Monte Carlo Rally to set off from Paisley for fifth year

Around 80 classic cars will leave Paisley and embark on a 1500 mile trip to Monte Carlo tonight.

The annual rally, which sets off from the town's Abbey for the fifth year, will stop at 6 European cities before finally arriving in Monaco

It’s the fifth time the town – the sole shortlisted Scottish entry for the title UK City of Culture 2021 – will be the only British start point of six European cities.

Around 70 cars are expected to leave the start ramp - the largest number of entries so far with the first 24 of them setting off for the 1500-mile trip to the South of France.

Last year a crowd of around 10,000 gathered in the centre of Paisley wto wave off the crews in a party atmosphere with lights, music, street food and pyrotechnics and 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.

At a preview of the event and looking over some of the entries, Renfrewshire's Provost Lorraine Cameron said: "We are thrilled to be welcoming the Monte Carlo Classic Rally back to Paisley for a fifth year - the sight of the cars gathered outside Paisley Abbey always makes a fantastic spectacle, and brings a great turnout.

"This is the first event in Renfrewshire's 2018 major events programme, which aims to bring footfall into our town centres and showcase our unique attractions to visitors.

"Paisley's bid to be UK City of Culture 2021 had a hugely positive impact on the town's profile and reputation and we will build on that with another great year of major events."

Douglas Anderson, the UK co-ordinator and the man responsible for bringing the Monte back to Scotland in 2011, will be leading the cars off to Monte Carlo in his 1961 Triumph Herald Coupe.

He said: “Paisley’s mid-winter carnival – the Monte Carlo Rally Start – is back for a record fifth time with a record number of cars heading for the sunshine. It’s acknowledged to be the best of all the rally starts around Europe. Be part of the excitement by coming along to cheer them on their way on Wednesday evening. Share the magic of the Monte.”

Among the entrants who’ll be heading for Monte Carlo in the Historique Class and already in Paisley, are the French crew of Gerard Thill and Colette Roubaud.

Their superb red 1971 Saab 96 V4 comes from Trollhattan in Sweden and was originally owned by an engineer who worked at the Saab factory. Gerard and Colette will be taking part in their ninth Historique Monte but it’s the first time they’ve started from Scotland. Previously they’ve set off from Reims, Bad Homburg, Monaco, Oslo, Barcelona and Marrakech.

It’s a slightly closer-to-home start for the three-man Angus-based crew of David Tindal, Alan Falconer and Stephen Woods who decided only recently they’d like to do the event.

Fortunately David’s 18-year-old son just happened to have a 1956 Ford Prefect which he was working on in his garage. They rushed to complete the job and they’ll be competing in the Classique group under the team name ‘Kilts to Carlo’ to raise funds for Prostate Scotland.

Also taking on the challenge is husband and wife team Jim and Norma Watson from Dunfermline who are MG fans and have owned a number of different models over the years. They bought their current MGB GT just to take part in the

Classique event. Although both now retired, they are not taking it easy. When not rallying they sail and are currently restoring a wooden sailing yacht.

From Troon, Craig McGibbon has entered his Volvo 122S for the second time in the Historique category but this time he has a very experienced navigator in Karsten Brown sitting alongside. Before retirement they were both highly-trained professional drivers and are looking forward to showing the others how it’s done.

David Glen and Andrew Sturgess from Glasgow are a well-established crew who are competing in their 5th Monte. Their car is a rare 1978 Escort RS 2000 with equally rare X pack modifications. David and Andrew managed to finish the rally last year despite having a ‘coming together’ with an Alfa Romeo en route, but it is now back to its original condition and they are raring to go.