History 1960s

1963 Rallye des Routes du Nord (France)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

The 1963 Rallye des Routes du Nord served as a traditional winter curtain-raiser for the French rally season. Centered around Lille and the surrounding countryside, the event featured narrow farm roads, early frost conditions, and numerous directional changes that kept crews under pressure from start to finish.

Event Name: 1963 Rallye des Routes du Nord

Date: February 1963

Start/Finish Location: Lille, France

Total Distance: Approximately 1,200 kilometers

Participating Teams: Around 60 crews

Route

Surface: Predominantly asphalt with patches of slush and ice.
Navigation: Tight roadbook timing with narrow junctions and hidden turns.
Weather: Cold temperatures and occasional snowfall influenced grip and visibility.

Stages were run on icy and damp country roads through northern France, favoring agile cars and confident driving on slick asphalt:

Stage wins required calculated braking and traction management rather than flat-out speed.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Likely a French entry — possibly Renault Dauphine or Mini Cooper
2nd Place
—
3rd Place
—

While full records are scarce, French privateers and regional talents frequently dominated the standings, with Renault, Peugeot, and Mini well-represented in the top rankings.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Slippery Corners: Unpredictable patches of ice punished late braking and over-commitment.
  • Fog and Visibility: Misty dawn sections required confident pace note work.
  • Mechanical Wear: Frost heaves and debris tested undercarriages and cooling systems.

The 1963 Routes du Nord embodied the grittiness and tradition of French winter rallying, where preparation and patience mattered more than power alone.

← Previous Event 1963 Rallye Sestriere (Italy)
Back to Events Index
1963 East African Safari 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.