Rally Monte Carlo 1967 - Third Mini victory thanks to rally professor Aaltonen
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Summary
In 1967, the end of the Monte Carlo Rally turned into a Hitchkock finale, in which Aaltonen in a Mini narrowly beat Anderson in a Lancia Fulvia.
Estimated reading time: 3min
Preview (beginning of the article)
The threat issued by the BMC managers "Never again Monte Carlo" is long forgotten in 1967, because in retrospect BMC is the (moral) winner. The scandalous rally causes a sudden increase in Mini sales. The Mini is more popular than any other car and they are back, the crazy Scandinavians and Brits. Only Vic Elford in the Porsche 911 S is able to keep the pesky dwarves at bay for the time being. Last night, Vic Elford/David Stone set the fastest time several times. Hopkirk's Mini stops. Electrical problems. Mäkinen slams his car into a boulder lying on the road. Out for the 1965 winner, out for the fastest driver of 1966. But Rauno Aaltonen/Henry Liddon can't worry about the misfortune of their colleagues. A snowstorm hits the Alpes Maritimes. With unsuitable tires, Elford finds it increasingly difficult to transfer the power of the powerful Porsche to the slippery road. At the second Turini, rally pro Aaltonen takes 35 seconds off the Englishman! Meanwhile, Owe Andersson/John Davenport in the Lancia Fulvia are also making headway. A duel has broken out between the Finn and the Swede. Both drive similarly designed front-wheel drive cars. Thanks to the longer wheelbase, the Lancia is somewhat more good-natured, more forgiving of the odd small mistake, understeers more violently and also requires a lot of attention at the service points. Both drivers have the same style. Braking to the left, playing with the throttle and clutch, the two of them skid around the bends and make up second after second. At the Col de la Couillole, the second last stage, Aaltonen takes the lead and Ove Andersson also overtakes Elford. The Turini becomes a Hitchcock finale. Andersson gets closer and closer to Aaltonen, but the rally professor and his cool-headed co-driver, Liddon, save themselves with a five-second lead to the finish. The third Mini Cooper victory is perfect. The best Citroën had to settle for twentieth place!
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