The Monte Carlo Rally, which finishes today, is the oldest event in the whole history of the sport. As such, it has several quaint traditions that aren’t seen anywhere else on the championship.
A recent tradition is Sebastien Loeb winning everything and, with just one day left to go, the Red Bull-backed driver’s lead looks unassailable.
Here are a few more older traditions which make the Monte Carlo Rally unmistakeably Monaco…
1. The Col de Turini top 60
The Col de Turini stages are the jewel in Monaco’s crown, held in the mountains high above the glittering principality on the final night of the rally. But you have to earn the right to drive on those legendary stages. Only the top 60 classified runners are allowed to start the final night, with the remaining drivers classified according to the order in which they finished the event up to that point.
2. Apple pies in Antraigues
There’s a patisserie called ‘La Remise’ in the village of Antraigues – always on the Monte Carlo Rally route – which serves apple pies to every competing driver on the event as they pass through. It’s a tradition that goes back for many years, although nobody can quite remember how or why. These days, the apple pie eating has become a major media event with live television frequently recording Sebastien Loeb’s first bite. We live in a strange world.
3. The concentration run
This is a tradition that started in 1911 and was unbelievably maintained until 1996. Drivers used to start the rally from various locations scattered around Europe, as far afield as Warsaw and Glasgow, before driving down to Monte Carlo and then beginning the competitive element. Originally, this was intended to highlight the practicality, comfort, and economy of the competing cars but with the advent of the World Rally Car, these factors were finally recognised as being increasingly irrelevant.
4. Prize-giving in front of the Royal Palace
Monaco’s toy-town palace makes the perfect setting for the final prize giving, which takes place every year in front of a guard of honour (not too difficult to assemble as Monaco has more policemen per head of population than any other country on the planet). It’s also the only rally on the calendar where a head of state hands the winner his trophy. Most other places have to make do with a minor industrialist sponsoring the event.
5. ACM ties
The Automobile Club de Monaco, the organising body of the rally, also has the most immaculately dressed staff of the year. Most people involved in motorsport find well-worn jeans and polo shirts the most practical uniform for their jobs. However, all the ACM staff sport dark blue blazers and beautifully-knotted ACM ties. Just to make the point that this is officially the poshest rally of the year.
Red Bull Content Pool
Want more?
- Check out our Rally Monte Carlo event page
- Top five Monte Moments
- Monte Carlo Goes To The Movies
- Five things you never knew about Mikko Hirvonen
- 100 years of the Monte Carlo Rally
- Visit the official rally site
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