Belgium, with a strong presence on the entry list for this 26th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, continued showing its colours in RS3, the first timed section on Saturday afternoon. Thanks to Maxime Castelein and Filip Deplancke in a rare 1964 Sunbeam Tiger bearing number 203, who took the flag from compatriots Jean-Christophe Henderickx and Karl Thybergin (Alfa Romeo), the winners of RS2 at the end of the morning.

It was between Ventavon and Chabestan (20.1 km), in the first regularity stage of the afternoon, after the welcome lunch break in Digne-les-Bains (Alpes de Haute-Provence). The Castelein-Deplancke tandem finished tied at the top of the timesheets with two Italians in an Austin Mini Cooper S, Giorgio Schon and Francesco Gianmarino.

Also in the Top 5 of this RS3 appeared a Renault 5 Alpine, the one entered for Patrice and William Lamotte, as well as the Fiat 128 Rally of a Greek crew, and another Belgian crew, aboard an Opel Ascona 400 already spotted in 3rdplace in RS1: Michel Decremer and Jennifer Hugo (see photo above), two passionate regulars of Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique.