Ice, Snow For Rally Drivers

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30959, 15 January 1966, Page 15

Ice, Snow For Rally Drivers

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) MONTE CARLO. Drivers who anxiously waited in nine European centres for the start of the thirty-fifth Monte Carlo rally yesterday faced sharply contrasting weather conditions for die opening day’s run.

About 200 cars—well down on last year’s entry—are contesting the world’s toughest motoring test

Private entries are down to a handful as the rally has been virtually taken over by the Mg car manufacturers. This year’s rally has also been marred by a prolonged dispute over new rules, aimed at making rally cars more closely resemble those sold to the ordinary motorist. Preventing Hat-trick

The new rules are expected to favour the larger models and are a threat to the attempt by the British B.M.C. Mini-Cooper team to win the event for the third successive year. But bad weather conditions, including snow and ice, could restore the smaller cars’ chances. The worst conditions on the 1800-mile route to Monte Carlo are in Northern France, which this week had its heaviest snowfalls for 20 years. Snow was also reported from the starting points at Bad Homburg, in Western Germany, although it was not expected to hinder drivers, and in Oslo. London, Lisbon and Athens all reported favourable driving conditions, with little or no snow.