Monaco Historic Grand Prix: a Thrash of Classic Racing Rumble

The Historic Grand Prix is the Monaco race that deserves much more attention

The month of May is the perfect month for any automotive enthusiast. Car events and races are taking the region by storm: Formula 1 Grand Prix, e-prix, Cars & Coffee etc. are just a partial list.

But there is one race that absolutely takes the cake – the Monaco Historic Grand Prix.
There’s just something so special about rare racing cars owned by private owners (rather than groups like modern racing), competing viciously on the most iconic track in the world.

Add that to the absolute raucous, extremely loud thundering engines humming in the most iconic track in the world and the rarity of the cars and you couldn’t help but becoming an absolute enthusiast of vintage racing.

The best of all times, literally

The GPH takes authentic racing cars only to its event, from all eras (aged 35 years minimum). Everything from pre-war cars to 3L F1 monsters from the 1980s are competing with no limits.

The schedule

Day 1: free practice.
The first day of the GPH starts with the arrival of the competitors to the paddock (Quai Antoine 1er). Visitors can enter freely (!) to the paddock, watch (and hear) all the cars and even speak to the owners and mechanics.

Day 2: qualifications.
Just like any F1 Grand Prix, the second day starts the racing phase for qualifiers to set the fastest time.
This will eventually determine their position on the grid in the following day – the race day. To have access to the racing premises on qualifications day and on, a ticket is required to spectate the act.

Day 3: race day.
Race day starts early as 10 categories have to race, each one takes 30-45 minutes.
This is a one of a kind experience.
How many events in the world let you see racing cars from all times competing for a prize on the same day?!

Incredible driving, unique cars and legendary drivers

Sounds of straight exhaust pipes, odors of leaded fuel and festive ambiance are the definition of otopy for any car enthusiast.
You just feel like you entered a time machine.
You can live the ’30s, ’50s or ’80s all over again. Times when there were barely any restrictions, for better and for worst.
No electrifications and way less filters and driving aids between the driver and the road. You can really feel that nothing other than making the cars fast at all costs was in the mind of the organizers.

Racing with a view

As a publishing media, we got access to all shooting areas, were you get to stand a few centimeters away (if you have the guts) from the rumbling cars driving on the absolute edge. Starting the second day you can really see how racing was truly back then.

From the 60s category you can really sense the speed the cars are carrying.
The contrast between the power, weight and thin wheels is both impressive and insane. Driving those cars is just straight, oversteer, masterpiece.
You can see and feel the amount of work and skill the drivers are required to control the cars.

Sliding the car is a common phenomenon in the curves, which shows the spectacular way of racing back then.

All sorts of automotive celebrities came to watch the event: Max Verstappen, Toto Wolf and even Charles Leclerc.
The latter was given a rare chance to drive the iconic ex-Nikki Lauda 1972 F1 Ferrari 312B3.

The Monegasque racing driver was lucky enough to have driven the car, but was less lucky as he lost the brakes at Rascasse corner due to break system failure that led him to crash the rear of the car.
Being more or less the single eventful drama of the race, schedule continued as planned.

Wrapping up

The mere sight of anything near a pre/post-war racing cars is an absolute mind boggling event and here you have the best of the lot giving everything in Monaco.

After this event as a motoring enthusiast I’ve been asking myself a serious, bold question. Does the GPH makes modern-day F1 racing look overhyped?
Is the cliché “they don’t make these as they used to” right than ever?
Honestly, I think it does. The variety, private owners and mechanic complexity and differences from each category is just fascinating to hear and watch. More serious, festive and involving by any measure and the best part is – it is not half as busy as today’s F1 GP, so you actually feel connected to the live action.
The Monaco Historic Grand Prix is a fantasy any gear-head should experience.

The 14th edition of the Grand Prix Historique will take place on the 10-12 of May 2024.

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Monaco Historic Grand Prix

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