Two residents of the Riviera, license-free car dealers, have been selected for the 90th Monte-Carlo Rally (January 20-23). For this mythical event of the world rally championships, the two amateurs will rub shoulders with the greatest champions, including the French Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier.

Carts during the week and World Rally Championship at the weekend. January will be an intense month for Jean-Marc Guillon and Guillaume Ferrari. The two Azuriens, who already have experience thanks to regional rallies, each run a dealership of cars without a license, in the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var.

They launched the crazy challenge to participate at the 90th Monaco Rally this year at the wheel of a 208 R2. “Eit is red and black » specifies Jean-Marc Guillon, « we wanted to put it in the colors of Nice “. Originally from Lucéram, the dealer is eager to do the nearby Turini, which he knows by heart, at the wheel of his WRC-approved car. A first for him.

There is a physical test, an eye test, and with this license one can register as an amateur. Out of 75 crews, 40 are professionals.

Jean-Marc Guillon, pilot

To register, the two friends and associates had to pass their international pilot license.

The friends are embarking on the adventure in double piloting ” we have always done rallies, and here we decided to do it in a version that suits us well. We will both drive because there are a lot of events and it’s very physical when you’re not used to it like us. Even if we are not in the same category as the great champions, we will try to represent the region “.

Only the first 50 crews can race on Sunday, for the last events of the race in the principality. So the Guillon-Ferrari team set itself a goal: ” We go there without pretension. We just want to finish. Or at least be selected for Sunday “.

Turini, Puget-Théniers, Digne-les-Bains. Hundreds of kilometers to cover with the support of their colleagues. The pilots have also decided to close their shops on Friday exceptionally so that ” the whole team gets on the specials, we didn’t want to deprive the employees who are really passionate about explains Jean-Marc Guillon.

Usually they work on unlicensed cars. Top speed: 45 km/h.
Their racing car in Monaco is close to 180 km/h on winding mountain roads. For Jean-Marc Guillon, no difference between the two models. ” We treat cars without a license with the same enthusiasm. We are car enthusiasts, we will apply the same application regardless of the model. We have always been very familiar with the automobile, and there, for sure, it’s a hell of a bridge between the two models. jokes the pilot.

To encourage them, meet on Thursday evening, Place du Casino in Monaco for the start of the night special between Vésubie and Bévéra.