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Tallinn was one of the starting points for the Monte Carlo rally in 1930–1939; as of 2011, the legendary competition is driven by electric cars. 2018 marks the first time that the electric car marathon follows the route from the Tallinn–Monte Carlo rally, which was held in the 1930s and was driven along the Baltics Sea coast and through France.
The competitions are organised in two categories: among teams of universities from six countries (these teams will be using the electric car Nissan Leaf EV) and in the so-called free class which accepts owners of electric cars of various makes. The marathon is driven through 10 countries, with stage finishes in 30 cities and the final finish is on the square in front of the Prince's Palace of Monaco.
The marathon of electric cars is a unique competition on European roads. All team members have to achieve the same race time as the referee’s car, which starts 10 minutes before the participants at each stage of the competition. If a regular rally can be called a battle of the gladiators, then the rally of electric cars is more of a chess game on European roads.
The first postage stamp displays the winning car Hotchkiss in 1933 and the other one shows the Pobeda, which has been converted into a electric car in Estonia and which will be competing for the sixth time and has become the mascot of the rally.