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Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2011 (1)
2011-02-09 22:38
What 14th Monte Carlo Historic Rally / Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique
When 28 January to 2 February 2011
Contact: Tel: +377 93 15 26 18; Fax: +377 93 15 26 20
Web: http://www.rallye-monte-carlo.net
What do fans of motor racing do once the Grand Prix is over? Answer, they head straight for Monte Carlo, the home of the classic car rally. A week after this year's official Rallye Automobile de Monte Carlo (which this year celebrates its centenary), car-lovers will be able to participate in the 14th annual historic rally for cars built between 1955 and the end of 1979.
Hopeful candidates must drive a model that took part in any of the 25th to 48th Monte-Carlo Rallies, divided into the following categories: vehicles built between 1955 and 1961, 1962 and 1965, 1966 and 1971, and 1972 and 1979. Each category is further divided into three classes according to engine capacity: up to 1300cc, 1301cc to 2000cc, and those over 2000cc.
For the 2011 competition, drivers set off from three cities, each of
which launches its own stage: Glasgow, Marrakech and Warsaw, with two intermediate starting points, Barcelona and Reims, for very old cars or those with small engine capacities.
The cars assemble in Monte Carlo, where they face
the classification stage between Monaco and Valence (about 500km)
and regularity trials on the historic track; and the whole event
culminates in an exclusive black-tie gala dinner.
Saab's Erik Carlsson and Pat Moss at the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally
The 2011 Monte Carlo Historic Rally will celebrate the centenary of its even more famous older sibling with a completely new itinerary for the concentration legs. The organizing committee of the Historic Rally has elected to honour the early days of the Monte Carlo Rally by replacing the usual start points with the three historic starting cities.
Michel Ferry, President of the Historic Vehicle Committee, explained: 'We have been working hard since February on the best way of celebrating 100 years of the Monte Carlo Rally. We wanted this year to stand out from previous years, and so decided to choose famous departure towns from our early history. We also wanted to cater for smaller-engined cars, which is why we added two intermediate start points.'
As last year, contestants will gather on 29 January in the Principality of Monaco, and then head off to Saint-Andre des Alpes (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) for the start of the first Regularity Stage: Touet de l’Escarene – Col de Braus, Col de Castillon (Alpes-Maritimes), before returning to the Parc Fermé in Monaco.
Programme
Sunday 30th January
Departure from Monaco at dawn for the Classification Leg, comprising four Regularity Stages, and then a drive to Valence, which is the end-of-leg town:
- Tourette-du-Château / Saint-Antonin (Alpes-Maritimes)
- Selonnet / Bayons (Alpes de Haute Provence - Hautes-Alpes)
- Time Control at Tallard (Hautes-Alpes)
- Plan-de-Vitrolle / Pont de Chabestan (Hautes-Alpes)
- Vassieux-en-Vercors / Col de l’Echarasson (Drôme)
- Regrouping Park in Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans (Drôme)
Monday 31st January
Group Leg (Part 1): 'Valence – Valence' loop, with four stages during the day, all Monte Carlo Rally classics, spanning the roads of Ardeche and Haute-Loire.
- Moulinon /Antraigues with stop in La Remise (Ardeche)
- Burzet / Saint-Martial (Ardeche)
- Time check at Saint-Agreve (Ardeche)
- Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid / Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid (Haute-Loire)
- Lalouvesc / Pailhares (Ardèche)
- Time Control at Tournon-sur-Rhone (Ardèche)
Tuesday 1st February
Dawn departure for the Group Leg (Part 2) 'Valence – Monaco', early afternoon. This leg will be focussed on two stages:
- Remuzat / Col du Perty / Eygalayes (Drôme, Alpes de Haute Provence, Hautes Alpes)
- Saint-Auban / Col de Bleine (Alpes-Maritimes)
- Time Control at La Turbie (Alpes-Maritimes)
The same evening, competitors leave for the Final Leg, which takes place in the hinterland of Nice
and Menton, with three stages to complete the rally:
- Moulinet / Col du Turini / La Bollene-Vesubie (Alpes-Maritimes)
- Loda / Col St Roch / Col de l’Orme / Col de Braus (Alpes-Maritimes)
- Peille / Sainte Agnes / Col de la Madone (Alpes-Maritimes)
Wednesday 2nd February
12pm: Official results published.
Closing gala ceremony for all contestants, held at the Monte-Carlo Sporting d’Eté.