Bumper entry for Scots Monte start 27 | 11 | 2017
A BUMPER ENTRY has been confirmed for the Paisley start of the 2018 historic rally run to Monte Carlo. The Scottish leg starts on Wednesday, January 31. (Related: 80 cars set for Scots Monte start)
It’ll be the fifth time the town — the only shortlisted Scottish entry for the title UK City of Culture 2021 — will be the sole British start point of six European cities for a range of historic cars to make the 1500-mile trip to the South of France.
Close to a hundred cars are expected to leave the start ramp outside Paisley Abbey at 6pm on January 31 in three separate categories.
The Historique class is being run for the 21st year and is restricted to car models which competed in the Monte Carlo Rallies between 1955 and 1980. It will run over eight days on open public roads with the cars and crews having undertaken a series of 14 demanding test stages in the mountains of southern France.
The Classique event is for older cars from as early as 1911 to 1969. This follows the same route to Monte Carlo but does not include any test stages, the goal simply being to finish in Monte Carlo after checking in at a series of control points on the way, including Dumfries, Barnby Moor in Nottinghamshire and Banbury in Oxfordshire.
Once again the event will feature the popular Monte Heritage Runs which will follow on from the full-scale events and will take in a series of short classic routes in Scotland, including Aberdeen, Dumfries and Stirling.
In January this year, a crowd of around 10,000 gathered in the centre of Paisley with the magnificent backdrop of the Abbey to wave off the crews in a party atmosphere with lights, music, street food and fireworks.
Working with staff from Renfrewshire Council and volunteers from many motorsport clubs in Scotland, the organisers are confident of making the start even bigger and better next year.
Related: Scots set out on Monte Carlo Rally
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Jim McGill