Snow In Alps Stops Many Rally Cars

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31894, 23 January 1969, Page 12

Snow In Alps Stops Many Rally Cars

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright >

MONTE CARLO.

The Monte Carlo rally survivors limped back into Monaco yesterday after a nightmare run through the snow-bound Alps.

Drivers said conditions were “pure hell" and fewer than 60 of the 158 crews to start on the 930-mile run through the mountains were expected to arrive back in Monte Carlo on schedule. “It was very, very difficult. We had every imaginable hazard,” said last year’s winner, V. Elford (Britain) after crossing the control line in his works Porsche. Many cars were reported to have left the road as they raced flat out through the icy speed tests and yesterday morning the West German Porsches were the only works team to come through the night unscathed. The British Ford Escorts which fought a tremendous duel with the Porsches in the

■ early stages of’ the tortuous drive through the mountains are now out of the running ! for the team championship. The works Ford driven by a Swede. O. Andersson, was forced to retire when the clutch broke and the other top Escort, with H. Mikkola, flew off the road I during a speed test. Mikkola and his British codriver, J. Porter, spent 20 minutes hauling the Ford back on to the ice-packed road and fell out of the leading 10 places. Woman Sixth I Mrs P. Moss-Carlsson (Britain) i and her Swedish codriver, Mrs IL. Nystrom, in their works I Lancia Zulvia, arrived at the , control point in sixth position. Mrs Moss-Carlsson, six times winner of the Coupe des Dames, , said: “The conditions are as tricky as I have ever seen them. The mountain roads are packed with ice although there is not much snow.” The women struck trouble only two miles and a half from Monte Carlo when their throttle cable broke. They had to replace it in freezing, weather. As the late finishers trickled into Monaco, a Swede. B. Waldegaard, appeared to have built a big lead, with Elford lying second in his Porsche. Officials confirmed that two previous winners of the rally, T. Makincn (8.M.W.) and P. Toivonen (Porsche) both of Finland, had dropped out during the night.