1.
(NIGHT SCENES) GV The eventual winner, No. 3 Jean-Pierre Nicolass in a blue Porsche Carrera driving through the snow in the Turini pass.
0.06

2.
GV No. 19, Jean Ragnotti in a yellow Renault Five Alpine in the Turini Pass.
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3.
GV PAN No. 12, Guy Frequelin of France, in another yellow Renault in the Turini Pass.
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4.
GV West Germany's Walter Rohrl in a Fiat 131 Arbarth, (car no. 2) swerving along the snow-covered Turini Pass.
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5.
GV Car No. 8, another Fiat, slithers through the Turini Pass.
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6.
GV PAN CAR No. 7 going through the Turini Pass.
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7.
(MORNING) Monte Carla seen across the bay.
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8.
GV No. 3 The winner, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, arrives at the finish. Crowd and Newsmen surround the car (TWO SHOTS)
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9.
GV and SV Winners spraying champagne. (TWO SHOTS).
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10.
GV Car No. 19 drive by Jean Ragnotti at the finish, Ragnotti walking with co-driver Jean-March Andrie.
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11.
GV PAN from crowd to car No. 12 driven by Guy Frequelin at the finish, pulling in behind Ragnotti.
1.42

12.
GV Crowd watch as the Renault drivers celebrate their second and third places by spraying champagne.
1.52

13.
GV Looking back at the finish.
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Fourth placing in the Menthe Carlo Rally went to Walter Rorhl and Carl Geistdorfer of West Germany in their Fiat 131 Arvarth. They were 30.19 minutes behind the Porsche of Jean-Pierre Nicolas. In at fifth palace were Bernard Darnich and Alain Mahe of France driving another Fiat 131 Arbarth. They were 5.41 minutes behind the leader. Only 88 of more then 200 starters finished the rally.




Initials EP/0115


SPORT: MOTOR RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: French driver Jean-Pierre Nicolas won the Monte Carlo rally on Friday (27 January) in a hired Porsche Carrera, beating the factory team favourites of Lancia and Fiat. Observers say the Frenchman's unexpected victory is likely to arouse fresh public interest in the world's best known rally, which has long been dominated by highly professional factory teams.

SYNOPSIS: In the Turini pass on the eve of his victory Jean-Pierre Nicolas was well cut in front.

For the past two days he had been leading the Renault driver by his countryman, Jean Ragnotti.

Right behind him was another Renault, this one driven by another Frenchman, Guy Frequelin, who was also making good work of the snow.

The snow, in fact, had proved too much for the more powerful Fiats, like this one driven by West Germany's Walter Rohrl.

Like the Lancias, the Fiat found the snow and ice, which was a feature of this year's rally, heavy going. The organisers of the rally, however, were delighted with the snow. They said it made this year's event more interesting.

The next day coming into Monaco, there was no holding Nicolas back and his Porsche arrived at the finish line a popular victory. It was his first win in 12 attempts.

Although it turned out well for Nicolass and his co-driver Vincent Lavaerne, the two almost missed out on the rally because of the shortage of cash. Only last-minute sponsorship by cigarette company enabled them to hire their Porsche.

Coming in second was tenacious Renault Five Alpine driven by Jean Ragnotti. He and his co-driver, Jean-Marc Andrie, were just under two minutes behind the Porsche.

Yet another Renault filled third place, that of Guy frequiling and his co-driven Jacques Delaval. They were just under three minutes behind Nicolas and gave French drivers the first three places in this years's rally.

For the Renault teams it was cause for celebration. Although under-powered compared with the highly-changed Lancias and Fiats, their small cars had performed much better under the icy conditions.