History 1970s

1979 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Monaco/France)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 47ème Rallye Monte-Carlo

Date: January 20–26, 1979

Host Countries: Monaco / France

Surface: Tarmac / Snow

Total Distance: ~3,000 km

Total Starters: Approx. 230 crews

Total Finishers: 74 crews

The 1979 Rallye Monte-Carlo was one of the most dramatic editions of the legendary event. Challenging winter conditions, treacherous mountain roads, and high-stakes driving defined the rally. Bernard Darniche and Alain Mahé pulled off an extraordinary comeback from 9th place to 1st on the final night, overtaking the field on the snow-covered Col de Turini. Their victory in the Lancia Stratos HF became the stuff of rallying legend.

Route

Col de Turini: Snow, ice, and sheer cliffs tested nerves in the rally's most famous night stage.
Col de Braus & Mont des Mules: Fast tarmac interspersed with frozen corners and tire-compromising transitions.
La Bollène-Vésubie Loop: Narrow and technical with low visibility and mixed surfaces throughout.

Crews departed from multiple European cities and converged on Monaco before tackling iconic Alpine stages such as Col de Braus, Col de Castillon, and the infamous Col de Turini.

Snowfall was heavy during key stages, making tire selection and local weather intel absolutely critical—those who gambled right gained minutes.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Bernard Darniche & Alain Mahé · Lancia Stratos HF
2nd Place
Björn Waldegård & Hans Thorszelius · Ford Escort RS1800
3rd Place
Jean-Pierre Nicolas & Vincent Laverne · Peugeot 504 Coupé V6

Darniche’s fearless night-time attack on snow and ice sealed a legendary win, with Mahé’s precision pacenotes making the difference in treacherous Alpine conditions.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Snow vs. Tarmac: Crews often had to run on the wrong tires for stretches—decisions were made hours in advance with limited weather info.
  • Col Night Loop: The final-night attack through Turini and neighboring cols flipped the leaderboard upside down.
  • Public Traffic: In true Monte tradition, early stages still saw occasional civilian interference and unpredictable hazards.

The 1979 Rallye Monte-Carlo is remembered for one of the greatest comebacks in rally history—Darniche and Mahé’s final push is a masterclass in late-stage heroics under Alpine pressure.

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