The 14th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique kicked off in Warsaw yesterday with nearly 100 antique sports cars vying to cross the finish line first in Monaco next Tuesday, organisers said.

Race drivers revved their engines for the start of the race at the National Opera in Warsaw.

A total of 98 classic sports cars including revered marks like Porsche, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Renault, Renault-Alpine as well as Ford, Citroen, Volkswagen and Austin chose to start the race in Warsaw, which last hosted the prestigious event in 1979.

A total 328 cars from 24 countries entered the race.

Competitors simultaneously started the race at four other points of departure.

Newer classics began the race in Morocco’s Marrakesh and Glasgow, Scotland, while the oldest cars to have entered the race started in Spain’s Barcelona and Reims, France, both closer to Monaco.

Hopeful candidates must drive a model that took part in any of the 25th to 48th Monte-Carlo Rallies, divided into the following categories: Vehicles built between 1955 and 1961, 1962 and 1965, 1966 and 1971, and 1972 and 1979. Each category is further divided into three classes according to engine capacity: up to 1300cc, 1301cc to 2000cc, and those over 2000cc.

The rally is celebrating the centenary of its elder brother, the Rallye Monte-Carlo (1911-2011).

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