Sports Reporter: The Glamour that is Monaco

On Wednesday (but who really knew what day it was), a gloriously sunny 80 degree day, we traveled to a jewel of the Mediterranean, Monaco. They have been racing cars in the streets of Monaco for practically as long as there have been cars, and every year the Formula 1 circus moves into town for a weekend. There are so many things that are just crazy about the street circuit in Monaco, but it has just become such a tradition and prize, the Grand Prix of Monaco is one that every driver wants to win most of all.

The circuit is simply insane by today’s standards. The fact that a Formula 1 race car can weave is way around the 2.075 mile track, by the Gucci and Hermes stores, around Casino square, thru the tunnel, and around the swimming pool, all in as fast as 1 minute and 14 seconds at an average speed of over 100 mph, with maximum speeds over 175 mph is truly insane. And having seen just how tight and windy the track is, this is even more impressive. One driver described it as having a bicycle race in your living room, and I don’t think he was far off.


The race occurs usually on the Sunday of what is Memorial Day weekend in the States. As Laura mentioned, the idea of actually attending this race seems quite daunting, between the massive cost of accommodation, the cost and limited seating (celebrities eat up many of those seats), we took this opportunity to just have a walk around.

We arrived at the underground train station and made our way through the marble-lined tunnel and emerged basically right at turn 1 of the track, Sainte Devote. You are basically standing in the escape road, where if a driver doesn’t think he is going to make the turn, he can safely abort. If he misses the corner and the escape road, the only other option is the tire barrier and an early end to the day.


Our plan was to simply walk the circuit, in the direction of the race of course. Turn 1 is close enough to the start, so off we went. We did the uphill climb up Beau Rivage rising above the harbor front. We took the branch off to the right and continued right in front of all the super high class shops. We then turned left at Massenet into Casino Square. The legendary Monte Carlo Casino is on your right and the Hotel de Paris on the left. (Monte Carlo is a neighborhood in Monaco, the one in which most of the race occurs.)











We followed the track down toward Mirabeau and saw where the side street comes in with its crowned profile, and the drivers swerve around every lap or risk being pushed off of the ideal line. Around Mirabeau, we headed down to probably the most famous turn in all of Formula 1. Not the most exciting, Eau Rouge is a top candidate there, but by far the most recognizable. The Grand Hotel (now the Fairmont Hotel) Hairpin turn of Monaco. It is truly a complete 180 degree turn.








Two more quick rights and thru Portier and you are diving into the tunnel. Yup, part of the track is a tunnel, and it is one of the fastest parts of the track. As we walked through, I tried to imagine the incredible deafening scream that a Formula 1 car would produce here. It was hard to imagine.











You blast out of the tunnel and immerge on the harbor front. A tight left/right at the Nouvelle Chicane, and the track continues right along where all of the super yachts of the richer than rich are parked. There is the sharp tight left that is Tabac, and you are heading right for the swimming pool. It is a lovely pool. Can’t imagine it would be very relaxing on a race weekend. Another tight left/right and then immediate right left around the pool and you continue along the harbor front.











Next is the tight right hander around La Rescasse, the old restaurant that I think is a night club these days. A short blast of speed and then another tight right at Anthony Noghes, and you are on the start finish straight.








We walked through what is the pit lane and complex. You would have absolutely no idea what goes on there during a race weekend. There is quite simply nothing there. Not a single structure or anything. It is ALL temporarily built up for the race. The only indication, if you are looking for it, are the lines faintly left that designate the lane, and the ACM plates (Automobile Club of Monaco) that cover the holes were all the barricade supports which line the track.








We finally came to the start finish line along the Prince Albert Boulevard. Again, it is just remarkable how narrow everything is. All just a sight to be seen. You can barely tell that one weekend a year, this town for the super rich, is overrun with screaming race cars and all the excess that goes along with it.