The Monte, a five day road tour from Berkeley Square in London, to Café de Paris in Monte Carlo, saw some of the finest cars available today undertake a 1,000 mile “grand tour”, taking in some of the finest scenery and luxury chateaux that France had to offer.
The event roared into action outside the Mayfair dealership at 08:30am on Sunday 23 September as the first leg of the tour got underway. Twenty cars took part, each having raised a minimum sponsorship and entry fee of over £5,000 for the charity, which aims to improve the quality of life for young people aged 13 to 24 suffering from cancer or other life-threatening illnesses by providing support and respite care.
Karen Millen, fashion designer, business woman and chair and founder of Teens Unite traded in her own Continental GTC for the week as she headed the tour in Bentley’s brand new 610 HP Continental GT Speed1 where she was one of the first people in the country to drive the latest model in the Continental family.
Karen says: “The Monte tour is an ideal way to raise money for Teens Unite, a charity that aims to provide emotional and practical support to young people diagnosed with cancer. The charity is in its infancy and this type of event will make a huge contribution to our fundraising activities.
“The tour will be a great adventure and I am honoured that I will be able to head the tour in style in the phenomenal Continental GT Speed.”
After receiving a breakfast briefing in the impressive surroundings of the Jack Barclay dealership, participants received their first clues and set off for Dover before taking the ferry to France and travelling through Boulogne into Picardy.
Day two saw the tour visit Champagne and the heart of the Burgundy region before heading to the Rhône Valley and Provence on day three. The final two days of the tour provided breathtaking scenery in the heart of the Alps and concluded with a short Riviera run to Monte Carlo.
Although the tour was not a race, participants received clues for each stage of the journey. The winners received luxury travel items including a luxury Bentley travel blanket worth over £500 and all participants attended an end of tour party onboard a yacht moored in Port de Paris.
Derek Bennett, General sales manager at Jack Barclay acted as starter for the event and said “The line-up of 20 luxury cars surrounding Berkeley Square was a very impressive scene and the ideal way to launch this memorable tour. All of the participants had a thoroughly enjoyable few days and we are delighted to have supported such a worthy charity as Teens Unite.”