Monte Carlo Historique 2014 Day Three
After the third full day of the 17th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, the lead is currently being held by car 44, the Belgium crew of Jose LAREPPE / Lieven DAVID in an OPEL KADETT GTE; from car 84, the French crew of Andre RECORDIER / Dorone RECORDIER driving a FIAT X1/9, with car 100 in 3rd place, the Franco-Monegasque duo of Gerard BRIANTI / Sebastien CHOL, driving a charismatic ALPINE-RENAULT A110 1600 S.
Good news for IRDC members is that Andrew McAlpine and Fred Gallagher in car number 1; the Morris Mini Cooper S, has rocketed up the leaderboard into 5th place overall, assisted no doubt by Fred's enormous international experience as a professional co-driver as soon as the rally moved into the mountains.
It's good to report that the other seven IRDC members on the entry are also still running, including the Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF of Steve Graham co-driven by brother and IRDC secretary Tony Graham, now making good progress after their earlier transmission problems were solved.
On Monday 27th January the first stage of the Common Leg is scheduled, with four regularity tests between Drôme and Isère regions, including Saint-Jean-en-Royans - Col de l'Echarasson - La Cime du Mas and Les Nonières - Col de Menée - Chichilianne and the railway station of Clelles-Mens will mark the midday break.
Then competitors will tackle L'épine - la Charce, but also Recoubeau - Jansac - Col de Pennes, never used as a modern regularity test. Crews will then return in the late afternoon via Montoison, in the northwest of Crest for a 3rd overnight stay in the town of Valence. Two hundred and eighty three cars are still classified as running in the rally.
International Rally Drivers Club Team Entries
Pos..Car No.......Driver / Co-Driver..................Car ...............Start
5. 1 Andrew McAlpine/Fred Gallagher Morris Cooper S Barcelona
126. 194 PeterHumphrey/Graham Couser Volvo PV 544 Reims
132. 276 Rick Pearson/Stuart Pringle Lancia Fulvia 1300S Glasgow
145. 9 Xerxes Matten/James Aquilina Datsun 240Z Glasgow
151. 78 Steve Graham/Tony GrahamLancia Fulvia 1600Reims
186. 299 Joel Wykeham/David Brown Fiat 127 Reims
233. 197 Simon Tate/Simon Brown Lancia Fulvia 1600 Stockholm
263. 55 Gorden Glen/David Glen Volvo 122S Glasgow
26th January, 2014