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Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Report and Photos

Winter Challenge 2016 ©Francesco & Roberta Rastrelli / Blue Passion
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016

The Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 rally was staged 21-25 February. The Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation (HERO) event featured 40 entries, ranging from Volvo PV 544 models from the 1950s to Porsche 911 models from the 1980s. Per tradition, crews departed from two locations, either starting from Echternach, Luxembourg or the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park at Epsom, UK, before making the journey to Monte Carlo.

In an epic battle won and lost on the final day, Charles Colton and Ryan Pickering took victory on the 2016 Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo with their 1966 Porsche 911. Competitors took part in an event that focused on endurance and accurate navigation rather than on speed, however the roads utilised by Clerk of the Course Bob Rutherford kept crews on their toes for the majority of time. There was a wide mix of wide open and flowing lanes in the north of France where the south of country gave way to intricate and demanding sections, with many ‘Lacets’ or hairpins visited along with Cols and Puys as well. Traditionally the event is run on snow in the latter days, while this running encountered a tiny smattering but nothing to trouble the crews.

The first day saw John Abel and Leigh Powley jump into the lead. A last-minute switch from a Sunbeam Tiger to an Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint due to mechanical issues seemed to indicate it wouldn’t be a straight-forward event for the pair. In fact, Leigh admitted that he probably had one of his weakest performances on this event in the first few days, but the last two days saw him return to his usual high standard with the pair posting best performance of the day on Wednesday as the rally overnighted in Sisteron.

On the second day, 2014 winner Jan Ebus took control of the event with the ultra-experienced Bart den Hartog as his navigator in their 1964 Porsche 356C. They led for the duration of 2016 Winter Challenge until the very last day where an error on a time card meant they picked up a two-and-a-half-minute penalty, dropping them to second in the final standings. Another crew in contention were Dermot Carnegie and Paul Bordet’s 1959 Volvo PV544 who were always snapping at the heels of Ebus and den Hartog. The time control section of Tuesday night gave them some problems as they picked up a one minute and 45 second penalty for checking in 17 minutes late to the start of the Time Control section, relegating them to third overall.

The drive of the event has to go to Paul Crosby and Andy Pullan in their 1970 Porsche 911, a truly imperious performance from Andy gave them lowest penalties incurred throughout the event. If their Porsche was one year older, they would have taken the overall win by a huge margin. Charles Colton and Ryan Pickering sat quietly watching in the wings, with a consistent performance from the Porsche 911 mounted pair kept them in touch with the leaders. Going into the last day they thought that victory was out of reach. After learning that they had taken the win after the error from den Hartog, the look on Pickering’s face changed from one of disbelief to one of joy as the news hit home. It was a well-deserved victory for the Cheshire=based crew.

This was the first round in the HERO Cup in association with EFG Private Bankers and Zenith Watches where the prize for the winning driver of the series includes a Zenith El Primero Open Chronomaster 1969 HERO Cup Edition alongside a week’s complementary sailing on board the luxurious 85-foot S/Y Orianda. The victorious navigator will have entry to one of four selected HERO events such as the Three Legs of Mann, Summer Trial or RAC Rally of the Tests, as well as this they will also receive a Zenith El Primero Open Chronomaster 1969 HERO Cup Edition timepiece.

Sports Car Digest documented the 2015 Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo Rally, with photographers Francesco Rastrelli and Roberta Roccati offering a wonderful selection of images. We split up Francesco and Roberta’s pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all photographs.

Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

1962 MG A Mk II Deluxe
1962 MG A Mk II Deluxe
1960 Austin-Healey 3000
1960 Austin-Healey 3000
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1962 Sunbeam Alpine Series II
1962 Sunbeam Alpine Series II
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016

 

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Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1965 Porsche 911
1965 Porsche 911
1960 Austin-Healey 3000
1960 Austin-Healey 3000
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1973 Datsun 240Z
1973 Datsun 240Z
1970 Fiat 124 Sport Abarth
1970 Fiat 124 Sport Abarth

 

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Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk 1
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk 1
1959 Volvo PV544
1959 Volvo PV544
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1977 Porsche 911 Coupe
1977 Porsche 911 Coupe
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

1966 Rover 2000 P6
1966 Rover 2000 P6
1960 Austin-Healey 3000
1960 Austin-Healey 3000
1964 Volvo 122S
1964 Volvo 122S
1972 Porsche 911 Coupe
1972 Porsche 911 Coupe
Over the bridge during the Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Over the bridge during the Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1971 Citroen DS21
1971 Citroen DS21

 

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Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

1972 BMW 2002Tii
1972 BMW 2002Tii
1973 Datsun 240Z
1973 Datsun 240Z
1966 Triumph TR4A
1966 Triumph TR4A
1970 Fiat 124 Sport Abarth
1970 Fiat 124 Sport Abarth
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk 1
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk 1
1964 Porsche 356C Coupe
1964 Porsche 356C Coupe

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

 

Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk 1
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk 1
1970 Porsche 911 Coupe
1970 Porsche 911 Coupe
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1964 Porsche 356C Coupe
1964 Porsche 356C Coupe

 

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Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

 

1971 Citroen DS21
1971 Citroen DS21
1959 Volvo PV544
1959 Volvo PV544
1980 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 1
1980 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 1
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1977 Porsche 911 Coupe
1977 Porsche 911 Coupe
1963 Triumph TR4
1963 Triumph TR4

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

 

1984 Porsche 944
1984 Porsche 944
A 1972 BMW 2002Tii and 1965 Volvo 122S make their way through one of many hairpins
A 1972 BMW 2002Tii and 1965 Volvo 122S make their way through one of many hairpins
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1977 Porsche 911 Coupe
1977 Porsche 911 Coupe
1959 Volvo PV544
1959 Volvo PV544
1963 Triumph TR4
1963 Triumph TR4

 

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Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine

 

1965 Porsche 911
1965 Porsche 911
A pair of 911s enjoying the crooked bits
A pair of 911s enjoying the crooked bits
1984 Porsche 944
Thumbs up from on the Winter Challenge to Monaco 2016
1966 MG B Roadster
1966 MG B Roadster
1962 MG A Mk II Deluxe
1962 MG A Mk II Deluxe
1967 MG B GT
1967 MG B GT

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten

 

1960 Austin-Healey 3000
1960 Austin-Healey 3000
1966 MG B Roadster
1966 MG B Roadster
1970 Fiat 124 Sport Abarth
1970 Fiat 124 Sport Abarth
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1962 MG A Mk II Deluxe
1962 MG A Mk II Deluxe
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016

 

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Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eleven

 

1972 Porsche 911
1972 Porsche 911
1962 Sunbeam Alpine Series II
1962 Sunbeam Alpine Series II
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
1966 MG B Roadster
1966 MG B Roadster
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016
Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Winter Challenge to Monte Carlo 2016 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=887 images=15]

 

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[Source: HERO; photos: Francesco Rastrelli and Roberta Roccati]