Taking place shortly after the WRC Monte-Carlo Rally, the Rallye
de Monte-Carlo Historique will see classic cars compete over a series of
regularity stages between 29 January and 5 February 2025, navigating a route that promises to be as eclectic and authentic as ever.
Respect for tradition and the heritage
of the WRC
Just
four days after the 93rd WRC Monte-Carlo Rally comes to a close, the
competitors approved to race in the 27th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique will set
out from Bad Homburg, Reims, Monte-Carlo, and Turin. Their first
destination will be the Champ de Mars in Valence, the capital of France’s Drôme
département, and one of the traditional city stages visited by this classic
rally. The field will be looking to arrive in Valence by the afternoon of
Friday 31 January.
In keeping with previous years, the 2025
Rally will consist mainly of regularity stages, a feature that has produced
some of the greatest moments in the event’s history. Fans can look forward
to a fierce contest as a big field of contenders battle it out to dethrone
Michel Decremer and Jennifer Hugo, winners of the 2024 event in their 1979 Opel Ascona 400.
They will have to navigate an equally exacting
route. As usual, the Rallye Historique is reserved exclusively for cars that
took part in the Monte-Carlo Rally between 1911 and 1983.
The itinerary for this 27th Rallye includes
some legendary stages, most of which are also part of the route taken by the
WRC World Championship sister event. One of those is the final special stage
"La Bollène-Vésubie – Moulinet / SR 17", featuring the majestic Col
de Turini pass (1607 m).
This Rallye Historique, under the High Patronage
of Their Serene Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Monaco, and organised by
the Automobile Club de Monaco, is part of the FIA international calendar.
Unlike the WRC Monte-Carlo Rally, the
Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique takes place on public roads, and teams are
strictly required to obey local traffic laws in each country they pass through,
at every stage of the competition.
At the end, the penalties collected along the
route (for speeding, failing to follow the rules, taking an incorrect route,
etc.) are converted into points. The
team with the smallest points total tops the final rankings and is declared the
winner.
Visit
the ACM website for the official programme of the event.
Photo credits:
©ACM / Promo Pub / Serge Gleize