A distinct lack of snow made this year’s Monte Carlo Rallye Historique a breeze for most competitors. Johnny Tipler followed the action.
Like many top-line events, the WRC Monte Carlo Rally has a historical shadow, the MC Rallye Historique, introduced in 1998, and this year’s 21st Historique attracted 317 entries, with six start cities including Glasgow, Reims, Oslo, Bad Homburg, Barcelona and Monte Carlo itself. The diversity of entries never fails to amaze: from Alpine-Renaults and Alfa Romeo Giulias to Volvo PV544s and Wartburgs, even the odd Panhard and Vespa 400 – with an Austin Taxi the joker in the pack. For the first time, cars zone on Valence first, rather than Monaco, with two full days’ regularity stages in the Ardéche and Vercors highlands. Snowiest stage of the whole event was the Col de l’Echarasson, where studded tyres were mandatory.
After Valence, the whole entourage makes its serpentine way over the Alps on the awesome Route Napoleon via Gap and Sisteron, down to Èze, just outside Monaco, ahead of the final showdown high above Nice on Col de Turini. Almost every stage has a different winner, but overall victory went to the Lancia Fulvia of Italian duo Gianmaria Aghem/Diego Cumino.
A full report will feature in Auto Addicts Journal – Volume Two – Please send us your adventures if you were competing. sarah@autoaddicts.co.uk.
