MONACO IS, QUITE SIMPLY, the highlight of the Formula One calendar – year in, year out. And has been since the event’s inception in 1929 when racing engines first reverberated around the tight streets of the Principality,
That happened, of course, after cigarette manufacturer Antony Noghes decided to organise a race with his mates from the Automobile Club de Monaco.
At just 200 hectares, Monaco is considered the world’s second-smallest country – only the Vatican is smaller. The Grimaldi/Rainier dynasties have held the reins of the tiny country for a cool 725 years!
The total length of this historic track – which has hosted 68 races – is just 3.337 kilometres, and the most successful driver in terms of wins is Ayrton Senna.
The legendary Brazilian was first past the chequered flag on every occasion from 1987 to 1993, with the sole exception of 1988 when he retired on lap 66 while leading.
Monaco has the lowest average lap speed of the whole championship, at around 150kph.
Most unpredictable race of them all
“Monaco has written its own chapter in the history of Formula 1,” Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director, reminds us. “The characteristics of this unique circuit, largely unaltered for more than 60 years, make it a true one-off that has often sprung surprises.
“No other track can allow a driver to compensate for any technical shortcomings of their car in the same way, and just one incident can shake things up entirely.
“The difficulty of overtaking can sometimes detract from the spectacle in the race, but that only makes Saturday’s qualifying all the more exciting, as grid position assumes a particular importance to the final result on Sunday.”
The three softest compounds in the Pirelli Formula 1 range take to the track in Monaco this weekend: C3 as the P Zero White hard, the C4 Yellow medium and C5 Red soft.
There’s very little grip and limited wear at Monaco, so the softest compounds offer a good level of adhesion when it comes to traction.
But mechanical grip is limited. This doesn’t prevent some sliding: a determining factor in surface graining.
Despite the deluge which destroyed last week’s event at Imola, and the downpour last year where Monaco started under heavy rain, the weather this weekend looks decidedly pleasant.
Monte Carlo, Monaco
All types of tyre were brought to Monaco for the ’22 Grand Prix: Cinturato Blue full wet, Cinturato Green intermediate, and all three slick compounds.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perezpersevered to take the win in that race, from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Cheko’s teammate Max Verstappen.
This is where Daniel Ricciardo won in 2018, so don’t be surprised to see him around and about.
On a dry track, the race is nearly always a one-stopper for everybody, although the inclement weather last year most drivers stopped three times.
Strange, perhaps. But the track is open every evening!
“We’re heading to a Monaco Grand Prix that’s somewhat different to what we expected.
“It should have been the second race of a European triple-header but instead it’s going to be the first due to the cancellation of Imola.
“Those images of devastation are still fresh in our minds and we want to express our solidarity once more with the families of the victims, as well as all those who have suffered such huge losses.
“As is often the case on street circuits, Pirelli has nominated the softest tyres in the range.
“One of the peculiarities of Monaco is the fact that the track is opened to normal traffic every evening, which means that it’s very hard for rubber to build up on the racing line, making the surface even more slippery.
“With Imola having been scrubbed, Monaco could now become the debut for the new Cinturato Blue full wet without tyre blankets, obviously depending on weather conditions: another potential random factor this weekend.”
MARIO ISOLA – MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR
• The Cinturato Blue full wet tyres will be used throughout the rest of the season.
Circuit de Monaco (WST)
Practice 1 Friday 19:30 Practice 2 23:00
Practice 3 Saturday 18:30 Qualifying 22:00
Race Sunday 21:00
Next Up
Spain, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
June 2-4
Théo Pourchairearrives at Monacoat the top of the F2 drivers’ standings with 65 points, after the disaster of Imola.
Driving for ART Grand Prix, the Frenchman is only three points clear of Prema Racing’s Frederik Vesti and is aiming for a strong weekend to ensure his championship advantage remains intact.
Ayumu Iwasa (DAMS) is third with 58 points, ahead of another Prema Racing driver Oliver Bearman with 41 points. Meanwhile Aussie Jack Doohan is fast running out of time, sitting back in 13th.
After the race weekend way back in Melbourne, F3 returns to action for the fourth round of the season. Trident’s Gabriel Bortoleto leads the drivers’ standings with 58 points, with Grégoire Saucy (ART Grand Prix) chasing him, 20 points away.
