Ocon gets a taste of WRC with Alpine at Monte Carlo Rally

Alpine's fame as a brand is mainly based on the rally performances of the A110 in the late 60s and early 70s. So it goes without saying that now that the brand is being revived, Estevan Ocon will be competing in the Monte Carlo Rally in the reincarnation of that car.

However, Renault is reluctant to let one of their F1 drivers participate fully in a WRC event. Rallying is more dangerous than the average race on a circuit and the manufacturer has already lost one of their star drivers to a rallying accident with Robert Kubica.

Ocon will therefore only drive the first two tests. He will do so in the A110S as driver of the official VIP reconnaissance car. He will drive over an hour ahead of the WRC competitors and his time will not count towards the official standings. Still, Ocon sees this as a serious drive.

"This is a fantastic opportunity and I certainly cannot wait to experience Rallye Monte-Carlo for the first time. It’s a legendary event, a jewel in the calendar of motorsport and I know how special being part of it will be. The A110S is born for this kind of challenge with the tight hairpins and mountain passes. Rallying has actually always been a dream for me, so driving the A110S in Monte-Carlo is a brilliant way to begin the year.”