Monte 1985

Advance news of the 1985 Monte Carlo Rally reveals that this year’s break with tradition by delaying the first arrival at Monaco until the Wednesday will be continued. The converging point after the concentration runs will be at Saint Etienne in the Loire region in the early morning of Sunday, January 27th, where there will be a seven-hour stop.

The second leg, during the afternoon and evening, will have five special stages and will end at Grospierre in the Ardeche. The third and major leg will start at 10.15 am on the Monday and will run to Monaco via 18 stages, with stops at Grenoble (10 hours) and Gap (five hours). Arrival at Monte Carlo will be from 3.30 on the Wednesday.

The final leg during the Thursday evening and night will consist of two laps of a five-stage mountain circuit, with a three-hour stop at Monaco in the middle.

The stages are largely those which have become familiar over the decades, although the organisers point out that there could be changes if there is difficulty obtaining authorisations and road closure orders. We wonder whether this reflects concern that the French-dominated FISA is still at pains to make things difficult for the Monegasques so that the door will be open for a completely French event to take over. — G.P.