The Rallye Monte Carlo Historique 2022, here we go: Reims-Monaco
The 2022 Historic Monte-Carlo Rally is on. News d’Anciennes will bring you inside with a team of photographers who will follow the entire race. While waiting for the first times, we tell you about the first part of the event which consisted of joining Monaco. For us, it all begins in the Marne.
Thursday 27 afternoon: checks in Reims
It’s the start of our 2022 Monte-Carlo Historic Rally. Let’s head to Reims and the exhibition center which welcomes the rally crews for the first time in this new configuration.
Two days during the exhibition center was open to all. There are a few stands from local associations or car dealerships. But it is above all there that we witness the final preparations. We load the cars with provisions, we make sure everything works.
Then it’s the officials’ turn to check everything. Lights, equipment, everything is validated. All that remains is to paste the race numbers and go around the cars present. You can access all the cars and not miss any detail. Around 3:30 p.m., however, the first cars left and the Parc des Expositions emptied in several waves. Direction departure.
Thursday 27, 7 p.m.: the start!
After a highly recommended siesta for the crews as well as for the followers (assistance, organizers… and media), go to the city center of Reims. For once the start is placed on the Place du Boulingrin, wider, bigger, it can also accommodate more people. And people, there are despite the “gloomy” weather.
It was at 7 p.m. that the No. 1 Ford Escort RS2000 MkII of Bjerregaard and Svec passed through the gantry and launched hostilities… with a nuance since 40 cars were already on the road, leaving Bad Homburg at 2 p.m. and part of the 126 others has already set off from Milan (departure at 6 p.m.).
In any case in Reims it does not drag. The cars do not smoke a second behind despite the fact that all crews are invited to say a word to the speaker.
Thursday 27, 10 p.m.: visit to Bar sur Aube
Several years ago I got into the habit of coming to see the cars leaving from Reims to Bar Sur Aube. Point of passage closest to my home, it already allows you to see many and varied crews. Even if the day has changed, Thursday instead of the traditional Friday and even if the schedule is later, I don’t miss the appointment at Aube.
The public is less numerous on this Thursday evening than in previous years, when the cars passed on Friday. Bad luck for the photos: the lights have burned out on the town hall square and we are not at the top for the photos. So we decide to quickly slip away.
Friday 28, 12:30 a.m.: stopover at Langres
For the first time I push a little longer. After passing through Colombey les deux Eglises and Chaumont, here we are in the coldest city in France (at least for the weather maps), in Langres.
The crossing point is interesting because, if the cars leaving Reims are there, it is there that they join the small “German” contingent that left Bad-Homburg. After a real regulatory break of 30 minutes (for those who arrive on time) and a very hot soup, the crews are already splitting up.
Friday 28, 8 a.m.: dawn
Yesterday morning the cars were ahead of their schedule. The first pass through the valleys in a very scattered order.
We continue our journey, stopping at regular intervals. The wind is blowing in some places. Sisteron is particularly icy and we don’t stay long on the pretty bridge over the Durance. Further on, a towpath is more suitable.
The road continues towards St André les Alpes where the cars and especially the crews are entitled to a big break. They take the time to eat before heading back to Monaco… and a real night! The route of the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2022 notably takes them over the icy waters of the Castillon lake.
Tomorrow will be the start of the regularity tests. All the details can be found in our Guide to the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2022:
Come on, a few more photos of this day “0” of the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique: