The 1966 Scandal That Almost Ruined the Monte Carlo Rally

100 years have passed since the first Monte Carlo rally first began. Since then, it has kept its place among the most respected motorsport events. The Monte Carlo Rally wasn't resumed until 1949, exactly 10 years since the last run of the event. The winners that year were Jean Trevoux and Marcel Lesurque in a Hotchkiss, just like 10 years earlier.Over the next 30 years, the rally took off spectacularly. It was only at the dawn of the television era, when Europe was not yet awash with amusement parks and the like, when motor racing and rallying were followed assiduously by hundreds or even thousands of spectators who lined the routes of every great motor race or rally. Having some 200 crews was typical for the annual event, though over 300 were registered. In 1953, the CIS, the sport governing body at the time, introduced a European Championship for Drivers, though it was clear that the "Monte" was the most prestigious classification rally.And in the beginning of the 1960s, rallying became even more professional. The chances for success for the many private drivers became even slimmer due to the new participation of professional manufacturers' teams. The Monte Carlo Rally also became famous for his night stages, the climb to the Col de Turini and other passes through the Alps.