Pictorial Review
Monte Caro Rally Cats’ Eyes Rally
Caught. — The Mary Handley Page / Pauline Mayman / Daphne Freeman Sunbeam Rapier has been caught by the 220SE Mercedes which started the Turini special stage a minute behind. Later on during this test the three girls suffered a puncture which cost them their clean sheet.
Class Winners. — The R. Backlund / N. Falk Sunbeam Alpine, plentifully supplied with lamps, won the 1,300 – 1,600 c.c. Grand Touring car class although finishing 84th overall due to the ridiculous handicapping system.
Best Volvo. — At a disadvantage to their usual rivals, the Sunbeam Rapiers due to the handicapping system the best Volvo performance was put up by Gunnar Andersson / Charles Lohmander who finished in fourteenth place.
Unlucky Saab. — Penalised by the handicap given to two-stroke cars Erik Carlsson put up an astonishing display on the special tests and the final circuit test at Monte Carlo in his Saab 95 Estate car to finish in fourth place.
Outstanding. — Ignoring the handicap system, the most outstanding performance of the Monte Carlo Rally was put up by Rene Trautman and Jean-Claude Ogier in the DS19 Citroên as they recorded the fastest aggregate time on the special tests.
Snow Scene. — The Maurice Gatsonides / Louis van Noordwijk Facel Vega Facellia looks diminuative against the snow-covered background of the Col du Turini, whil a photographer has carved himself a “funk hole” in the snow bank.
On the Track at the finish of the Monte Carlo Rally is the B.M.W. 700 of Klaus Block and Herbert Paul which finished the rally in fifth place. Block lapped the Grand Prix circuit in 2 min. 27.9 sec.
Popular Rally Car. — The Volvo 122S is becoming increasingly popular on British rallies because of its good power to weight ratio. This one was crewed by L. J. Tyler and N. T. Evans on the Cats’ Eyes Rally.
Not so Suitable. — The bigger Austin Healeys have never been considered good rally cars because of poor ground clearance and this 100/6 with B. R. Greaves and T. Weaver did not figure in the awards.
Same as the Winner. — On the very tough Cats’ Eyes this year TR3s took the first two places in the hands of Grimshaw / Melia and Michalkiecz / Clarke. This one, seen leaving the Woodford control, is driven by A. Firmin / J. Spiers.
Very Tough — Past Cats’ Eyes Rallies have been criticised for being too easy but this year’s event was very difficult. Here, C. Kirkaldie and B. Robson set out in their Sunbeam Alpine, which returned in a much dirtier state.