A number of rallying's top stars are set to take the start of the 77th Rallye Monte Carlo, which runs this year for the first time as the opening round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge from January 20-24, its has been revealed as the entry list closes. Monte Carlo is the oldest and most prestigious rally in the history of the sport, which has traditionally opened the motorsport season.

Containing a challenging mixture of ice, snow and asphalt, Monte Carlo has always posed a huge challenge to the competitors who gather from all over the world each year to take part in this emblematic event. Alongside the Le Mans 24 Hours, Monaco Grand Prix and Indy 500, the Rallye Monte Carlo represents one of the most famous competitions in global motorsport.

This year’s Monte Carlo Rally contains a return to night stages, with four stages held in the dark including two runs over the legendary Col de Turini. While 100 competitors will be allowed to take the start, only the top 60 will go through to the final Turini stages: another nod to tradition. After finishing the final leg of the rally at 01:20 on Saturday morning, the prize-giving will take place in front of the Royal Palace in Monaco later that day.

The rally, which will benefit from unprecedented live television coverage direct from the stages, has traditionally attracted an extremely strong entry. While the full entry list is yet to be revealed, the line-up already includes former World, European and National Champions. Amongst the entries is a former winner of the Monte Carlo Rally, as well as a former second-place finisher.

Abarth will expand to a three-car line-up in Monte Carlo and all the participating manufacturers (Abarth, Skoda and Peugeot) have made several improvements to their cars during the brief off-season. Abarth were out testing in late December with its revised car, using icy surfaces in the Alps (photos, right) that accurately simulate those expected on the Rallye Monte Carlo later this month.

Abarth factory regulars Giandomenico Basso and Anton Alén will be joined in Monte Carlo by new signing Luca Rossetti as the Italian team bids to etch its name into the record books of the world's most important rally. It had been expected that the team's young Italian protégé Umberto Scandola would be included in the factory line-up, but this is now not the case.

Making his debut in a Grande Punto Abarth when the rally gets underway will be the highly experienced and ultra-quick Toni Gardemeister who will drive one of the Super2000 cars, run by Astra Racing. Also confirmed in the Grande Punto Abarth are Olivier Burri (Grifone) and Julien Maurin (Procar), while Frederic Romeyer is expected to swell the Abarth ranks to seven cars. Meanwhile, Abarth's opposition for victory will come from Peugeot and Skoda, with the French carmaker's challenge being led out by reigning IRC champion, Nicolas Vouilloz (Peugeot Belgium) who will be aiming to defend his title right from the very first round.

As well as getting to grips with a brand new rally, the competitors will also have to get used to some brand new tyres. For the Monte Carlo Rally, the drivers will use special tyres with studs that are designed to cut through the ice and snow in order to find grip. With the conditions on the Rallye Monte Carlo being so notoriously varied, the correct tyre choice can make the difference between winning and losing. Just as is the case with the roulette wheel in Monaco’s famous Casino, a gamble can often pay off – and a bit of experience definitely helps.

Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the winner of the 1978 Rallye Monte Carlo and the IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager, commented: “We’re fortunate to have an exceptional list of entries for the Monte Carlo Rally, whose name speaks for itself. All the ingredients are in place for an absolutely classic encounter. It’s going to be an exciting mixture between innovation and tradition, which encapsulates perfectly the dynamic values of the IRC.”