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Three Italian cars in the Top 4 of RS2, following the win for a Lancia Fulvia in RS1. The colours of the peninsula shone once again in RS2 between Chaudon-Norante and Digne-les-Bains (15.9 km), via the formidable Col du Corobin (1211 m). It was the same special stage that the WRC competitors had tackled on their way back to Monaco, last Sunday morning, in the opposite direction.
It was Alfa Romeo that shone in RS2, thanks to the GT 1300 Junior, a 1968 car entered by Belgium’s Jean-Christophe Henderickx and Karl Thybergin, with number 235 on its doors. The car only took 30 penalty points, which was very little on this very complicated. And it was slightly better than the Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV of Julien Picoreau and Camille Béal (see picture below), tied for 2nd place with yet another Lancia Fulvia and a BMW 323i.
As the first two RSs of this Classification Leg had taken place in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, it was in the prefecture of the 04 department, in Digne-les-Bains, that the crews were able to rest and eat, at the stroke of midday. Once again, this welcome pause in a Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique was well attended by hundreds of passionate spectators of all ages, proving once more its immense popularity. Before setting off for the two other RSs to be covered in the afternoon, on the way up to Valence…
There were plenty of people lining the roads on Saturday morning for the start of the Classification Stage of the 26th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique between Monaco and Valence. The sun was shining, the cars were superb, and fans were treated to a beautiful three-hour parade of over 200 cars that are part and parcel of the legend of the “Monte”. As luck would have it, a Lancia Fulvia opened the show, taking over directly from last year’s victorious sister car.
There was something for everyone, with more than 220 cars produced between 1911 and 1983 by some of the world’s leading manufacturers. And the hors d’oeuvre was particularly successful: the magnificent Regularity Stage number 1, with 15.9 km to cover between Soleilhas and Castellane, overlooking Lac de Chaudanne.
At this very precise game of regularity, it was an Italian crew, made up of Fabio Loperfido and Simone Calosi, who achieved the average time closest to that set by the organisers. It was in the Lancia Fulvia 1.3 bearing number 243, which had left Monaco more than three hours and a half after another Fulvia, the number 1 of Swiss title holders Claudio Enz and Cristina Seeberger.
Tied with the Lancia in this RS1, with only 50 penalty points collected, the surprise came from a Latvian crew, Karlis Mikelsons and Normunds Vuguls, in a 1979 Mazda RX7, ahead of the Opel Ascona 400 of Belgians Michel Decremer and Jennifer Hugo, tied in 3rd place with the Fiat 128 Rally of a Greek crew.
Last but not least, a British crew, composed of David Pengilly and Mark Denham in a Porsche 911 carrying number 89, took the start of this stage in suits and bow ties. Very classy.
Of the 233 crews authorised to take part in the 26th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, 225 arrived safely in Monaco on Friday, but eight had to retire on the way. Most of them were exhausted at the end of a much longer journey than expected, on some very busy roads. This Concentration Leg was a never-ending story, especially for the last arrivals: the five brave crews who set off from Glasgow on Wednesday had more than 2,000 km to cover, and it took them two whole days. All the others, who set off on Thursday from Bad Homburg (Germany), Milano (Italy) and Reims, took an average of 24 hours, night included, to cover between 900 and 1200 km, depending on the starting city they had chosen.
Patricia Lambert, whom we met on Friday in the Parc Fermé at the port of Monaco, was there for the very first edition. This year, she is in a little 1968 Fiat Moretti 850 S, number 220, bearing the colours of a cancer charity. Her driver, a Belgian like her, is Didier Lodewyckx. And like most of the crews who finally arrived in the Principality on Friday, Patricia was “very happy to see the sea”…
Saturday morning, the first cars will leave Monaco at 7am, heading to Valence for the Classification Leg. Valence, the unchallengeable and undisputed host-city of Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique over the past few years. There will be four Regularity Stages (RS) to contend with, starting with the magnificent SR1 “Soleilhas – Castellane (15.9 km)”, then SR2 “Chaudon Norante – Digne-les-Bains (15.9 km)” via the formidable Col de Corobin (1211 m), before the lunch break in the prefecture of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
In the afternoon, it’s back up to Valence via the SR3 “Ventavon – Chabestan (20.1 km)”, before crossing the Vercors massif with the SR4 “La Cîme du Mas – Col de Gaudissart (17.4 km)” on the menu. The final checkpoint is scheduled for Saint-Jean-en-Royans, around 5pm, after which all the competitors are expected on Champ de Mars in Valence from 6.30pm. It promises to be quite a day.
