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THIS year’s historic rally run to Monte Carlo has attracted a bumper entry for its only UK starting point in Paisley.

For the fifth time, crowds, fireworks and bands will mass outside Paisley Abbey to send off the drivers and crews who are taking on this unique challenge.

Among them will be Iain MacDonald, of nearby Kilmacolm, who was married in Paisley Abbey in 1972. He will be competing with Swedish co-driver Patrick Toorell in his 1967 Saab 96.

He said: “I competed in rallies in the 60s and 70s around the UK and more recently in Scandinavia but the Monte has got to be the ultimate and it’ll be a challenge in our 50-year-old Saab.”

Iain is taking part in the Historique Class for car models that competed in Monte Carlo Rallies between 1955 and 1980. It will run over eight days on open public roads and cars and crews will undertake a series of 14 test stages in the mountains of southern France.

Also in the Historique are Sandy McEwen and Alan Stark in a rare 1971 Porsche 914/6 bought specially for the event. Although Sandy has more than 45 years of experience in motorsport, including driving single-seaters, GTs, saloons and historics, he describes himself as “a rallying newbie”.

The Classique event is for even older cars from 1911 to 1969 and follows the same route to Monte Carlo but does not include any test stages – the crews just have to finish after checking in at a series of control points. One of them is Albert De May and co-driver Roland De Bargigli, from Belgium.

They’ll be driving their 1936 Chevrolet Coupe and had originally planned to set off from Lisbon but when that start point was cancelled they opted instead for Paisley. “I love the UK and especially Scotland so it’s all worked out well. The Paisley start gives us the chance to travel through more attractive routes,” said Albert.

The event will also feature the popular Monte Heritage Runs, a series of short classic routes in Scotland, including Aberdeen, Dumfries and Stirling, for motoring enthusiasts in a range of interesting cars.

Ten thousand people turned up last year to see the cars start their engines for the 1500-mile trip. Next month, even more are expected as Paisley ups its bid to be UK City of Culture. Almost 100 cars in the three categories are expected to line up outside Paisley Abbey at 6pm on Wednesday, January 31.

Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “The cars are always a really popular spectacle that draw a big crowd into the town centre and I am looking forward to waving them off on the night as they head to Monte Carlo.

“By the time the event rolls around, we will know if Paisley has been successful in its bid to be UK City of Culture 2021. And events such as this one are a huge part of our plans to bring visitors into Paisley and boost the local economy.”