1.
G.V. The towns of Puys.


2.
C.U. Snow sign.


3.
S.V. Car No.245 arriving at the check point.


4.
Angle V. Sign reading "Control"


5.
S.V. Driver getting out of the car to check in.


6.
C.U. The front of the car.


7.
S.V. Car No.243 arriving at the check point.


8.
S.C.U.Pan The driver checking in.


9.
C.U. Sign reading "Monte Carlo Rally"


10.
S.V. Driver getting back into his car.


11.
S.V. Crowd.


12.
S.V.Pan No.243-drives away.


13.
G.V. The snowy countryside outside Puys.


14.
S.C.U.Pan From "Icy" sign to car No.316 going past.


15.
S.V.Pan Car No.270 passing.


16.
S.V.Pan Car No.264 passing.


17.
S.V.Pan Car No.306 passing.


18.
S.C.U.Pan Car No.307 passing.


19.
Travel Shot. Inside a car on the route.


20.
S.C.U.Int. Hands on the wheel.


21.
Travel shot. Still on the route.




Initials M.R./P.B.



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: It now seems doubtful whether any of the 302 starters in this year's Monte Carlo Rally which began on Jan 21st will reach the finish on time. Hard-packed snow and ice covers almost the whole of France and each hour takes toll of further competitors - either with crashes or irretrievable loss of precious time.

In the event of no-one reaching Monte Carlo on time, this rally will have created a record as the only one of the series in which no-one has finished with a 'clean slate'.

In an around Puy, for instance, these pictures show the kind of hazards which face the drivers. Ever on the alert, they must 'feel' their cars around the corners, wary of the 'drift' (sideways slide of the wheels) and the obstacle obscured by snow.

Nevertheless, the stalwarts still arrive at the Puy checkpoint, to have their papers checked and signed. A quick look around the car, and off again into the nerve-wracking drive.