Rally Monte Carlo 1959 - Rallying at a crossroads
Summary
The 1959 Monte Carlo Rally is one of the medium-difficulty rallies. Relatively unknown French drivers, such as Coltelloni/Alexander/Descrosies in a Citroën, were able to win that year.
Estimated reading time: 3min
Preview (beginning of the article)
At the end of the 1950s, rallying was on the verge of a decisive turning point. Professional rally drivers took their seats in professionally prepared touring cars. Many factories discovered the advertising effectiveness of this sport. The rallies themselves became faster and faster, with the required average speed reaching the 65 km/h mark. On public roads, rally cars marked with large starting numbers and rally signs cause uncertainty and annoyance for other road users. High speeds on country roads and through-town roads lead to accidents with locals and tourists. Many organizers try to avoid this confrontation with normal road traffic. Routes and times of day with little traffic are chosen. For example, the Liège-Rome-Liège rally organizes stages on sometimes very poor, closed roads, for which an average speed that is impossible to maintain is set. The regularity stages take a back seat. The trend to drive spectacular, secret or even previously known special stages on quiet stages is gaining ground.
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