Winter had tightened its grip on the craggy passes above Nice. At the same time, the Mediterranean sun glimmered in the distance. Another chapter unfolded in as the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique arrived in the Principality on the 6th February carrying the echoes of more than 140 treacherous kilometres driven through snow, ice and winding Alpine roads.
Among the more than 200 classic car crews still in competition, there was a palpable fusion of heritage and modern grit …racing tradition blending with the relentless pulse of the rally world.
Chronicles of the Historic Rally
After several days of racing between the Drôme and the Ardèche, from Saint-André-les-Alpes to Monaco, every bend and straight sang with the voices of engines long revered. Participants navigated cold, sinuous stages where icy patches begged for flawless throttle control. Confident wheelwork separated joy-riders from true contenders. The scenic Col de Turini whispered its age-old tales of triumph and disaster, while teammate crews and their machines, from a Porsche 911 SC to a Ford Escort RS 2000 demonstrated the allure of automotive passion.
As Thursday’s trials closed, it was the Russian duo of Boris Kostyrko and Ilya Kashin in their Volkswagen Scirocco who led the provisional standings. It was a fitting tribute to perseverance in the face of winter’s whim.
In a delightful twist that bridged past and present, two-time Indy 500 champion Takuma Sato traded oval speed for vintage grit, taking the wheel of a 1975 Honda Civic RS, a sight to thrill fans and affirm motorsport’s shared joy across generations.
Meanwhile… The Modern Rally Roars
While these classic racers etched their stories into the snow-flecked asphalt, the 94th FIA World Rally Championship’s flagship event, the Rallye Monte-Carlo (22–25 Jan 2026) had not many days before just delivered drama of its own.
After 17 relentless special stages, Oliver Solberg had clinched the overall win, becoming the youngest winner in Monte-Carlo history and steering his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 into the record books with steady nerve against Alpine chaos.
Overall Final Classification – Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2026
1st: Luis Climent Asensio & Carles Jimenez Valls, BMW 323i
A stunning comeback victory, clinched over the final night and sealing the win in Monaco after a tense competition.
2nd: Ludovic De Luca & Sébastien Chol, Peugeot 104 ZS
Strong effort rewarded with second place overall.
3rd: Olivier & Lydia Campana, Volkswagen Golf GTI
A solid performance that secured the final podium spot in this year’s historic event.
The Russian crew Ilya Kashin & Borys Kostyrko had led earlier stages in their Volkswagen Scirocco but lost ground in the crucial penultimate special and ultimately slipped down the standings.
From snowy switchbacks to sunlit harbour finales, their machines carried the echoes of endurance. The Alps did not yield easily: snow, fog and ice tested every tyre choice, every split-second decision. Spectator crowds gathered where only grit and grip could take line through Monaco’s narrow final kilometres.
Whether in the nostalgic purr of an old Porsche or the thunder of a Rally1 turbo engine, this week’s tales remind us that the roar of the rally is, always and forever, more than a race; it is myth in motion.
