They arrived in dribs and drabs, roaring engine – even smoking for some –, backfiring exhaust… Minute by minute, the beauties of yesteryear followed one another all afternoon this Friday to climb onto the stage of the Automobile Club of Monaco and check in with the marshals of the historic Monte-Carlo rally, 25th of the name.
The 281 crews leaving from Bad Homburg, Oslo, London, Turin and Reims took their places on the Port Hercule esplanade. Not in order of arrival but in order of numbers – from smallest to largest.
Because it is in this order that they will set off this morning, from 7 am, to attack the four regularity stages in the direction of Valence.
A route through the Alpes-Maritimes, the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and into the Drôme “with snow expected on the Ardèche Plateau”warned the speaker yesterday of the arrival of the racing cars.
Those who manage to overcome the weather challenges and unforeseen glitches that will await them back in the closed park of Port Hercule on Tuesday “in the middle of the afternoon”. A short break before leaving around 9 p.m. for the famous “Nuit du Turini” and its two legendary specials.