After the snowy season opener in Sweden, conditions were not dissimilar for the Monte Carlo Rally, which hosted the 2nd round of the Drivers World Championship, and a classic entry was assembled. The camera team may have thought of themselves back in Scandinavia such were the elements, but as ever they endured the conditions to capture all the action. Following the somewhat barren ‘works' entry in Sweden, the major factory teams were out in force on this event. Reigning World Champion, Miki Biasion was out for his first rally of the season in the Martini Lancia Delta Integrale. He was backed up by 1988 Monte Carlo winner, Bruno Saby, and fellow Frenchman Didier Auriol. Also flying the Lancia flag was the Jolly Club entry of Italian star Alex Fiorio. As suspected, the Japanese were going to be a threat this season, as this event proves. Toyota had three official Celica GT4s, led by Juha Kankkunen, and his team mates Bjorn Waldegaard, and the spectacular Spaniard, Carlos Sainz who, like his ex-works Ford- team mate Auriol, had swapped camps for 1989. Belgian Patrick Snyers was also Toyota entered for the Bastos team whilst Mazda were on duty with Hannu Mikkola and Timo Salonen. But the real darkhorse was Ari Vatanen in the Mitsubishi Ralliart. Could the veteran Finn upset the odds in his relatively untried car? The 1989 World Rally Championship was well and truly under way, and this tape brings you all the action as the promise of a spectacular season unfolds.