The 26^th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique promises, one more time, to be a remarkable event, thanks to the diversity and authenticity of its route, starting with the comebacks of Glasgow and Milano as starting cities. This 2024 edition will be as seductive as it was wished by the Organizing Committee at Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), with several Regularity Stages (SR) on the menu where legendary pages of the event were written! Crews will again be fighting for one of the ultimate wins in historic motor racing, trying to replicate the success of Claudio Enz and Cristina Seeberger, the winners in 2023 in a 1970 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 S.

Three days only after the finish of the 92^th Monte-Carlo Rally, the crews allowed to take part in the 26^th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique will have to face a very selective route as well. As always, the Historic version of the prestigious WRC event will be reserved to older cars having participated in previous editions of the Monte Carlo Rally, from 1911 to 1983.

The start of this 2024 edition will be given on Wednesday January 31, for the Concentration Route initiating in Glasgow. Then, on Thursday February 1, Bad Homburg, Reims and Milano will follow suit, with a common objective: the Principality of Monaco. A rallying point where the first crews are expected on Friday February 2 in the afternoon.

The first timed portions are scheduled as soon as Saturday February 3, for the Classification Leg between Monaco (first crew starting at 7 am) and Valence, the Drôme préfecture and once more a Host-City. With four Regularity Stages to take on, this first race day will not be a stroll in the park, starting with a magnificent stage: « Soleilhas – Castellane / SR1 / 9:50 am », where the final portion looks down on Lac de Chaudanne, followed by « Chaudon-Norante – Digne-les-Bains / SR2 / 11:05 am » via the renowned Col de Corobin (1211m). Then the midday checkpoint will also be set up in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence prefecture, on Tampinet Square, from 11:55 am. Driving back to the Drôme will be the afternoon topic, starting with « Ventavon – Chabestan / SR3 / 1:15 pm » through Col de Faye (922m), followed by the Vercors massif and « La Cîme du Mas – Col Gaudissart / SR4 / 17km / 3:45 pm », including the tricky Col de l’Écharasson (1146m). One last checkpoint is planned at Saint-Jean-en-Royans from 4:35 pm, in order to regulate the crews expected at Champ de Mars in Valence from 5:35 pm.

Ardèche will be on the cards for Sunday February 4, starting at 8 am for Part 1 of the Common Leg. Crews will have to check in Privas at 9 am, before heading for « Lyas – Pourchères / SR5 / 9:20 am », a stage which has not been used since the 90s. Then, on the road section, a traditional pause will take place in front of La Remise, where the Jouanny Family will celebrate its 60 years in style, with a brand new red and white patch of asphalt in front of the legendary restaurant to welcome the competitors. A good way to prepare for a rare version of Burzet, « Freyssenet – Saint-Martial / SR6 / 10:40 am ». The midday pause will happen from 12:10 pm on Place du Marché in Saint-Agrève, where all crews and staff will spend a pleasant time tasting local produce, before taking on « Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid / SR7 / 12:45 pm » followed by « Lalouvesc – Labatie-d’Andaure / SR8 / 1:45 pm ». On the way to Valence (4:20 pm), another tradition will be respected with a popular and festive stop on Quai Farconnet in Tournon-sur-Rhône from 3:30 pm.

Two other massifs, Diois and Baronnies, will host Part 2 of the Common Leg, on Monday February 5, starting at 8 am. On the menu, the first course will be « Valdrôme – La Piarre / SR9 / 10:10 am » via Col de Carabes (1261m), the natural border between the Drôme and Hautes-Alpes departments, followed by « Laborel – Montauban-sur-l’Ouvèze / SR10 / 11:25 am » with Col de Perty (1302m) on the way. The midday pause is scheduled in Buis les Baronnies from 12:40 pm. All remaining crews will then take on « Sainte-Jalle – Rémuzat / SR11 / 1:15 pm », via Col de Soubeyrand (987m) and, last but not least, « Recoubeau-Jansac – Pennes-le-Sec / SR12 / 2:40 pm » through the well-known Col de Pennes (1040m). The last pause of the day, before heading back to Valence (4:50 pm) will happen on Place du Champ de Mars in Crest with a checkpoint from 3:55 pm.

On Tuesday February 6, the start from Valence is scheduled for 7 am. The first stage of Part 3 of the Common Leg will be the famous « Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert – La-Motte-Chalancon / SR13 / 8:35 am », soon followed by « Roussieux – Laborel / SR 14 / 9:50 am » where all crews will have to pass Col de Reychasset (1052m) and Col de Pierre-Vesce (1013m) successively. Then, heading for the Principality of Monaco, the last stage of the day will be « Collongues – Col de Saint-Raphaël / SR15/ 1:35 pm ». And the entering Parc Fermé in Monaco is scheduled from 4:10 pm.

The Final Leg, during the night of Tuesday February 6 to Wednesday 7, will start at 9 pm in Monaco. And two monuments of Monte-Carlo Rally will be on the cards: « Sospel – Col de Turini / SR 16 / 10:15 pm », with a finish line at the top, as in most recent WRC versions, and « La Cabanette – Col de Braus / SR17 / 11:20 pm » passing through Col de L’Orme (1000m) and Col de l’Ablé (1149m). The first crews will be expected on Port Herculis in Monaco around 1 am.

Finally, in keeping with tradition, the Gala Night and Prize Ceremony will happen on the evening of Wednesday February 7 in the prestigious Salle des Etoiles at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club (dark suit).

Monaco, July 28, 2023

Note: Distances and timings provisional until publication of the official route