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  The three cars have been specially prepared for the Monegasque event by Renault Classic.

Renault's pocket rocket Renault 5 is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The diminutive French hatchback will be the centre of attention throughout 2012. 

To kick off celebrations the company has entered three original, Renault 5 Alpines in the 2012 Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique.

The three cars have been specially prepared for the Monegasque event by Renault Classic. 

They were stripped and carefully rebuilt for the 2500km rally. 

The front-wheel drive Alpines are powered by a 105kW 1.4-litre four cylinder engine, with a five-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel disc brakes. 

The cars weigh 870kg and have a top speed of 190km/h. 

Three Frenchmen, Jean Ragnotti, Alain Serpaggi and Manu Guigou, have been selected to drive the cars from the start in Reims on to the finish in Monaco.

It was Ragnotti in car (N19) that steered to second place overall in the 1978 Rallye Monte-Carlo.