The 2013 World Rally Championship kicks off this week at the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo in a season that promises many significant changes. Among the four Citroën DS3 WRCs entered in the rally, three will be driven by former winners of the event that includes Sebastian Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen and Bryan Bouffier.

Rallye Monte-Carlo has defined not only the history of rallying, but also the history of motorsport as a whole. The very word ‘rally’ derives from what used to happen in Monte-Carlo: competitors would set off from all four corners of Europe and ‘rally’, in other words, meet, in Monaco to celebrate the end of a unique event.

The rally will be one of only four events in which Sebastian Loeb will be appearing in 2013. He will be driving car No. 1, a number that will not be used by Citroen in rallies where Loeb is not competing.

This year, it is fractionally longer than in 2012 – 465 km over 18 stages, which is the longest since 1995. Organizers, the Automobile Club de Monaco, have kept the opening two days, Jan. 16 and 17, largely unchanged from 2012’s rally with a route around the city of Valence where the permanent service park is housed.

On Jan. 18, there is a significant change to the itinerary. There is an all-new stage, Saint Nazaire le Desert to Le Motte Chalancon, and the return of the famous Sisteron test.

Measuring 36.70 kilometers in length, the Sisteron-Thoard stage will mark the final competitive action of day three before the overnight halt in Monaco ahead of the final five stages on Jan. 19.

The 60 highest-place crews in the overall classification with tackle three runs over the famous Col de Turini, including two under the cover of darkness, and two passes through Lantosque-Luceram, one by day and one by night. The final Lantosque-Luceram will form the event-closing Power Stage.

The traditional final podium will be in the grounds of the Place du Palais in Monaco on Jan. 20.