World famous car rally to pass through Cumbria

The Monte Carlo Rally is one of the world’s oldest and best-known rally and it has a long historic link to Scotland.

This endurance event traditionally has several starts across Europe, with more than 250 competing crews all eventually converging in the Alps for the final competitive runs over snow- and ice-covered roads before the finish in Monte Carlo.

In the early 1920s one of the starting points was John O Groats before moving to Glasgow in 1924.

All cars are from before 1982 (Image: Supplied)This year’s starting points are Milan, Bad Hombourg, Reims and the 100th anniversary Glasgow start. Competitors, and their pre 1982 cars, are coming from across Europe, Japan, Argentina, the USA and Canada.

At 8.30am on January 31 the Scottish competitors – some of whom have travelled from across Europe to compete –  leave Blythswood Square Gardens, taking the traditional route to Calais, via Kilmarnock, Dumfries, Gretna and onto Penrith before following the A66 to Scotch Corner, and then down the east coast.

The day before, competitors meet at Lomond Shores to have their cars checked for eligibility and safety. 

Competitors from across the country start from Glasgow (Image: Supplied)Whilst there drivers will also be taking part in a series of driving tests, a recreation of those originally held 100 years ago on the quay in Monte Carlo.

After the Glasgow start on January 31 competing cars stop briefly at Woodlands House Hotel, Woodlands Avenue, Newbridge, near Dumfries, for a passage control, with the first car expected at 10.30am. 

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Twenty-nine cars have opted to start from Glasgow, headed by France’s Etienne Goldet in a 1977 Renault Alpine (car 53).

Denmark’s Christen Larson is in a 1974 Lotus Europa, while car 247 is the 1966 Volvo Amazon of former Gretna couple George and Rosalind Topp. They now live in SW France.  The oldest car starting from Glasgow is a 1934 Lagonda.