Signposting the Monte Carlo Classique/Historique Rally, starting on 29th January…
Photographs by Colin Campbell Photography.
Members of the Caithness and Sutherland Vintage and Classic Vehicle Club gathered at John O’ Groats as a taster for the Monte Carlo Classique/Historique Rally which will be starting from the iconic signpost on January 29th 2026.
The rally will mark the centenary of the John O’ Groats start when a group of intrepid adventurers left the windswept northern tip of mainland Scotland to drive 1500 miles to Monte Carlo in the south of France to establish what has become one of the world’s iconic motorsport events.
A century on next January, their modern counterparts will replicate their achievement in a range of cars, some of which date back to the early years.
The event has been run several times in recent years with a variety of Scottish starts including Paisley, Glasgow and Clydebank but for this year’s major milestone in the history of the event there’s a welcome return to the traditional John O’Groats start.
And the local club is so delighted, they’ve been celebrating with a minor rally of their own with some of their collection including two MK1 Ford Cortinas, both of which have done the Monte in the past, a Ford Anglia rally car, a 1972 Mini, Chevrolet Firenza, Hillman Avenger, 1972 MGB GT, a 1969 Triumph 1300, Dolomite, Stag and 2000, Land Rover Discovery Camel Trophy Tribute and MG TD.
The centenary rally begins on the morning of January 29th 2026 and the cars can be seen travelling south that day with stops at Inverness, Stirling and Edinburgh before heading through the Scottish Borders and York the following day to Hull for the overnight ferry to Rotterdam.