‘I hope this will be banned’ - Ogier not impressed with Monte-Carlo firework trend

Sebastien Ogier's Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 takes a hairpin turn through the red smoke of a flare. — It’s become tradition in the last few years for fans to release fireworks and flares at this point in the SS3 stage. Credit: Toyota GR Media.

Fireworks and flares around 8.5km into the third stage of the Rallye Monte-Carlo have become a trend in recent years, creating a spectacle for fans and some now iconic images. But nine time Monte-Carlo winner Sebastien Ogier has called for them to be banned from WRC stages, citing safety concerns over impaired driver visibility.

“I am not a fan at all [of fireworks]”, said Ogier, “Spectators think they are cool, but guys please stop that. We are in the fog, we can’t see anything! I hope that soon or later this will be banned because it’s not a great idea at all. So please stop with the fireworks and smoke.”

A long exposure image from the 2024 Rallye Monte-Carlo showing the fireworks, smoke and flares set off by fans. — The flares and fireworks were far more widespread in 2024. Credit: Michael Jurtin / Red Bull Content Pool.

Ogier’s opinion was in direct contrast to those of other drivers, including Gregoire Munster who said: “A massive thank you, first to be able to drive these cars, but also to do it in that atmosphere – you can’t dream of better!”

For others, the view was more balanced with an acknowledgement of the feeling the fireworks create but also of the difficulty drivers can face with the smoke.

“For sure there’s a lot of people… people that [are] maybe too excited” joked Takamoto Katsuta. “That was nice to see, but some places a little bit too much, we couldn’t see anything because of the smoke and the fireworks. Looks amazing and beautiful but sometimes it just, you know, makes you definitely can’t see anything. Very tricky but this is Monte so that’s quite crazy and nice.”

Hyundai driver Ott Tanak had mixed views on the subject, he also struggled to see the road through the segment with the fireworks and flares. Reflecting on the tricky stage he said: “Yeah it seemed quite many people, sometimes also disturbing quite a lot with all the fires and smoke, you know, so very difficult to see the road and hard to understand where you are but yeah, they seemed to enjoy themselves!”

Gregoire Munster's Ford Puma Rally1 heads through the section with fans setting off flares on Thursday evening. — Gregoire Munster makes his way through the huge crowds of fans. Credit: M-Sport Media.

Ogier’s comments raise important questions for the sport about whether the fans’ actions are overly distracting for the drivers, or if reduced visibility is simply an inherent challenge of the stage that drivers must adapt to navigate.

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