Over 250 vintage car enthusiasts from 28 nations will navigate some of Europe’s most challenging mountain passes when the Monte Carlo Historic Rally begins on Thursday 29th January.
The rally running until 7th February, marks a significant shift from tradition with 18 timed stages on traffic-free roads, a move designed to enhance safety all while preserving the event’s authentic character.
The earliest competitors leave John O’Groats in the Scottish Highlands on 29th January, facing the longest journey south. The remaining entries depart on 1st February from Bad Homburg in Germany, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Reims in France, and Turin in Italy. All routes converge on Valence in southeastern France, where the first arrivals are expected at the Esplanade du Champ de Mars from 12:30pm on Monday 2nd February.
Then, the competition properly begins on Tuesday 3rd February with three tests run twice: Col Gaudissart to Bouvante (7.5km), Léoncel to Oriol-en-Royans (11.3km), and Col de Tourniol to Barbières (10.4km).
Ardèche mountains to put drivers to the test
On 4th February, the route ventures into the Ardèche département, featuring two new stages: Saint-Pierreville to Issamoulenc (10.8km) and Lachamp-Raphaël to Burzet (15.4km).
Competitors will then stop at Antraigues-sur-Volane, where the Jouanny family garage has become a Monte Carlo Rally institution over recent decades. The day concludes with two further stages before crews return to Valence at 17:36pm.
On 5th February, the itinerary takes to the Vercors and Diois massifs with three stages, including the climb to Col de Menée at 1,457 metres and the Col de Carabès (1,261m), which marks the border between the Hautes-Alpes and Drôme départements.
Following on 6th February, three more Alpine tests await via the Col de Pennes (1,040m) and Col des Garcinets (1,185m) before crews descend towards Monaco, entering parc fermé at 16:30pm.
Night finale
The rally concludes with a dramatic overnight stage departing Monaco at 21:00pm on Friday 6th February. Competitors face two of the event’s most iconic tests: La Bollène-VĂ©subie to Col de Turini (15km) and La Cabanette to Col de Braus (13.7km). Cars are expected back at Monaco’s Port Hercule from 00:25am on February 7th.
A gala prize-giving is scheduled for the evening on Saturday at the Sporting Monte-Carlo’s Salle des Étoiles.
Now with an expanded eligibility window covering any car that competed in the Monte Carlo Rally between 1911 and 1986, the Monte Carlo Historic Rally has attracted cars spanning seven decades. Organisers have also introduced three different target average speeds for the event, with competitors classified according to which speed category they choose.
Additionally, C.E approved helmets are now mandatory on all closed road sections promoting tighter safety standards
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Main photo credit: Automobile Club de MonacoÂ