Day 3 Saturday Monaco-Lyon via lunch on the Route Napoleon

A well needed late start to this day. After a hearty breakfast the cars gathered at the front of the hotel for an 11am departure. And unbelievably just before we left the bunny was again found by team 3. Anyway we all left in our usual discreet fashion (!) and weaved our way out of Monaco, up to the main cost road for a 20 mile blast until we all got off and headed North on what has to be one of the best roads in the world, the Route Napoleon. This road is the ultimate test for a car’s handling, braking system and general thrust, and more importantly your co-driver’s stomach, especially after a heavy one the night before.

80 miles later having followed the first sat nav point of the day, we all crossed a one-way bridge and zig zagged our way up a huge hill to our lunch/ regroup spot. We were all in a picturesque chateaux/castle on the top of a hill, an amazing setting nearly equalled by the spectacle in the car park.

It soon became apparent that most of the cars had arrived at the lunch stop with very little fuel, 5, 10, 15 miles of range in many tanks as the last three petrol stations we had all passed had been closed. So very sporting by all, gerry cans were passed around to the most in need.


So, after a great lunch and a photo shoot, it was a mass exodus from the car park. You would think that with most cars almost on fumes they would have taken a more “feathering the throttle” approach, but on no we were all off like we had a 1000-mile range in our tanks. Luckily the two petrol stations at the next town 12 miles away were open, so as the tanks gasped we all filled to the brim with relief, best compared to that of a much needed toilet break after 5 hours in the car and 3 litres of drink consumed. Out of the petrol station, new tank of fuel, new sat nav point, 100 miles of route napoleon ahead of us and a big blast down some great motorways into Lyon

The points system for this stage was different. If you arrived 1 st you attracted 1 point for your team; if you arrive 24 th you attracted 24 points for your team. The team with the collective lowest points would win that stage.

The drive from Monaco and up the first stint of the Route Napoleon was amazing, slightly dampened by the panic of running out of fuel but hey ho. At one point a few of us pulled in to a lay-by. Jim and Darren in the M3 cab (still love those cars, should never have sold mine) also had the cameraman with them; he was in the back seat trying to film us lot behind him -mad but good. Anyway they came up with the idea of going ahead for a mile or so, pulling over and filming us flying by, good idea I said but It became apparent Jim was feeling a bit green around the gills, and as they pulled over at a top filming location (can’t wait to see the clip as we all nail it past) Jim barfed –nice!

After lunch and with a full tank of fuel Gids and I reviewed the points situation and it was very apparent that it was all to play for so we decided to push hard. The firm suspension setting on the Porsche is something that I never use, but it was as though that setting had been developed for when you are on a mission on the Route Napoleon, it transformed the car, instilled masses of confidence and with this we caught and passed at least ten other rabbit runners. We then caught Harry and Chris in the black 430, and with Harry having a similar driving style to mine (quick but not dangerous) it was a joy to be stuck on the back of him for around an hour. However as we entered Lyon town centre I wanted to pass Harry (as he was in team 2) so nailed it up the outside lane in the four lane wide one-way system. It was then that I spotted Nigel and Arnon in the red 430 (team 2) and Ed and Nick in the C4S cab (team 2), so after driving like we were all 17 again, we were airborne in a bus lane, and there was another incident that we won’t document, but a big result for us as out of the four cars we finished first. Not that I am bitter, but if it wasn’t for the bunnies, victory would have been ours, my rules my pain. What an amazing day of driving though.

With everyone lined up outside the Hotel in Monaco, we were off. We were being held up behind Craig & Gids in the 997 Turbo (as there were too many bends) and wound our way up the mountains to the first toll . Again as with day 2, as team leader I felt that holding those back who wanted to go a quicker pace was a bit like spoiling the party, so took the approach that we could still get there first as a team. At this point though, I have to congratulate Team 1 for so successfully sticking together (however, contriversially, I think this was their downfall in terms of overall position).

A bit of a later start today and after finding the hidden bunny again Team 3 were well in the frame for victory. I know that I could take it easy today as my lunatic team-mates would do all the graft.

That evening saw the extensive exchange of stories, what was and what might have been, maybe next year guys!

What a totally amazing trip, As some of you know Gids and I did a fair bit of drag racing, we just had the legs on the Bentley speed, we beat the 360, the SL55 AMG, the 996 turbo, but it seems that we punched above our weight with the SLR, it walked away from us (obviously Ian at the wheel). Ok we didn’t have the over boost on, but even so they would have had us beat.

Day two and day three were probably the best driving experiences I have ever had, some great memories to hang on too, until next year my friends.

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