Since 1911, the Monégasque hinterland has been brought to life by the non-stop humming and roaring noise of the cars competing in the famous Monte Carlo Rally.
Organised by the Automobile Club de Monaco, the event always takes place in January, a time when the roads are often covered with a light layer of snow. The Monte-Carlo Rally is one of the most demanding in the world. It has gained its legendary reputation due to the many drivers battling it out on the infamous track, behind the wheel of an Alpine A110, Porsche 911, Lancia Aurélia GT, Renault 5 Turbo, Mini Cooper S, Subaru Impreza, Citroën Xsara or Volkswagen Polo R.
Where does the race start and finish? In the Principality of Monaco is where the race begins, but most of it then takes place further north, notably in the French departments of Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Drôme, Hautes-Alpes, Isère or Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, depending on the year. For your information: “Rallye de Monte-Carlo” is often seen/heard, but the actual name of this event has never included the preposition “de”.
The stats: with seven victories in the Monte Carlo Rally, Sebastien Loeb is the most successful driver in the Monégasque event.
