course for the VW trio in the difficult stages with their combination of ice, snow and dry conditions. Ogier in particular was brilliant in the way he kept his head through all the pressures to take this, his 2nd Monte win. Mads Ostberg eventually finished 4th despite a few engine worries with his Citroen. Neuville was 5th, just ahead of his Hyundai teammate Sordo. Elfyn Evans managed 7th in his Fiesta WRC, Loeb climbed back to 8th following his Friday afternoon accident, and Kris Meeke also fought back from his accident on the same stage as Loeb to take 10th. Kris had the consolation of being fastest on the power stage, which earned him a few WRC points.

One of the highlights of the rally was Waterford’s Craig Breen in his Peugeot 208 T16 battling back from a slow start to turn in some scorching times towards the end and bounce back to 2nd in RC2 behind Stephane Lefebvre (DS3R5). Breen had been 4th in the category for a fair bit of the rally. At one point he dropped to 5th. But then he turned in a brilliant drive towards the end, as the Alpine roads dried.

Not so fortunate was Monaghan’s Daniel McKenna. An early road penalty didn’t deter Daniel from setting fastest times in WRC3, but then his Citroen DS3R3 was side-lined by a broken gearbox. Only a pre-approved replacement box is allowed to be fitted during the rally. Daniel had not made that provision. At least he had the consolation of knowing he has the necessary pace for the JWRC. Eamonn Boland was forced to retire his Subaru, reportedly with a mechanical hiccup.

Meanwhile, as the Monte crews were facing the challenge of the wintry conditions in the Alps the small number of competitors on last Saturday’s Mid Antrim Icebreaker rally through Ballyboley Forest were also hit with ice and snow. Despite the best efforts of Andy Magee on his tractor, as well as CoC Simon Michael and the club officials, it was eventually decided that the rally couldn’t go ahead. The icy conditions were very treacherous and dangerous, and of course if there had been an emergency it would have taken ages to get rescue crews into the forest with the icy conditions. The competitors were given familiarisation runs, but the event was abandoned in the interests of safety.

This weekend coming it is the turn of the Donegal Forestry, opening round of the Valvoline series. Ironically the weather forecast for the weekend is not too cheerful, with an icy blast reportedly on its way. At least the club is, in forestry terms, attracting a decent entry. Top seeds include Desi and Niall Henry, Andrew Purcell, Phillip Morrow, Sam and Josh Moffett, all in Lancers – seemingly the car of choice for the Irish forests. Enda McNulty is making the trip in his Subaru, whilst top two wheel drive contenders include Adrian Hetherington, Vivian Hamill and James Coleman.

In Wales this weekend the Historics swing into action on the Red Kite and Paul Barrett is now making the trip, as well as Dessie Nutt. Also this weekend the recce for the Galway Rally starts, and by all accounts this opening Tarmac round is looking interesting. Just some of the drivers in WRC machinery who should be in the frame include: Declan Boyle, Garry Jennings, Donagh Kelly and Sam and Josh Moffett. And there is the two car Mini WRC team of Eugene Donnelly and Dean Raftery. Regular cross channel competitors Steve Simpson and James Belton are also entered.

Two new driver/car entries could be Jonny Greer in a new Citroen DS3R5 and also former Billy Coleman Award winner Stephen Wright in the ex Barrable Fiesta R5. The final round of the Tarmac series will be the Cork ‘20’, with Colman Hegarty regaining the reins of power as Clerk of the Course, taking over from Kevin O’Donoghue. Kevin did a fine job with the rally over the past few years. He is now acting as media officer for the Tarmac Championship and Ger Seaman has taken on the media role on the Cork ‘20’.

Also this weekend is the SnoDrift Rally on the Canadian border, and at least one Irish co-driver, Niall Burns, is competing – problem is that, listening to the weather forecasters, there could be a whole lot more snow over there than normal!

On St. Valentine’s Day, 14th February, the McGrady Insurance NI Championship will get under way with the North Armagh MC’s stage event at Kirkistown. Eurocables are again sponsoring the rally, which encompasses a round of the Junior 1000 Championship.

Carryduff Forklift is also backing a new R2 award for Junior drivers, up to 28 years of age. The new R2 Award is open to any under 28 year old in any make of R2 car. Although Pirelli is helping with the main award, an all expenses run on Wales Rally GB, driving the Carryduff Forklift DS3R3 there is no tyre choice restriction during the season. Raymond Moore is going to look after the co-ordination of the new award and it is expected that up to 10 drivers will have a go at it. This is a very innovative and exciting award.

Also that Valentine weekend the immensely popular BTRDA series gets underway with the Wyedean Rally. The Chepstow based rally is backed by Weir Engineering and generally receives a huge entry. More info is available at www.wyedeanrally.com. For one young driver from here, Jordan Hone, this will be the start of a great adventure. Another very talented young driver, Kris Farrell, is again contesting the series in his Proton. Kris, who earned his pilot’s licence when he was just 16 and has recently qualified in aeronautical engineering, has now got a job with the McLaren F1 team.

Early news on the Birr Stages, (22nd Feb), opening round of the Triton Showers National Championship, is that the rally HQ will again be the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel. The service area will be in Campion Concrete, Borris-in-Ossory. Scrutiny will take place at Oliver Stanley’s garage in Durrow. CoC Bill Ryan has planned three good stages, each one repeated three times.