Three European cities, Bad Homburg, Milano and Reims, for over 200 crews entered in the 26th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, the day after the first five starts from Glasgow on Wednesday. It’s fair to say that this 26th edition really got underway on Thursday, with several hundred kilometres to negotiate on the Concentration Route for all these superb cars, and one and only goal: to reach Monaco on Friday afternoon…
In a rally where 43 makes and drivers of 29 nationalities are taking part this year, the entry list looks like a Tower of Babel.First, there were fifteen crews setting off early this afternoon from Bad-Homburg, close to Wiesbaden and Mainz. The stars of that German start were a 1961 Volvo 544 Sport and an Autobianchi A112 entered by a Ukrainian team, but also a Polski Fiat 125 entered by a Polish team, as well as Porsches and Volkswagens.
From Milano, at the end of the afternoon, last year’s winners, Switzerland’s Claudio Enz and Cristina Seeberger, took the first start in their Lancia Fulvia 1.3S carrying number 1 on its doors.And there were 130 other crews leaving Milano after them, all cars ‘born’ between 1911 and 1983. That’s more than half the field, with far fewer kilometres to cover to reach the port of Monaco than their rivals lined up in Bad Homburg or Reims.
Maurizio Colpani and Claudio Quarantani also set off from Milano, in a superb 1981 Ferrari 308 GTB on a cool, grey day, but in the sumptuous setting of Piazza del Duomo, There was something for everyone, with Ludovic de Luca and Fabien Moinier in a small Peugeot 104 ZS Coupé built in 1976, as well as Porsches, an Alfetta GTV, a R5 Alpine and even an antique 1961 Volga!
Milan was also the starting point for Bruno Saby, winner of the 1988 world championship version of Rallye Monte-Carlo in a Lancia Delta HF in Martini Racing livery. He drives the same 1970 Ford Capri 2.3S as last year, and on his right hand-side sits a hell of a co-driver, Denis Giraudet.
All these starts were made possible by the involvement of volunteers from the Automobile Clubs of Germany (AVD) and Italy (ACI), the Reims Champagne Véhicules Historiques Sportifs (RCVHS) association and all the ACM’s special envoys.
Finally, most of the Franco-French crews chose to set off from Reims, where Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique is still as popular as it was in the last century. More than 80 of them took part in scrutineering, before setting off from the capital of Champagne. Most of them dreaming of drinking a cup of Champagne next Wednesday during the gala evening of the 26th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique.
The event will take place in Salle des Etoiles at Sporting Monte-Carlo. But before this happens, there are hundreds of kilometres to cover, from Saturday morning (start of the Classification Stage) to Tuesday evening (Final Stage around Col de Turini), while trying to respect the averages calculated and imposed by the organisers. Once again, given the quality of this year’s field (233 cars allowed to start, to be precise), the suspense will be total, right to the end.
© ACM
Just three days after the finish of the WRC version, won on Sunday by Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai), the 26th edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique got underway this Wednesday in Scotland, for five crews and cars. The entry list features almost 250 crews in some of the most legendary cars of all time. The Lancia Fulvia 1.3S of Swiss pair Claudio Enz and Cristina Seeberger, built in 1970 and victorious last year, is carrying race number 1 and aiming to repeat the feat.
Reserved for cars ‘born’ between 1911 and 1983, this 26th edition kicked off in Glasgow for five beautiful cars: an Alpine-Renault A310 V6, a Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0, a Ford Cortina GT and a Volvo 123, both coming directly from the 60s, not to forget a 1978 MGB proudly representing the United Kingdom. All other crews will start their Concentration Route on Thursday, either from Bad Homburg (Germany), Milano (Italy) or Reims, all competitors heading for the same destination: the Principality of Monaco, to reach on Friday afternoon.
