Temperatures in the Alpes-Maritimes region in the south of France where the Monte is run could go as low as minus 15ªC during this year’s Rallye Monte Carlo, meaning drivers will have to second-guess conditions for their tyre choices.
Such conditions traditionally mean big surprises in stage times up and down the starting order.
In turn that means the Monte may be a poor indication of the relative strengths of the teams for 2017 according to M-Sport’s head of rally development Chris Williams: "We could have a lot of snow or snowy asphalt. After that first night teams could be saying: ‘We’ve no idea where we stand’," he told Motorsport Week.
Reports last Wednesday suggested that stages three and four were snow covered, with recce crews suggesting the teams "will have to take studs".
Meanwhile reports from stage five indicate that while half the stage is full of snow, the other half in lower altitudes is clear.
The first two tests, due to run on Thursday night, were clear asphalt, though ice was likely: "They’re gritting everywhere so maybe it won’t be quite so bad," was the information on Wednesday morning.
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