It's May it must be
Monte!
The Monaco Grand Prix is the greatest motor race in the world.
For one week at the end of May every year, a certain loop of roads, running smack through Monaco's busiest areas, become the focus of attention for the world famous Monaco Grand Prix.
The Automobile Club de Monaco hosts the event - you can book tickets online - but their site often becomes overwhelmed during races.
The Monaco Grand Prix is the greatest motor race in the world.
For one week at the end of May every year, a certain loop of roads, running smack through Monaco's busiest areas, become the focus of attention for the world famous Monaco Grand Prix.
The Automobile Club de Monaco hosts the event - you can book tickets online - but their site often becomes overwhelmed during races.
The route
Clockwise, starting at the Port, up the ramp straight past the Casino, down the winding Spelugues on the other side, to the Fairmont Hotel, or Loews, tunnel, then the chicane, back towards the port, turn left along the base of the Port, below the swimming pool, to the far end of the port, below the Rock, then double back at the Rascasse restaurant back to the finish line above the swimming pool. Click here for a satellite view of the track.
Clockwise, starting at the Port, up the ramp straight past the Casino, down the winding Spelugues on the other side, to the Fairmont Hotel, or Loews, tunnel, then the chicane, back towards the port, turn left along the base of the Port, below the swimming pool, to the far end of the port, below the Rock, then double back at the Rascasse restaurant back to the finish line above the swimming pool. Click here for a satellite view of the track.
Preparations
At the end of April every year preparations for the race begin. First of all, the whole track is completely repaved, to provide a very smooth, clean and even surface. The authorities have this down to a fine art. The process only takes about a week, with minimum disruption to daily traffic as the work is largely done at night.
All normal road markings and signals are removed and replaced with Formula One track markings. This means that for about a month there are no lane markings, pedestrian crossings, bus lanes and no-parking signs !! The result is a complete free-for-all for the daily traffic, which seems to move much faster and more efficiently than normal !! This is a great time to test-drive the track. Speed limits still apply… In the week before the race many a Ferrari can be heard revving round the Principality in the early hours of the morning.
Then the barriers and stands start to go up. The barriers both protect spectators and conceal the spectacle from non-paying watchers.
At the end of April every year preparations for the race begin. First of all, the whole track is completely repaved, to provide a very smooth, clean and even surface. The authorities have this down to a fine art. The process only takes about a week, with minimum disruption to daily traffic as the work is largely done at night.
All normal road markings and signals are removed and replaced with Formula One track markings. This means that for about a month there are no lane markings, pedestrian crossings, bus lanes and no-parking signs !! The result is a complete free-for-all for the daily traffic, which seems to move much faster and more efficiently than normal !! This is a great time to test-drive the track. Speed limits still apply… In the week before the race many a Ferrari can be heard revving round the Principality in the early hours of the morning.
Then the barriers and stands start to go up. The barriers both protect spectators and conceal the spectacle from non-paying watchers.
The race
The racing starts on the Wednesday or Thursday of Grand Prix week, with preliminary rounds and testing for the Grand Prix and the other lesser races. Lap times on the Saturday will determine the all important starting order for the race proper on the Sunday afternoon. Pole position is particularly important on the Monaco circuit as the track is so narrow and winding, making overtaking opportunities few and far between.
The racing starts on the Wednesday or Thursday of Grand Prix week, with preliminary rounds and testing for the Grand Prix and the other lesser races. Lap times on the Saturday will determine the all important starting order for the race proper on the Sunday afternoon. Pole position is particularly important on the Monaco circuit as the track is so narrow and winding, making overtaking opportunities few and far between.
