The 2024 World Rally Championship campaign only concluded at the end of November, yet the series is already back this weekend with its 2025 season-opening Monte Carlo round.
It marks the start of a new era for the WRC in 2025, as it has ditched hybrid power units while Hankook will debut as the championship’s new tyre supplier.
A new points system has also been confirmed for this forthcoming season, following criticism over the structure that was introduced last year.
For the 2024 campaign, championship points were split into two with rewards available at the end of both Saturday and Sunday. Although a total of 30 remained the prize for a perfect rally, a sliding scale of 18-15-13-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 was awarded at the end of Saturday, with 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 given the following day while 5-4-3-2-1 was used for the weekend-closing Power Stage.
A crew only scored points on a Saturday though, if it finished on the Sunday. This all made the value of a victory much less.
In some cases, like the Central European Rally, the rally winner would not even score the most points after a weekend – Ott Tanak only scored 18 points at that round compared to 24 for runner-up Elfyn Evans.
So for 2025, the value of a win has increased, with the removal of Saturday points meaning a sliding scale of 25-17-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 will be awarded based on the general classification of each rally. A maximum of 10 points are also set to be given to the five fastest crews on a Sunday, as well as the customary 5-4-3-2-1 in the Power Stage.
How will all of this affect the reigning champion Thierry Neuville in his bid for a second crown?
Winner Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
One big obstacle that may be in the Hyundai driver’s way is the return of Kalle Rovanpera to a full-time drive. The Toyota driver contested a partial campaign in 2024 to “recharge his batteries”, having just won two titles on the bounce. But now feeling refreshed, Rovanpera is surely favourite to clinch his third crown in four years.
There is also the manufacturers’ battle to consider, with Toyota chasing a fifth consecutive championship after pipping Hyundai to the title at the 2024 season-closing Rally Japan.
But the Korean marque has received a boost for 2025 with the signing of Adrien Fourmaux from M-Sport, after the 29-year-old finished a career-best of fifth in the 2024 standings.
His departure means the Ford squad will hand a debut season to Josh McErlean, the Irishman who has spent the last three campaigns in WRC2.
So, with all of that and more in store for this forthcoming year, here is how to watch the 2025 season-opening Monte Carlo Rally which consists of tarmac and snow stages.
When is the 2025 Monte Carlo Rally?
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport
Date: 23-26 January 2025
Start time: 1:30pm GMT/2:30pm local time on Thursday 23 January 2025
The Monte Carlo Rally will kickstart the 2025 WRC campaign at 1:30pm in the United Kingdom and 2:30pm local time on Thursday 23 January. However, the opening stage does not start until later in the day, at 5:05pm UK time and 6:05pm locally.
| Date | Leg | Leg Total | Start Time |
| Thursday 23 January | Ceremonial start | N/A | 1:30pm GMT/2:30pm local time |
| Thursday 23 January | Stage 1-Stage 3 | 33.65 miles | 5:05pm GMT/6:05pm local time |
| Friday 24 January | Stage 4-Stage 6 | 33.35 miles | 8:31am GMT/9:31am local time |
| Friday 24 January | Stage 7-Stage 9 | 33.35 miles | 2:23pm GMT/3:23pm local time |
| Saturday 25 January | Stage 10-Stage 12 | 40.82 miles | 7:59am GMT/8:59am local time |
| Saturday 25 January | Stage 13-Stage 15 | 40.82 miles | 1:59pm GMT/2:59pm local time |
| Sunday 26 January | Stage 16-Stage 17 | 20.49 miles | 5:39am GMT/6:39am local time |
| Sunday 26 January | Stage 18 (Power Stage) | 11.13 miles | 11:15am GMT/12:15pm local time |
How can I watch the 2025 World Rally Championship?
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
TNT Sports (formerly known as BT Sport) will continue as the UK’s official WRC broadcast holder, with the 2025 season being its 11th year of broadcasting the series.
It means a subscription is needed to watch the WRC, with TNT available from £18 per month. The series is also available via rally.tv, which live streams each round of the WRC as well as the European Rally Championship and World Rallycross Championship.
Rally.tv is available via two deals: an annual pass for £119.99 or a monthly pass for £12.99.
How can I watch the 2025 Monte Carlo Rally?
Every stage of the 2025 Monte Carlo Rally will be broadcast by TNT Sports, who will begin its coverage with the ceremonial start on Thursday afternoon.
The network will be on and off with its broadcast depending on the start time of each stage, while also covering the different stages across its various channels.
A similar format will be followed by Rally.tv, who will also broadcast every stage of the Monte Carlo Rally.
When can I watch the 2025 Monte Carlo Rally highlights?
Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
Highlights of the 2025 Monte Carlo Rally are available via TNT Sports, who will broadcast various 30-minute packages throughout the weekend. ITV4 is another destination for highlights of the event, as it will run a one-hour programme at 8pm on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Autosport will upload daily highlights as will the official WRC channels from its website to YouTube.
Rally1 entry list for the 2025 Monte Carlo Rally
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