MONTE ZOOMERS
Spent most of last week on the trail of the Historic Monte Carlo Rally in a ginger Porsche 997 C4 Targa. Covering for Octane, 911 & Porsche World, Classic Cars, Autosport and other on-make mags.
341 starters, 271 finishers, amazing Ardeche gorges, cloudless blue skies, snow and ice on the high stages. Stars were Bjorn Waldegaard and Lars Helmer in a pair of 911s (paired with Hans Sylvan and Mauritz Lange respectively) who won the Monte for Porsche in 1969 and 1970. Snapper Fraser and I joined the Swedish contingent for dinner in Valence two nights, then away at 6.00am to make the first service halt down the Route Napoleon on the way down to Monaco. Some sunset snappery of our 911 high above Monte Carlo, then up to Col de Turini to catch the night stages. Amazing never-ending hairpins up and down – and so cold! 12 hour drive back to Calais via Route Napoleon again (for more photos).
Called to interview Henry Pearman en route back home – he just bought 3 ex-works Lotus Cortinas plus another one used in the Great Train Robbery.