Romania will have for the first time an official team in one of the most famous regularity rallies in the world, Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, where it will be represented by five crews, 90 years since Petre Cristea became the first and only winner of the Monte Carlo Rally, announces the Romanian Federation of Motor Sports.
The crews were announced right at the headquarters of the Țiriac Collection, in the presence of Ion Țiriac, and the big surprise came from Petre Cristea’s daughter, Gloria, born 90 years ago, on the very day he achieved the great performance in Monte Carlo. She wanted to wish success to the 10 tricolor representatives at the competition that will start next week.
The five crews are: Adrian Anton Georgescu – Ștefan Marinescu (Renault 5 Alpine – 1981), Adrian Nicolau – Levente Kovács (Ford Escort Mk1 – 1968), Viorel Ognean – Florin Mitea (Ford Escort Mk2 – 1976), Alexis Bizzarilli – Ioan Plămădeala (Fiat X1/9 – 1979) and Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu – Radu Dumitrescu (Lancia Fulvia 1.3 S – 1974).
In memory of Petre Cristea, the Romanian team will have the official name “Petre Cristea Heritage Rally Team Romania – 90 Years”. “Romania has a tradition in motor sports, being one of the first countries to have such competitions since 1904. We celebrate the unique result obtained by Petre Cristea 90 years ago, and now, for the first time, a national team has been formed for the Monte Carlo rally. It takes a minimum of five crews to form a national team, and now we’ve done it. It is a joy for the federation to be with the 10 athletes in this adventure“, said Norris Măgeanu, the president of the Romanian Motor Sports Federation.
Organized by the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), Monte-Carlo Historique annually brings together hundreds of international crews and recreates the atmosphere of the competitions of yesteryear, being a historic regularity rally. It is not a simple speed race, but an event where timing, navigation and consistency on complicated courses are of the essence.
Departures are scheduled from six different European cities (eg John O’Groats – UK, Bad Homburg – Germany, Barcelona – Spain, Turin – Italy, Reims – France, plus Monte-Carlo), which turns the rally into a real continental odyssey before arriving in Monaco. The Romanian team chose to leave Monaco towards the end of the competition, starting on February 1.
“There will be five days of competition, it’s a tough race, which takes place over 3,000 kilometers. The last day will be the most difficult, because we will have 600 kilometers, of which 150 on night routes. The historic Monte Carlo rally is not one with special trials against the clock, as happens in already known competitions, but with speeds imposed by the organizer, and any deviation attracts penalties, so it will be extremely interesting“, declared former prime minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, who will drive the Lancia Fulvia model from 1974.
For the first time, many of the regularity tests will be held on roads closed to public traffic, combining tradition with safety and sporting spectacle. Accepted cars for 2026 include any models that were part of the Monte-Carlo Rally between 1911 and 1986, encouraging a wider range of historic and collectible vehicles.
