Posted on June 13, 2018.
Report and pics by Edward Brown
Biennially, two weeks before Formula One arrives in the Principality, the Automobile Club du Monaco stages the Grand Prix Historique, undoubtedly one of the most prestigious historic events on the European calendar.
With a record entry of more than 200 cars and 40,000 spectators, such has become the popularity and accessibility of the event, that for the 11eme Historique free practice and qualifying took place on both Friday and Saturday, with racing on Sunday, supported by three collector’s car auctions;
Bonhams, La Vigie, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
RM Sothebys, Grimaldi Forum
Coys, Espace Fontvielle
Special mention needs to be made of:
– a harbour-side Maserati display
– circuit demonstration of the unique Lamborghini Marzal by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco
– F1 Heritage Parade, led by double World Champion Mikka Hakkinen, Emmauele Pirro, Ricardo Patrese, Thierry Boutsen and Ulstermen John Watson and Eddie Irvine
Headline sponsor Chopard, in partnership with the Porsche Museum, provided a 1960 718, 1962 Type 804, 1969 911 and 1973 936 for weekend lunchtime demonstrations by six time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx and his daughter Vanina supported by marque ambassadors Derek Bell and Vic Elford. The shrill sound of the 804’s flat eight-cylinder air cooled engine created much pit-lane attention, alongside members of the Automobile Club du Monaco’s car display, where an immaculate Ferrari 250SWB and Daytona coupe caught my eye.
Much has been written about the on-track action elsewhere, here were my highlights:
– Jumped starts from Julian Bronson (Scarab F1) and Nick Padmore (Lotus 16) in Serie B resulted in drive-through penalties for both and repeat, back-to-back victories by six seconds for Scotsman Tony Wood (TecMec Maserati), whilst the record crowd enjoyed the harbour-side sun and Dr Klaus Lehr’s superb car control aboard his 1948 Talbot Lago T26C.
– Chris Ward drove a peerless race in Derek Hood’s Cooper Jaguar to secure a rain-soaked Serie C, for pre-’52 sports-cars, and the organisers deserve much praise for securing a fantastic entry of multiple Maserati A6GCS and 300S.
– Serie D looked set to provide possibly the weekend’s only Ferrari win, as Joe Colassaco (racing Fratelli Auriana’s 1512), chased multiple UK saloon car champion Andy Middlehurst aboard Classic Team Lotus’s 24 hard. Sadly it was not to be and after a race-long dice, the latter also achieved back-to-back wins by a scant 0.6 secs.
– The weekend’s closest winning margin (0.4 secs) and undoubtedly one of Europe’s best historic races for many years was Serie E; 2003 Formula 3000 champion Bjorn Wirdheim (March 711) was pressured relentlessly by current GT racer and former FIA WEC GTE Am class champion, Stuart Hall (aboard Roald Goethe’s McLaren M19A). Despite the safety car intervention to remove a stranded competitor, third place Michael Lyons was some distance behind the leading duo.
The full results of all the racing are posted here.
The Grand Prix Historique routinely marks the start of a hectic six weeks in Northern Europe, most especially in Italy. With the recent completion of the Mille Miglia retrospective and prestigious Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este, the collectors car season is now in top gear, heading towards Modena for the annual Cento Ore and to Bassano del Grappa in the stunning Veneto region, for La Leggenda.
Just enough time to post this, pack some more euro’s and seek out some Ferrari V12 parts on the way…see you there!
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Double F1 World Champion and long-time Monaco resident Mikka Hakkinen lead the Legends of F1 demonstration -
Jean-Jacques Bally's uniquely liveried Gordini attracted much attention in the Quai Antoine paddock -
Sometime F1 racer and Channel 4 pit-lane presenter Karun Chandhok shares his circuit tips with former McLaren F1 and Jaguar Group C racer, John Watson -
...before taking the wheel of the Williams Heritage Collection's FW08C -
Versatile historic racer Michael Lyons raced his family's McLaren M23 to third place in Serie E -
Roberton Crippa's Ferrari 750 Monza was sadly a non-starter in the rain-soaked Serie C -
RM Sotheby's offered a wide variety of lots at its biennial auction, including the ex Bruno Senna 2007 Ferrari F430 Challenge -
Bonhams presented one of their star lots at the upcoming 25th Goodwood Festival of Speed auction, the ex Scuderia Ferrari 1934 Alfa Romeo P3 monoposto -
Historic racer and former British Hillclimb Champion David Franklin drove a superb Serie C in Arnold Meier's 1952 Ferrari 225
