Friday, May 30 2008 -- The FIA organizes the World Rally Championships as a series to determine the World's best Rally driver and Manufacturer. As part of the 2008 season calendar, the WRC will have teams, and drivers, travel over 5 continents to 15 races. Sports Pundit will bring you a preview of what awaits the teams on each of these circuits.

The first, and the most crucial, race of the season is the Monte Carlo Rally. Organized by the same people who also organize the Formula1 Monaco Grand Prix, Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo, the rally takes place along the beautiful principality of Monaco and the French Riviera, in the Southeast of France.
Prince Albert I started this rally in 1911. The FIA took charge of organizing the races from 1973 and since its inception the stage has been the first gauge of teams' preparation, in the off-season, for a complete year of racing. Held every year in the month of January, difficult and extremely demanding conditions ensure that the latest improvements and innovations are tested to the limit for these hybrid monster cars. The location and severity of race conditions mean that race winners gain that extra bit of publicity and credibility, than on other circuits. Till 1993, teams were allowed to choose their starting point from one of five different options. Each start zone was equidistant from Monaco and offered extremely varied conditions.

The race has thrown a mixed bag of weather and track surface conditions at teams throughout its history. Conditions for the Tarmac-based circuit vary from dry roads to wet tarmac and from hail storms to even snow & ice, in some situations. The emphasis on tyre choices is magnified due to this variation as finding the right balance is not only vital to gain victory, but also to ensure the safety of drivers in trying conditions. The conditions are so unpredictable that the same leg, on the same day, may have half the circuit covered in snow whereas the other half may be as dry as a desert.

From La Bollene to Sospel, the rally features one of the most famous 'Special Stages' in the World Rally Championships' calendar. A steep and narrow mountain road riddled with many hairpin bends make this route a nightmare for drivers. With cliffs on one side of the road and the Mountain on the other, the route gets extremely dangerous when it passes over the Col de Turini. To add to the tight roads and steep cliffs, the Turini leg adds snow and ice to the road, at this time of the year. As if that were not enough, spectators have been known to throw snow on the road, which has led to accidents in the past. One of the more famously known incidents occurred in 2005when both Marcus Gronholm and Petter Solberg ripped a wheel each, off of their cars. They both skidded across snow, placed at a strategic point, on the track. Considered to be the work of spectators, the drivers thankfully crashed into a wall rather than go off the edge. Gronholm was able to continue, after repairs, and went on to finish fifth whereas Solberg was forced to retire as some random spectator's actions damaged his 1 million dollar machine, rather extensively.

The Turini leg is also known as the 'Night of Long Knives' as it is sometimes driven at night. The name is due to the Strong and high beams of head-lights that pierce the otherwise calm night in the south of France. Thousands of fans gather to watch this brilliant spectacle even though it can go on till late into the darkness.

For the start of the year, the Monte Carlo Rally certainly wakes up any sleepy heads in Rally teams. It offers a brilliant opportunity for teams to put to test, their pre-season hard work and prepare for a year of torrid races. Cap that off with the beautiful scenery of the south of France and you have your perfect Rally package.