Archive Sports

Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo 2011

2011-01-22 13:42

What: 79th Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo
When: 19-22 January 2011
Where: Various starting points, ending at Port Hercule
Web: www.acm.mc

Final Results 21 Jan 2011

1 Bryan Bouffier (Peugeot 207 S2000) 3h32m55.6s

2 Freddy Loix (Škoda Fabia S2000) +32.5s

3 Stéphane Sarrazin (Peugeot 207 S2000) +51.9s

4 Guy Wilks (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m19.7s

5 François Delecour (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m22.4s

6 Juho Hänninen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1m29.3s

7 Petter Solberg (Peugeot 207 S2000) +3m45.9s

8 Nicolas Vouilloz (Škoda Fabia S2000) +4m47.8s

9 Jan Kopecký (Škoda Fabia S2000) +7m45.9s

10 Giandomenico Basso (Peugeot 207 S2000) +8m46.0s

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2011 is the centenary of the Monte Carlo Rally. The world-famous road race was first run in 1911 under the patronage of Prince Albert I, great-grandfather of the present prince of Monaco, with the aim of attracting visitors to the Principality, as well as giving car manufacturers the opportunity of testing new technologies.

Financed by the Société des Bains de Mer, the first rally was organized (as it still is) by the Automobile Club of Monaco. The club’s founding president Alexandre Noghès - whose son Antony would later emulate his father by setting up the Monaco Grand Prix - had come up with the idea of a motor race run in the winter months. Given the region’s narrow mountain roads, cliffs with sheer drops of hundreds of feet, as well as snow and ice, this was to be a real test. But the format proved an enormous success – and the race has been run in January ever since.

In that historic first competition, 23 cars set off from eleven cities across Europe, and sixteen of them finished the course, with car dealer Henri Rougier taking the chequered flag in a 25-horsepower Turcat-Méry.


^{Entrants from Riga in the 1912 Monte Carlo Rally}

Although the race was also run in 1912, there was a gap in proceedings – partly owing to the war – until the mid-twenties. By then, the motor car was entering its golden age, and successive races in this period saw wins for manufacturers such as Ford and Renault, though one company, US-based Hotchkiss, took the lion’s share of the prizes.

The 1960s were the heyday of the Rally, witnessing the apotheosis of the Mini from simple runaround to a performance vehicle in its Mini Cooper incarnation. Controversy arose, however, when three Minis (including one driven by the reigning champion, ‘Flying Finn’ Timo Mäkinen) were disqualified on a technicality concerning the design of the headlights.

Recovering from the damage of what became known as the Monte Carlo Fiasco, the race gathered an appreciative new audience during the 70s and 80s, maintaining its international appeal with multiple starting points, including Glasgow until 1972. The  centenary race in 2011 will see the Scottish city re-instated after an absence of nearly 40 years. For British fans in particular the memory of the late, great Colin McRae (born in nearby Lanark) will not be far away. Other starting cities will include Barcelona, Warsaw and Marrakesh.

As well as this notable addition to the prestigious event, the 2011 Rally will be remembered for a crucial change in the regulations – the waiving of the entry fee for the hundred competitors selected to take part. It's hopes that this move, especially designed to encourage amateur participants, will add a particular edge to the centenary race.

Read more here about the results of the 2010 Monte Carlo Rally

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Programme

Wednesday 19th January
Four stages - all well-known names to rally fans:

• Le Moulinon - Antraigues (36.87 km)
• Burzet - St-Martial (41.06 km)
• St- Bonnet - St-Bonnet (25.22 km), which will be run twice

Thursday 20th January
Two stages in the Drome departement, each run twice:

• St-Jean-en-Royans - 3-road intersection (23.05 km)
• Vassieux cemetery - Col de Gaudissart (24.13 km)

Friday 21st January
Valence to Monaco, with the traditional stage scheduled for that day:

• Montauban sur l'Ouvèze - Eygalayes (29.89 km)
• Arrival at Monaco in the early afternoon

The last night will be true to the 'Montes' of old, with two night-time passes of the famous Col du Turini from Moulinet. Four stages will conclude the rally and the new winner of the Centenary Rally will be celebrated on the drivers' return to the Port of Monaco:

• Moulinet - La Bollène-Vesubie (23.41 km)
• Lantosque - Lucéram (18.81 km)