The famous 2007 Monte Carlo Rallye starts in Valence (26 Drome, Rhône-Alpes) on 19 January 2007 and finishes in the Principality of Monaco on Sunday 21 January 2007 after stages through the Ardeche, Vercors and Côtes du Rhône regions. It is a much shorter event nowadays than when it used to have starting points in London and Scandinavia - but in its 75th running it remains one of the key rallies of the World Rally Championship, and still presents severe challenges of making speed over icy, snow-bound, twisting Alpine roads.
For more info on the Rally see www.acm.mc
Meanwhile, a more genteel rally, which tests endurance as much as speed, runs from 25-31 January 2007, which is for vintage cars - defined as vehicle models which took part in the Monte Carlo Rally proper between 1955 and 1977 - so this list could include classic British marques such as Austin Healey, Hillman, Humber, Jowett and Wolseley, Sunbeam, MG, Triumph, Austin, Morris.. Like the original Monte Carlo has numerous starting points for the 300 or so entrants (Oslo, Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Reims and Turin) before coming together from St Etienne (42, Loire, Rhone-Alpes) for the stages down to Valence and onto Monaco.
The leg from Reims departs on Friday 26 January 2007 and travels via Epernay, Troyes, Langres, arrving on Saturday 27 via Besancon and Beaune.. From Sy Etienne the route goes via Valence, Briancon and the Alpes to finish in Monaco on Tuesday 30 January 2007.
It must be quite a spectacle to see these classic cars in action in testing conditions in the middle of winter.
For more info see www.amc.mc and select "Rallye Historique"