As of last year, one driver will be closely followed from start to finish: Bruno Saby, winner of the 1988 World Championship version of this prestigious rally in a Martini Racing Lancia Delta HF, a livery that motorsport fans still remember today. He will be carrying race number 38 in a 1970 Ford Capri 2.3S which he already drove last year, and with a legendary co-driver in the right-hand seat, Denis Giraudet. They’ll have plenty of rally stories to tell each other, on the road… and at the restaurant!
As this is a Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, the list of marques entered is sure to encourage spectators to flock to the roadsides for a week. In addition to a myriad of Lancias of all ages, Stratos included, there will be flocks of Porsches, Alfa-Romeos, Opels, Renaults, a host of Alpine-Renault berlinettes, more recent Volkswagen GTis, Fiat with a venerable 1979 X1/9, and, for the more discerning spectators, a BMW 2002 Ti, a host of Mini Cooper S and, above all, a 1982 Audi Quattro. A must-see for all enthusiasts!
The Concentration Leg will be very long, but a good preparation for a very enjoyable event, with 17 Regularity Stages (RS) on the menu and plenty of convivial breaks. This year, the town of Privas, in Ardèche, has planned a sumptuous welcome for the competitors, and Valence, capital of the Drôme, will again play the host-city for a week. Many towns and villages, in the numerous departments crossed, have set up a buffet or prepared snacks with local produce, depending on the time of day. Not forgetting, of course, the famous Remise, still managed by the Jouanny family, right in the heart of the Ardèche, which will be celebrating its 60th anniversary with its traditional apple pie.
One thing is certain: this 26th edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique will be as memorable as the 25 that preceded it…
Friday, February 2nd, arrival Concentration Leg in Monaco between 3:35 pm and 7:40 pm (Port Hercule)
Saturday, February 3rd, Classification Leg (Monaco – Valence) between 7:00 am and 11:03 am (Port Hercule):
Sunday, February 4th, 1st part of the Common Leg:
Monday, February 5th, 2nd part of the Common Leg:
Tuesday, February 6th, 3rd and final part of the Common Leg:
Return to Monaco BETWEEN 3:35 pm and 7:40 pm (port Hercule)
Start of the Final Stage at 9 pm:
Arrival at Monaco’s Port Hercule approximatly at 00:30 am
The countdown is on! With less than 50 days to go until the 92nd Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo, the Organising Committee of the 2024 WRC season’s first round organised a one-day rehearsal for its volunteers on Sunday December 3, 2023. On the agenda: training, practice and a review of their skills. For more than 40 years, the aim of the “Circuit Routier d’Instructions Commissaires” (C.R.I.C.) is to ensure that rally procedures and regulations are properly applied.
Nearly 165 volunteers from the Corps des Commissaires were mobilised to recreate a fictive rally, between the Chapiteau de Fontvieille in Monaco and the roads of the Monegasque hinterland. Over 100km and 3 Special Stages were on the agenda, with the Côte d’Azur sun shining down on the crews and volunteer teams this year.
“The C.R.I.C. comes after 2 theoretical sessions which gave to the marshals the opportunity to review the procedures, regulations and the IT tools used during the events” explains Cyril Vada, in charge of the formation and Deputy Race Director of the Monte-Carlo Rallies. Then comes the practical part.
After the briefings that kicked off the first part of the day, the volunteer teams were divided up along the route and put through their paces in real-life conditions, with around 20 competitors in attendance. “Our Marshals were confronted with several different situations: special stage interruptions, incidents and race facts, special stage start suspensions, late check-in, etc“.
Observers and evaluators were present to check and grade the level of each marshal and chief officer, following the example of what is put in place in the spring for the circuit training course. “Their reactions and attitudes are carefully scrutinised“. A level of requirement that is in keeping with the spirit of the Corps of Commissaires. “We are the only organisers involved in the World Rally Championship to offer our marshals this kind of training. “
Next up in January 2024 for the Rallye Monte-Carlo WRC (22-28/01) and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique (31/01-07/02).
The 26th 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 92th Monte-Carlo Rally, the crews allowed to take part in the 26th 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
Just a few days after the end of the Rallye Monte-Carlo WRC, it’s time for the historic version.
