Autovolt Magazine

5th Monte Carlo ZENN EV Rally Gets Under Way

The ZENN Rally (ZENN being short for Zero Emission, No Noise) starts today and ends on the 23rd March, 2014 in Monaco. The ZENN category is the “greenest” segment of the 15th Monte-Carlo New Energies Rally, and is only open to electric vehicles with a 250 km maximum autonomy. The segment sees the likes of Renault’s ZOE compete with Volkswagen’s e-up! and other electric vehicles.

The main category, RAMCEN (Rallye Monte-Carlo des Énergies Nouvelles), sees vehicles such as Toyota’s Prius pitted against Vauxhall/Opel Amperas, Honda’s Insight and many more. For the full entry list, visit: www.acm.mc

Alongside the event, TAG-Heuer is presenting the official FIA Formula E car of which the company is the official timing partner near to the Parc Fermé in Monaco.

The “ZENN” category will count several regularity tests, with the first one being the famous ‘La Turbie – Peille’ (11,06 Km) route which will be competed on today, Friday 21st March, on the Common Leg’s occasion. This part of the course takes place on the picturesque but intimidating windy roads amongst the national forest of Peillon.

Tomorrow, Saturday 22nd March, the Final Leg will take place between the sea and mountains near Sainte-Agnès, Europe’s highest coastal village, with entries competing in a further three regularity tests. First of all, a ‘Peille – Sainte Agnès’ (8,01 Km) loop, to be run twice, then ‘Sainte Agnès – La Turbie’ (19,04 Km), to end on a high at the Monaco harbour with a final manoeuvrability test which is identical to the one done by the competitors of RAMCEN.

Rallye Monte -Carlo - ZENN

Source; Renault, Automobile Club de Monaco