Published on: 24/01/2023 Updated on: 20/02/2025

Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2023, historic racing season restarts

On Thursday, January 26, the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2023 kicks off the competition season reserved for classic cars, a race now in its 25th year. Mafra is the Official Sponsor of the Turin start and participates in the race with a 1974 Alfa Romeo 1750 GT: at the wheel is Marco Mattioli, Mafra General Manager, assisted by his historic navigator Mario Pensotti.

This is it, the 2023 season of competitions reserved for d'poca cars is about to kick off: as per tradition, it starts with the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2023, now in its 25th year. 2,500km to go, with more than 280 crews driving 4-wheeled gems that participated in Rallye Monte-Carlo between 1911 and 1976.

After seven years, on Thursday, Jan. 26, Italian cars return to start from Turin's beautiful Piazza San Carlo. Mafra is the protagonist of this event as Official Sponsor. And it is precisely the great Mafra arch that provides the setting for the departure of the cars from Turin. Among those entered in the race are Marco Mattioli, Mafra General Manager, and his historic navigator Mario Pensotti, who are participating in the competition driving a 1974 Alfa Romeo 1750 GT.

In Turin, before the start, cars participating in the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2023 are given a Quick Detailing treatment carried out by Mafra Detailers with Exterior Quick Detailer, one of the most popular products in the Maniac Line, the new Mafra line dedicated to enthusiasts and true car care maniacs, a range highly appreciated by those who like to take personal care of their cars.

Exterior Quick Detailer cleans, polishes and protects all exterior surfaces of the car, repelling dust for a long time and improving the look of the car. Ideal for easy drying after washing and for removing water stains, this product Maniac Line by Mafra is perfect for preparing the beautiful cars on display in Turin's San Carlo Square.

Enthusiasts can admire them in all their glory and see up close real legends who have participated in the Monte-Carlo Rallye in the past, such as the 1975 Lancia Stratos HF, an Alpine A110, and a 1955Alfa Romeo 1900.

Here are some photos of the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2022:

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Welcome Kit for Participants of the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2023

For all participants in the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2023, which kicks off from Turin, Mafra has created a special Mafra Welcome Kit containing a selection of useful products in view of the demanding tests to be faced from January 26 until February 1. Snow, ice and very cold temperatures are the usual protagonists of this race, considered one of the most challenging in the whole panorama of vintage competitions.

The Mafra Welcome Kit

Here are the Mafra products contained in the Welcome Kit supplied to participants in Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2023:

Cristalbell

Windshield washer fluid that can withstand low winter temperatures (it does not freeze down to -20°). Its special formulation prevents the formation of limescale, keeping the entire dispensing circuit perfectly clean and efficient for perfect windshield cleaning every time;

Glass Clean & Shine

Degreasing glass cleaner with shining effect. Its powerful active foam quickly and effectively cleans surfaces, restoring their original shine without leaving halos. Glass Clean & Shine contains no ammonia and is simple and easy to use. Powerful, effective and fast, the product washes, degreases and removes halos, grease stains, fingerprints and all other kinds of stains.

Fast Cleaner

Ideal product for a dry car wash. Designed for cleaning car exteriors, Fast Cleaner quickly removes any dirt or stain residue for a clean, shiny car every time. Its special formulation guarantees a triple effect:

- Anti-rain, making raindrops slide off the bodywork without leaving halos;
- Anti-Dirty, creating a protective layer that prevents dirt and dust from settling on the bodywork, ensuring long-lasting cleanliness;
- Anti-fingerprint, preventing unsightly fingerprints from showing on the car.
Heavy Work Cloth

The ideal microfiber cloth for all car cleaning tasks. Its high resistance to wear and tear makes it perfect for both drying and removing impurities in the interior.

The program of the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2023

The Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2023, now in its 25th year, kicks off from five places that have made the history of this prestigious competition: Bad Homburg, Oslo, London, Turin and Reims. More than 130 cars leave Turin on Thursday, January 26, heading for Monte-Carlo. On Friday, January 27, they join cars from the other cities to tackle the demanding tests that take place on the same roads used each year by the World Championship event, the inaugural stage of the WRC.

280 cars entered for the 2023 edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, all ready to do battle on these legendary roads. Seventeen Regularity Tests will be held to win the trophy won last year by Belgian twins Philippe and Antoine Cornet de Ways Ruart in a 1965 Porsche 911.

Snow and ice stars of the race

Several challenging passages that the crews will have to face during the course of the race, made even more difficult by road conditions that are often covered with snow and ice.

It begins on Saturday, January 28, with the Col du Buis (1196 m) and Col de Laval (1100 m) in the Ubraye Valley, at a time of year when snow and ice are almost everywhere. On the same day, the cars pass through the dreaded Col Fontbelle (1304 m). The challenging first day of the race ends at Champ de Mars in Valence, around 4:30 p.m.
On Sunday, January 29, we start with two legendary stages. The famous Moulinon stage, Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut - Saint-Andéol-de-Vals (40.69 km) via the Col de Sarasset. This is followed by the legendary Burzet - Saint-Martial (30.63 km), via the Ray-Pic waterfall and Lachamp-Raphaël. After a break for lunch, based on local products, the race restarts for another very challenging stage, the high altitude loop of "Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid (27.05 km) which is followed by the Liberthe road that proved very challenging in last year's edition. The day ends with the Lamastre - Colombier-le-Jeune stage (14.15km) via the Col de Saint-Genest (709m).
Monday, Jan. 30, involves passing several passes: Col de Carabes (1261 m), Col d'Espréaux (1160 m), Col Saint-Jean (1159m), Col de Pierre-Vesce (1056m) and Col du Reychasset (1052m). It was always a very challenging day for all crews, ending in Valence after passing through Col du Gourdon (953m) and Col de la Chaudière (1047m).
Tuesday, Jan. 31, begins with the Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert - La Motte-Chalancon stage (19.96km) via the Col de Planlara (1037m) and Col de Chamauche. It continues with the time trial of "Montauban-sur-l'Ouvèze - Laborel (18.91km), which includes the passage through the Col de Perty (1302m). The day ends by tackling La Colle Saint Michel between "Thorame-Haute - Le Fugeret (18.43 km).
The race closes on Wednesday, February 1. On this day the competitors tackle two famous stages: Col de Braus - Lantosque (34.35 km) and La-Bollène-Vésubie - Moulinet (22.33 km). This is the day where the cars pass through the Col de Turini (1,600m), perhaps one of the most famous rally racing sites of all time. The race ends around 1 a.m., when the first crew is scheduled to arrive at the finish line in Monaco Port Hercule. In keeping with tradition, the awards ceremony takes place on Wednesday evening, to be followed by a gala evening at the Salle des Etoiles at the Sporting Monte-Carlo.

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