Monte Monday: Bristolian World Rally Drivers in 1962
It’s not Just F1 drivers that Bristol has produced. On this day in 1962, the Evening Post reported on Bristolians heading off to Monte-Carlo for the infamous rally. Driving for Works teams, they were at the top of the Motorsport tree.
The 1963 Monte Carlo Rally, the 32nd running of this prestigious event, was a gruelling test of endurance for both drivers and machines. Starting from various points across Europe, including Stockholm (Liddon), Paris, Glasgow (D Mabbs), Lisbon, Frankfurt, Warsaw, Athens, and Monte Carlo itself, competitors converged on Monte Carlo after traversing thousands of miles through challenging winter conditions. The rally was ultimately won by Erik Carlsson and Gunnar Palm in a Saab 96, showcasing the reliability and handling of the Swedish marque. The event was notable for the severe weather, particularly the heavy snow that eliminated all competitors starting from Athens. American manufacturers made a more significant entry, with Ford Falcons showing impressive speed, although penalties hampered their overall results. The Ladies’ Cup was won by Ewy Rosqvist and Ursula Wirth in a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE, finishing a commendable 16th overall.
Geoff Mabbs made it to the finish in 18th place, whilst his younger brother finished in 54th position. Tiny Lewis finished in 30th position in the Sunbeam Rapier and Henry Liddon finished in 41st position. 200 drivers failed to finish and only 96 made it to the finish line. Geoff Mabbs’ co-driver from 1962 finished on the podium with Tony Ambrose in the top finishing Mini.