The 26th Monte-Carlo Historic Rally will take place from Wednesday 31 January to Wednesday 7 February 2024!
Find out more about the various starting towns: Reims – Bad Homburg – Glasgow – Milan.
Stay tuned for details of the route shortly.
Review 2023 edition:
All is well that ends well. One of the most followed, observed, admired cars of the 25th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, the 1970 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 S, perfectly driven by a very efficient Swiss duo, Claudio Enz and Cristina Seeberger, finally won it. And added a new line to the prize list of the Italian brand in the Principality. It is indeed the fourth victory for a Lancia in the historic version of Rallye Monte-Carlo, after 2002, 2005 and 2018. And each time it was a Fulvia, as in 1972, in the World Rally Championship. It was long after Louis Chiron’s win in 1954, in a Lancia Aurelia, and before the epic of the Stratos, 037 and other Deltas, taking a series of 11 more wins between 1975 and 1992.
Lancia, in this 2023 edition, was all over the entry list, and the fans massed on the roadsides and in the villages could not take their eyes off them. That of the Enz-Seeberger tandem was particularly remarkable, in its red dress with a black hood, as it was the case before, in the heyday. It was also appreciated for its precision in the regularity stages, always at the forefront and well placed for the final victory, picked up in the early hours of Wednesday, when passing the finish line at Col de Turini.
“We didn’t expect such a result, so we’re very happy,” said Enz, 32, in perfect Italian, on the finish podium. “I had a perfect car, a brilliant co-driver, we did what was necessary and everything ended well”, added the Swiss driver, victorious for his 6th participation in the event. He had left Turin, home of Fiat and Lancia, last week with a 28-year-old co-driver who assisted him very well. This makes it 17 victories in total for Lancia in the Principality, including 13 in the Monte-Carlo Rally and four in its historic version.
If one takes a closer look at the final results of this memorable 25th edition, validated Wednesday at noon by Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), we see that variety is all over, with legendary brands everywhere: there are 11 different brands in the first eleven places, and even 12 in the Top 15, because Lancia places three models and Ford two. With a special mention for Porsche, winning five regularity stages out of 16 contested, thanks to four different models.
Of the two Fords ranked in the Top 15, out of 272 entries, there is a Ford Capri 2300 S that Bruno Saby drove for an entire week. Winner in 1988 in a Lancia Delta HF, the very popular Bruno, not stingy with anecdotes, was welcomed as a hero wherever this rally stopped, and it was well-deserved. He also finished 4th overall, out of 232 classified crews, because when such a legendary driver takes part in a Rallye Monte-Carlo, it is not to make up the numbers.
Another former winner, Jean-Claude Andruet, also revived nostalgic memories at the wheel of a superb Alpine-Renault Berlinette, almost the same as the one he took to victory in 1973, just fifty years ago. Because this was indeed a Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, at all levels. The prize-giving ceremony, Wednesday evening from 8:30 pm, could only take place at the Sporting de Monte-Carlo, in the Salle des Etoiles. The Stars Room, like the myriads of stars shining in the eyes of drivers, co-drivers and rally fans, in the cars, along the roads and in all the villages crossed, for a whole week of shared pleasure. Long live 2024!
The last regularity stage (RS16, 22,33km) was like a dessert, like a reward after a week of effort and vigilance at the wheel. It allowed all competitors of the 25th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique to touch the Holy Grail of rally drivers all over the world: driving at night, just for fun and pure pleasure, in this famous Col de Turini which has unleashed passions for so long. It was very cold outside, but once again the marshals of Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) were there, in position, forever faithful, to ensure the safety of 227 competitors until very late at night.
History will remember that an Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV from 1973, an Opel Kadett GTE from 1978 and a Renault 5 Alpine Turbo from 1982 finished tied at first place, just like a perfect final bouquet on the Turini closing night.
And that the Lancia Fulvia N.242 of a Swiss duet, Claudio Enz and Cristina Seeberger, then descended quietly to the port of Monaco to show up at the last time check point and seal its overall victory. A well-deserved victory… pending and subject to the publication of the official final standings, this Wednesday at noon.
