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Two British citizens, Steve and Tony Graham, in a Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF, put the United Kingdom colours up the mast of the 27th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, by winning the longest stage on Monday afternoon between Montauban-sur-l’Ouvèze and Roussieux (RS11, 39.2 km). Another classic of the Monegasque rally, via Col de Perty (1302m), Col de Reychasset (1052m) and Col de Pierre-Vesce (1013m).
The Graham family finished the stage with 60 penalty points, level on points with the BMW 323i of the Spanish runners-up in the provisional overall standings, Luis Climent Asensio and Carles Jimenez Valls, who continue to pose a threat to the ultra-solid leaders, Michel Decremer and Jennifer Hugo (Alfa Romeo Giulia TI). It’s a relative threat, however, because the Belgians are holding their own, as evidenced by their 2nd place in this stage, tied with a top-class driver, Bruno Saby, paired with Christophe Marques in the number 38 Ford Capri. Two men who had to ‘mechanise’ instead of having lunch, when the clutch cable on their car failed just before the midday break.
More fear than harm for Saby-Marques, and still the lead of the race for Decremer-Hugo, ahead of the Spanish BMW, the Lancia Fulvia of Italians Rossi and Frascaroli, the Jaguar of Lithuania’s Raysis and Meilunas, the Fiat 128 Rally of Greece’s Georgosopoulos and Iatridis, the small Austin Cooper of Italy’s Schon and Giammarino, the Sunbeam Tiger from Belgium’s Castelein and Plancke, and so on. That’s 11 different makes in the top 11 places, including Bruno Saby’s Ford (11th). The suspense therefore remains total in this 1st part of the Common Leg, before the final stage of the day, RS12, and a welcome return to Valence…
