Grand Prix Historique Monaco 2022 | Events

21 May 2022 Redazione Events, Lifestyle, News

GRAND PRIX HISTORIQUE MONACO 2022

Words and Photos by Roberto Marrone

Among the many motor shows, rallies and competitions, there is an event that I consider the number one in the world: it is the Monaco Grand Prix Historique. Here cars are back to life and make the public relive unforgettable memories, roaring again while screaming their engines and it really doesn’t matter if we’re talking about 1.5 or 3-liter. The carburettors open like there’s no tomorrow, people in the paddock work tirelessly to optimize performance, with continuous spark plug changes, fine-tuned held even personally by those who do not have a team at their disposal. It may seem unusual, but it is intoxicating to breathe that smell of petrol and oil, it feels like pure oxygen for enthusiasts. All those dark dots on the ground – which under modern cars we are not used to see – it is as if they mark their territory.

Lineup ranges from incredible Bugattis, with those thin wheels that they almost look like bicycles, up to the Formula 1 of the 80s, but there is no shortage of prestigious GTs (some saved by a random museum). The quality is on top levels, gentlemen drivers are often young talents who are certainly not afraid to push hard on the throttle along the tortuous circuit of the Principality, but often you meet legendary drivers, or collectors who do not intend to stare and polish their creatures in a garage and want to experience the thrill of tackling a race track, even when their bellies struggle to squeeze into the cramped cockpits. This is proper passion!

Supported by an impeccable and attentive organization, the event takes place over three days: free practice, qualifying and races. Obviously, the various groups are divided both by period and type, but even if the maximum ambition for each competitor remains the top step of the podium, I believe that the mere fact of participating is already an immense satisfaction. It should be noted that we have pink drivers as well here and already from the first laps we had a pleasant surprise as Claudia Hurtgen got the fastest lap on a Ferrari 246 – in section A2 – just before winning the race the following day. Not just challenging vehicles to tame, here there are no electronic wizardries, power steering, ultra-powerful brakes and therefore it is all in the skills of the drivers to adapt according to the quality of the car and this is how we get to see with great pleasure plenty of counter-steering, controlled skidding, all spectacular things that modern cars no longer offer us. Today even Formula 1 cars with those huge wheels drift with power.

There’s more, ‘cause each group features cars ranging through different years and consequently the performances can also be very different. For those on track this is an additional difficulty to deal with. In MonteCarlo, you know, the track is pretty tight and every mistake can be very damaging as well as burdensome, but certainly everyone has taken this into account, otherwise they would not be here in first place. Among the single-seaters ready to leave the pit, Lotus undoubtedly plays a big role this year, thanks to a plethora of different models, from the British Racing Green liveries to the splendid J.P.S. where the model 72 remains perhaps the most fascinating Formula 1 ever made. Between paddock and box it is easy to meet famous drivers of yesterday and we see some of them getting ready for the race as well; there is no shortage of well-known faces and young talents of contemporary F1, but on the other hand this is the ultimate petrolhead’s playground.

There was also the opportunity to lap the track on vintage sports cars between one session of the various categories and another and the choice was really wide and of the highest level, including a majestic Lagonda, Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari Daytona Spider, Jaguar XK120 OTS, Jaguar XK150 Cabrio, Jaguar E-Type OTS, Ford Mustang Cabrio, Mercedes 190 SL Cabrio and Citroen DS Cabrio. A unique opportunity that I did not miss, obviously aboard the beloved E-Type.