Behind them is Prema Racing’s Dino Beganovic, level on 28 points with the Italian Gabriele Minì of Hitech Pulse-Eight.
P2 on debut in Nürburgring 24h
One of the toughest races in the world!
It was a debut to remember for Mercedes-AMG Junior Driver Jordan Love with a thoroughly deserved P2 finish in the ProAm class and P8 overall on his first appearance at the iconic ADAC TotalEnergies Nürburgring 24hr Mercedes-AMG Team Bilstein.
The Perth driver teamed up with teammates Arjun Maini and team owner Hubert Haupt behind the wheel of the Haupt Racing Team’s #6 Mercedes-AMG Team Bilstein in the SP9 class.
A successful opening three qualifying sessions saw them finish in P1 twice and P2 respectively, as the team guaranteed their place the top shootout on Friday afternoon.
Arjun later qualified P7 overall and P1 in the ProAM class on the grid for the fall of Saturday’s green flag.
A great start to the race saw he team running consistently in the top-ten.
Jordan completed a double stint during the night, and into the early hours of the morning, to leave the tasty Merc P7 overall and P2 in class, as the race moved into its final stages.
As competitors fell victim to one of the toughest races in the world Jordan, Arjun and Hubert and the #6 crew persevered to take the chequered flag P8 overall and P2 in ProAm.
• This marks an extraordinary achievement for Jordan with his maiden 24h Nürburgring appearance, and his third ever 24-hour race.
“First Nürburgring 24 Hour in the books and it was certainly one to remember for myself and the #6 crew!
“Definitely an experience I will not be forgetting anytime soon on such an iconic track and to claim a podium finish was the icing on the cake for a memorable debut weekend.
“A massive thank you to my fantastic teammates and the team at Mercedes-AMG for all their efforts.
“Let’s hope we can come back and do it all again next year!”
“First Nürburgring 24 Hour in the books and it was certainly one to remember for myself and the #6 crew!
“Definitely an experience I will not be forgetting anytime soon on such an iconic track and to claim a podium finish was the icing on the cake for a memorable debut weekend.
“A massive thank you to my fantastic teammates and the team at Mercedes-AMG for all their efforts.
“Let’s hope we can come back and do it all again next year!”
Coffs Harbour team Nathan Quinn and Ray Winwood- Smith won the second round of the 2023 Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship after taking out Heat 2 of the Make Smoking History Forest Rally.
The 2017 ARC Champion had been in second place for most of Sunday’s action until a one-minute penalty to leaders Harry Bates and Coral Taylor ahead of the EROAD Power Stage elevated them to top spot.
Quinn managed to bring his Hyundai i20 G4 home to third place on the final stage of the day – confirming his Heat win over reigning ARC Champions Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin.
Although Lewis and McLoughlin finished ahead of Quinn and Winwood-Smith in the event’s first heat, Sunday’s Heat win saw Quinn pick up the overall round win – a perfect West Australian debut for the NSW team.
Marco Giltrap wins at Symmons Plains. Image courtesy Porsche Motorsport
Kiwi drivers took honours at the weekend’s Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge at Symons Plains.
Pro guns Marco Giltrap and son-of-a-gun Ronan Murphy outclassed their rivals, while WA’s Michelin Junior #14 Caleb Sumich showed fine form to finished eighth and six in Races 2 and 3.
Fellow Sandgropers #22 Andrew Goldie and #66 Tim Wolfe had promising outings.
Wanneroo is gearing up for a return of full-on motor racing Saturday June 10 at Western Australia’s premier race circuit.
Entries opened earlier this week for an adrenaline-pumping weekend of motorsport action at CARCO.com.au Raceway.
You can expect exciting open wheel action from Formula Ford, FSR?, Formula Vee and Free Formula as Round 3 of the WA Championships gets underway.
If closed-roofed categories are more to your liking, Wanneroo also has you covered with Sports Sedans/Sports Cars, WA Muscle Cars and Historic Touring Cars.
It really is an action-packed day out for just $10 a car, so get family and friends together and enjoy a spectacle of great motorsport action at the tight 2.4km track.
Leave a Reply