History 1960s

1969 Alpine Rally (Coupe des Alpes)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1969 Alpine Rally (Coupe des Alpes)

Date: July 1969

Start/Finish Location: Marseille, France

Total Distance: Approximately 2,500 kilometers

Participating Teams: Around 80 crews

The 1969 Alpine Rally, also known as the Coupe des Alpes, was one of the most technical and scenic events in Europe. Traversing the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps, the rally featured high-altitude stages, hairpin-filled mountain passes, and unpredictable summer weather. It was a pure driver’s event, placing a premium on precision and handling in narrow, winding conditions above the clouds.

Route

France: Alpine villages and steep tarmac climbs through the Alpes-Maritimes and Savoie.
Italy: High-speed descending stages on narrow mountain roads in the Aosta Valley.
Switzerland: Precision-driving through scenic but dangerous passes such as the Grimsel and Furka.

The multi-nation route took crews across the heart of the Alps:

The rally demanded acute throttle control and steady hands, with many stages hugging cliffside edges and offering no margin for error.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Jean Vinatier & Jean-François Jacob · Alpine A110
2nd Place
Ove Andersson & Arne Hertz · Lancia Fulvia HF
3rd Place
Vic Elford & David Stone · Porsche 911

Vinatier’s masterful control of the Alpine A110 across hairpins and descents led to a commanding win. Andersson’s Fulvia showed great consistency, and Elford’s Porsche brought raw speed but struggled slightly on tighter technical stages.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Altitude Effects: Thinner air in high passes affected engine performance and driver stamina.
  • Tight Switchbacks: Constant braking and gear changes required mechanical reliability and focus.
  • Rapid Weather Shifts: Crews faced sudden fog, rain, or even hail, especially in higher regions.

The 1969 Alpine Rally was a showcase of precision and bravery, where the best teams had to balance raw speed with mountain-road discipline to emerge victorious.

← Previous Event 1969 Acropolis Rally
Back to Events Index
1969 Liège–Sofia–Liège Rally Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.