The organisers of a classic car rally say they are hoping for better luck when the official race gets underway – after being forced to cancel a media call when one of their vintage motors suffered an electrical fault.

A Monte Carlo Mini from the sixties should have been squeezed into Glasgow City Chambers to launch the start of the historic re-run of the event from the city for the third time in January next year.

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But the event was put on hold after the car – identical to the ones which scored success in the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally – developed ignition problems overnight, forcing organisers to reschedule the appearance.

It is now hoped the 1966 Mk1 Austin Mini Cooper S 1275 can return to the Chambers at a later date.

Owner Geoff Marr laughed: “These are the sort of problems you face with any old ca and the Monte crews will have to be prepared for a whole lot of technical issues, but that’s part of the challenge.”

Around a hundred drivers are expected to be on the starting grid in front of the building in George Square on January 29, with between 20 and 30 making the epic 1300-mile drive to the south of France.

Glasgow is the only British start point out of seven European cities including Athens, Milan and Barcelona as drivers head for the finish line in Monaco.

Clydebank and Paisley have previously served as the starting point for the rally.

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Race spokesman Alan Douglas said: “The issue we have now is getting a space in the Chambers again, but I’m sure we can get that rescheduled.”

“I’m sure the drivers taking part will be hoping for better luck, but it should be a tremendous event when all of the cars set off.”

“We’ll have about a hundred in George Square to start the rally, it will be quite a gathering.”