Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2024. Vintage Cars Triumph in European Adventures
10 February 2024 2 min read 3 images
Photo credit: ACM Automobile Club de Monaco
The Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, now in its twenty-sixth edition, followed tradition by maintaining the first stage starting from various European cities: Bad Homburg, Glasgow, Milan, and Reims, just like in the past with a rendezvous in France, once in Dieppe, now in Valence.
Unlike the recent WRC event that was won a few days ago by Thierry Neuville's Hyundai, the Monte-Carlo Historique takes place on open roads throughout the competition, with cars only admitted if the model participated in a rally edition between 1911 and 1983. The French regions of Rhone-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur are the stage for the 17 regularity trials and endless transfers between distinctive landscapes and roads where driving is what truly matters. An experience that makes the participation in the Monte-Carlo Historique truly unique with its winter weather and the difficulties it entails.
Five days of relentless racing, with wake-up calls at dawn and fatigue fought through the adrenaline generated by the many hours of driving. All this to reach a thrilling finale on the legendary Col de Turini at night, one of the most challenging trials ever. Followed by the magnificence of arriving in the heart of the Principality. An adventure from another era that this year, due to high temperatures, took away the thrill of snowy roads. This certainly influenced the rankings, penalizing cars that were prepared for the worst conditions. Michel Decremer and Jennifer Hugosu in their Opel Ascona 400 emerged as the winners, ahead of Giorgio Schon and Francesco Giammarino's Austin Mini Cooper S and Maurizio Aiolfi and Carlo Merenda's Lancia Beta Coupe 1800.
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