Yahoo Autos A Wild Ride with 1978's Monte Carlo Rally Winner
Porsche's works rally team may have never run the Monte Carlo Rally again after its 1970 victory, but that didn't stop privateers like the Almeras brothers from pushing their 911s further and further through the seventies. In 1978, a certain Gitanes-blue 911 SC took the crown, partly thanks to a heavy snowfall working in their favor.
Jean-Pierre Nicolas had two WRC race victories on his belt by 1978, but at Monte Carlo, he wasn't supposed to beat the factory Lancia Stratoses and Fiat-Abarth 131s, one of which was driven by Walter Röhrl. Yet on snow, the rear-engined Alpines and Porsches did much better, while the Almeras Porsche also had the benefit of a mostly stock engine, which had loads more torque than the Group 4 variant. That meant hairpins in second gear, all day long.
Their 1974 SC was also light at less than 2860 lbs., while enjoying the full benefits of a Group 4 chassis. Beefier anti-roll bars, stiffer springs, the lot. The result? Victory.
Jean-Pierre Nicolas went on to become Peugeot's WRC boss during the brand's most successful period. At the age of 73, he was invited back into his 1978 car by Porsche, to celebrate both their first and last Monte Carlo Rally victories.
And as the always great Henry Catchpole explains, having complained a bit about his joints after dinner, the next day, he drove as if nothing had changed since 1978. Starting from Col De Turini at 5272 feet, flat out in the 911 that was restored to perfection some ten years ago. What a treat!
Watch the video on YouTube here.
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