Four lovely Renault Gordinis will race in Monte Carlo

Head to this year’s Rallye Monte Carlo Historique and you ought to see four delightful little Renaults.

Renault has entered four 8 Gordinis into the event - now in its 20th year - and it isn't messing around. Among the eight drivers piloting the cars to Monaco are ex-Formula 1 driver Michel Leclere and former World Rally Championship driver Jean Ragnotti, winner of the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally, as well as terroriser of the Goodwood lawn.

The Renault 8 Gordini was unveiled in 1964, and could top 108mph. It had twice the power of the original 8, with loads of uprated components, and was successful in races across Europe. It also has lovely stripes, and we all know cars are faster with those. The teams are driving to southern France from Barcelona, with four days to make it. Even allowing for some, ahem, 'issues', they should get there on time.

The Rallye Monte Carlo Historique is as good a place as any to go classic car spotting. Last year, 258 cars entered the event, including Lada Rivas, Ford Escorts, gorgeous Alfa Romeos and Lancias and a legion of Porsche 911s. The event is open to any model of car that competed in Monte Carlo Rallies between 1955 and 1980, and will run over eight days on what are some of rallying's more scenic stages.

This year, 328 cars have been entered. Whether all of them make it, or start the rally, is another thing entirely...

Words: Ben Custard