How the Monte Carlo Rally earned legend status
The legendary Monte Carlo Rally is one of the world's biggest and longest-serving motorsport events. David Evans looks back at its history and charts some of the event's defining moments
When Maurice Gatsonides won the 1953 Monte Carlo Rally, Ford Britain promptly despatched a plane to Nice to pick up the Dutchman and his victorious Zephyr in order to start celebrations in London as soon as possible. When 10 British cars were excluded from the same event 13 years later, the story ran as a lead item on the BBC. The Monte Carlo Rally is that important.
And, with the 78th running of that event just days away, the event still stands among the highlights of the motorsport calendar. A January without a Monte is unthinkable. But, for the second year in succession, this will be a Monte Carlo Rally without the World Rally Championship as the event organiser. The Automobile Club de Monaco prefers to remain with the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the extensive Eurosport television coverage which accompanies such an agreement.
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