Probably the largest team, with 15 vehicles built between 1960 and 1976, is being provided by LOOS. The LOOS team is able to offer a wide range of classic cars names, from Alfa Romeo through Austin to BMW, Lancia, Mercedes, Opel, Triumph, Volvo and VW.

Participants will drive their rally tyres across nearly 2,500 km of snow- and ice-covered terrain. In true historic style, the rally starts with a night reliability drive of a good 1,000 km. Only after their arrival in St. Etienne will participants face competing against almost 350 teams from 16 countries, tackling demanding trials in the French Maritime Alps. Competitors will include such famous rally legends as Tony Fall, Jean Ragnotti and Cesare Fiorio.

The historic version of the "mother of all rallies" is only open to vehicle marques and models that participated in the Monte Carlo Rally in the years 1955 to 1977. This must be proved by the inclusion of an international FIA or FIVA car pass with the application to race – part of the inevitable mountain of paper required today.

The fascination of the "Monte Carlo Rally" unites all the members of Team LOOS, which is made up of participants from Germany, Denmark and Austria. The team members' cars will therefore set off from their starting points in Monte Carlo, Copenhagen and Reims in the evening in order to meet the other participants from Barcelona and Turin the next day in St. Etienne after a journey under the stars.

On the following days, drivers will cover the stages from St. Etienne to Valence via Gap to Monte Carlo, driving another 1,000 km or so, with over 400 trial kilometres. These include the most famous rally sections in the world, such as the 33 km long trial across the Col de Turini, known as the "night of the long knives".

In the face of such tests of both man and machine, the primary objective is simply to get there! But when the black and white chequered flag drops in the harbour town of Monaco on 1 February, the teams will remember their desire to step onto the winners' rostrum after the team trials and wait eagerly for the publication of the results as part of the victory ceremonies of the Automobile Club de Monaco in the Monte Carlo Sporting Club.

LOOS INTERNATIONAL and the national companies involved – Loos Austria, Loos Germany, Loos France and Loos Scandinavia – are keeping their fingers crossed for their teams.

Picture: Team member and sponsorship coordinator Rudolf Hofmann with his 1962 ALFA Romeo