1968 Rallye Lyon-Charbonnières

This rally favored machines that could dance through tight tarmac. The Alpine A110 1440’s nimble handling and rear-mounted engine layout gave it superb cornering performance, while the Porsche 911 T maintained speed on open stretches. The BMW 2002 surprised with its strong pace and reliability on long asphalt legs.

• Alpine A110 1440: Featherweight, rear-engine layout with razor-sharp response in corners
• Porsche 911 T: Balanced, fast, and responsive under both acceleration and braking
• BMW 2002: Excellent road-holding, stability, and torque across longer segments

With mixed weather and varied gradients, car setup and tire selection were just as vital as driver skill.

The tight margins for error on twisty French and German roads left little room for hesitation. Co-drivers had to deliver flawless pace notes, especially with dusk and rain clouding visibility in wooded sectors and narrow urban streets.

• Pace Notes: Critical for maintaining flow and rhythm across blind bends
• Visibility: Reduced in forested areas and during early evening hours
• Braking Zones: Deceptive downhill curves punished late braking or missed calls

This edition showcased the importance of teamwork, composure, and experience in a rally that blended high-speed runs with extreme technicality.