When the 2011 Monaco Grand
Prix stopped at lap 72 in a rare race restart this year, many Formula
One racing fans commented that the red-flagged period detracted from both the winner
Sebastian Vettel’s glory, as well as the prestigious finish the Monte Carlo track has become known for since
its first opening in 1929. Fans and critics alike agreed that Vettel, who holds the title of being the
youngest Formula
One driver in history to drive at a Grand Prix meeting, would have likely maintained
his lead for the six remaining laps. However, the unusual pause, in combination with the course’s difficulty,
bred speculation as to whether or not he would have actually been able to fend off competing racers Fernando
Alonso and Jenson Button.
Monaco’s famed track has
earned its esteemed reputation through the intimidating level of difficulty on the narrow course. Built on
the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine, the circuit features many tight corners. Even racing legend
and triple Formula
One champion, Nelson Piquet acknowledged that trying to navigate the bends at Monaco’s
circuit was like trying to cycle around his living room. Other features of the tricky course include
elevation changes and an infamous tunnel that demands drivers adjust their vision to the changing light upon
emerging at the fastest point of the track. The many difficulties of the tight course even impede the actual
speed of the race, as drivers must be wary of quick acceleration that may result in careening into the
surrounding walls or even worse, Monaco’s yacht-filled harbourfront.
The difficulty, in
combination with the fact that the race is one of the only ones in the world that has been held on the same
circuit every year, has led the Monaco circuit to become part of the illusive Triple Crown. An unofficial
title, the Triple Crown is bestowed upon any driver who has won the Indianapolis 500 Mile
Race, 24 Hours of Le
Mans and of course, the Monaco Grand
Prix. To
this day, the one and only person to have achieved all three wins is British racer Graham Hill, who
convincingly conquered the Monaco circuit by winning in 1963, 1964, 1965 and
1969.
Hill is one of the
significant names included in the Monaco Grand Prix’s history and the first organizer, Anthony Noghès, is
another. As the son of Automobile Club de
Monaco (ACM) owner, Alexandre Noghès, Anthony sought to upgrade his father’s auto club to full
national status. In 1928, he applied to the Association International des Automobiles Clubs Reconnus (AIACR)
to achieve the title, but was refused due to the lack of major motor sport events held within Monaco. To get
the upgrade, he proposed creating the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo and soon saw his dream come to fruition with
supporters such as Monaco’s Prince Louis II and top-level European Grand Prix driver, Louis
Chiron.
The first race in 1929 was
invitation only and while automakers such as Maserati and Alfa
Romeo skipped out on the race, others such as Bugatti and Mercedes-Benz participated in what would be later become the first of nearly 85
Monaco Grand
Prix races. In 1933, the Monaco Grand
Prix was
recognized by the AIACR as one of the most important races in Europe, ranking as an International Grand Prix
alongside some of the most famous European courses. Since then, it has weathered cancellations due to
overpriced appearance fees, the Second World War and the death of Prince Louis II as well as the replacement
of the AIACR by the Federation Internationale de
l’Automobile (FIA).
FIA, who created the
Formula
One premier racing category in 1946, inducted the Monaco Grand
Prix in
1948. In 1955, the race was fixed as part of the Formula One World Championship and has continued to be a
part of the championship each year, as run by the ACM. In 2004, Prince Rainier was awarded the first FIA Gold
Medal for Motor Sport, with the organization deeming the Monaco race to be “not just a formidable challenge
to drivers and machines, not just an exceptional location of glamour and prestige, but a place which has
hosted more FIA World Championship events than any other place in the world.”
Perhaps a young Vettel was
lucky to have had the uncommon break, which allowed him to replace his tires and maintain his lead with just
six laps to go. Or perhaps, the driver’s real luck was to have driven at all, on the track that is the
legendary Monaco Grand
Prix.
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Photo
Courtesy: Jean Marc
Follete
