Rallye Monte Carlo 2011 review

Resident Columnists

Tuesday, 08 February 2011 08:05

The 2011 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique is over for another year and I am already thinking about what can be shot for next year's rally with the Scuderia Estense-Motul.

Whilst I spent some of my time with them on the reconnaissance to see if the road book is correct and judge the condition of the roads, I spend my other time at the start and completions of the day's drive.

The Leica was teased with snow filled mountains of the Alps de Haute-Provence, absolutely stunning scenery. We continue through Montauban and up high in Col de Perty's white icy roads. A lot of it. Then Eyglayes lovely little village that welcomed us in our almost knackered car. We pass Col de Soubeyrand, beautiful at an altitude of 994km, Tarendol where a small restaurant, awaits its travellers, Bellecombe, Moulin de Montorques. This is the La Turbie leg towards Monaco. Further down the mountains is the Haute Provence region, known for its wine from the Cote Drone region, therefore plenty of vineyards, plenty more quaint villages filled with plenty of holiday homes. The rally certainly shows off the regions with great enthusiasm and has such an eclectic mix of good roads for cars to drive on for any car enthusiast.

Some facts about the drivers and winners: Winner: car number 262, Porsche 911 1965, from Scuderia Milan Auto: Mario Sala and Maurizio Tolasco - starting from Barcelona. (With 4130 points overall). 2nd place: car number 268, Mini Cooper Innocenti 1972, from Scuderia Milan Auto: Raffaello Raimondo and Marco Carlegari starting from Barcelona. 3rd place: car number 259, Mercedes Benz 300 SE 1961, from Team LCI: Ernst Jungten and Marcus Muller starting from Reims. Ladies Trophy: car number 254, Volkswagen 1500s 1965, from Norwegian Rally Drivers: Ingrid Moe Anderssen Moe and Renee Nordlie.

Scuderia Estense-Motul: With 5 cars at the beginning of the rally our team finished with three: car number 159: Lancia Fulvia 1600HF 1972m starting from Marrakesh: Dario Bernini coming in at 61st place and car number 298: Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint 1959,with Jason Wright and Stefano Traverso in 115th position who began their rally in Warsaw.

Matthew Sitta, reporting from Monaco says "Everyone has pulled their utmost to recover their positions. I anticipated our crew would do this throughout the rally and it's really incredible the big adrenaline gives you the path: it is a mythical race and at the same time a real rally where every mistake you pay dearly. Sisti has recovered more than 30 places, finishing in 61st place overall. However, seriously damaging his car against the rock wall, Wright attempted a final blow after off-piste, with one of the best evidence that, at the end earned him then the second class and 115th overall. The debut for Louwman 133th place overall out of 250 cars to the finish. This year was tough, too bad for our two retreats, but we are already thinking about next year, this rally just ended, I repeat it now. " Sitta goes on to report, "Wright kept a good pace, with Traverso making an excellent co-pilot for performance keeping up near 10th position. With an average although not brilliant but steady, Sisti & Bernini immediately settle around the hundredth place with some mistakes and some improvement especially on the special stages of the stage Valence - Valence of the second day here the routes were quite dry and all cars could really give their best, improving their positions. Wright, who had not damaged his car but unfortunately had lost several positions when really he was leading a good rally. Great expectation then was given to the last three races on the legendary Col de Turini at night: a stage over 80 km of winding roads and up hills, where the natural spectacle of the mountains, overlooking the Bay of Monaco."

Erik Comas, car number 1 in the Alpine Renault A110, 1600, 1973 and Rauno Aaltonen in car number 5; the Mini Cooper S, 1969, both starting from Marrakesh with Aaltonen coming in 5th and Comas not completing the rally due to a crash on the first day simply shows that the Rally is open to so many variables and each stage can bring its own complications.

Francois Eloy in the Renault Alpine A110 1600 1971 car number 2 has some fantastic history within the rally. It was car number 2 when it first drove the rally and 40 years later it remains to be car number 2. Co pilot Jean Yves Le Gall tells me that coming from Marrakesh was beautifully emotional, in front of them was Erik Comas and behind them in a mini Cooper was Rauno Aaltonen, two of his heroes. Both, he said were just as excited as he to be part of such a fantastic and historic journey.

I caught up with Aaltonen and Le Gall at 6.30am in Valence on the first morning of the Valence to Valence special legs, who both tell me they are excited to travel pass the mountains of Col Despareux at an altitude of 2060 metres then tackle the route to La Saix and enjoy the technical snow roads at Vervourse - mountains on route to back to Valence.

With everyone's smiles and exhausted bodies at the gala dinner, I think once again the Rally Monte Carlo Historique was a great success and a fantastic tribute to the 100th year of its origin. Automobile Club Monaco really ensures that their participants are treated wonderfully perhaps even providing a smooth drive up through Marrakesh in these current political turbulent times (A police escort I believe accompanied the drivers). There is desire to drive in the Monte Carlo Rally as it is certainly held as one of the more 'mythical rallies in the world, with the eclectic mix of tricky routes and outstanding scenery, through what can only be described as difficult weather conditions with an array of historic cars with such delicious stories.