A Classic Car at the Monte Carlo Historic Rally
Students from the SERIES project of the RACE association participated in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally with their 1974 MGB GT running on synthetic fuel. A total of 242 crews took part!
From January 29 to February 7, 2026, a team of 8 students from the SERIES project (RACE association) participated in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally with a 1974 MGB GT running on synthetic fuel. In total, 242 crews were present, including 56 exceptional cars departing from Reims. From restoring a vehicle to participating in a historic rally and securing funding, dive into the heart of this extraordinary adventure.
Series 2.0: A prestigious vehicule running on synthetic fuel
Following the damage to their vehicle during the 2024 Tour de Corse Historique, where the chassis was severely impacted, the students decided to start from scratch by acquiring a 1974 MGB GT, dubbed “Series 2.0.” Since January 2025, students have been working on restoring this new vehicle, incorporating improvements such as electronic fuel injection and programmable management to run on synthetic fuel, making the vehicle more environmentally friendly. Using synthetic fuel in historic rallies preserves classic cars while reducing their environmental impact. This type of fuel ensures cleaner combustion and increased reliability in demanding events, demonstrating that tradition, innovation, and environmental responsibility can coexist.
First participation in the Monte Carlo historic rally
The Monte Carlo Historic Rally, organized by the Automobile Club of Monaco from January 29 to February 7, 2026, brought together many exceptional vehicles. The SERIES project students were invited to participate in this legendary historic rally, allowing them to discover a new aspect of rallying with much more extreme weather conditions than in previous races. Each day, teams had to complete pre-defined timed stages (on closed roads), with many kilometers of liaison stages in between. Most of the special stages were at night, increasing the difficulty and requiring even more concentration from the teams! During the rally, the team faced several mechanical issues: gearbox leaks, brake overheating due to the steeply descending roads, and wear on a sensor support essential for engine injection regulation. Faced with these technical problems, the team had to be resourceful to find on-the-spot solutions and resume the race as quickly as possible.
An adventure full of emotions!
Solidarity and shared passion were the team’s true strengths throughout the rally. More than just a competition, this experience strengthened team spirit and pushed them to surpass themselves. They proudly crossed the finish line with a car running on alternative fuel, rebuilt by a 100% student team, finishing 201st out of 242 participants! For the next phase of the project, the students plan to participate in the Tarn and Touquet rallies. The goal is to continue progressing, improving the car, adding innovations, and further developing team cohesion through new competitions. “Standing on that podium symbolized the end of the adventure, but above all, the pride of having seen the project through together,” says Tom Legloahec-Henanff, a 5th-year student and rally driver.
Follow all the adventures of the SERIES project on their Instagram account @series_estaca
