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Lewis Hamilton perfectly started his Monegasque week-end by setting the fastest time of the first free practice session. He got the best time of the morning in 1’13’’425 and also beat the previous track record held by Kimi Räikkönen since 2006 (1’13’’532).
The championship leader Sebastian Vettel took the second fastest time two tenths (+.0.196) behind the Mercedes driver. The four-time world champion finished ahead the Red Bull of Max Verstappen (+0.346) and the other Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas (+0.366).
Close to the win last year in the Principality, Daniel Ricciardo (+0.429) realised the fifth fastest time while Jenson Button signed the fourteenth time for his come back in Formula 1.
The Frenchman Sacha Fenestraz has dominated the free practice session of the Formula Renault Eurocup. The Josef Kaufmann Racing’s driver set the fastest time of the day in 1’31’’583. He took the best time six tenth ahead Alex Peroni (+0.608) and the championship leader Robert Shwartzman (+0.646).
Fastest man this morning, Charles Leclerc confirmed his abilities at home setting the pole position during qualifying session of the Formula 2. The Monegasque took his third pole in a row after Bahrain and Spain in 1’19’’309.
The Prema Racing driver will start ahead of Alexander Albon (2e) and Oliver Rowland (3e). Seventh time of the day, Nyck De Vries will lose three places on the grid and will finally start tenth because of his Spanish’s penalty.
Deprived of a first win in the Principality last year by a very long pit-stop, Daniel Ricciardo hopes that luck will finally turn in this season on his second home race.
« Monaco is definitely my favourite track to drive, said the current fifth in the championship. It is so tight, so intimidating. From the outside some of the sequences looks impossible to go through at the speed we do. Once you are in the car it’s an amazing feeling. »
Famous for its selectivity, the 3,337 km long circuit does not allow any leap of concentration from the drivers. Without comfortable run-off areas like most of modern circuits, « Smiling » knows that he will have to touch the limit and never surpass it.
« If you kiss the wall it actually makes you want to do it again as opposed to scaring you, explains the Aussie. The whole spectacle of the week-end just makes it something unique and special. »
© Jean-François Galeron
Revelation of the start of the season, Esteban Ocon has never stopped to strengthen since its arrival at Force India. Fifth of the last meeting in Spain, the Frenchman will be race in Monaco for the first time this week-end.
« Driving in Monaco is going to be a new experience for me, said the member of the Mercedes Young Driver Program. I’ve never raced there before. I used to come and watch the Formula One races when I was young, but I never had the opportunity to race there. »
Determined to shine in the Principality, Force India’s driver carefully prepared the sixth round of the championship by spending many hours on the simulator. Aware that he will not have to be impatient on track, the Frenchman wants to be competitive ahead of its many fans.
« It’s a very special place and I always feel a sense of history when I go there, said Esteban. The city is forever linked with Formula One and it’s currently the number one race of the year. For the drivers it gives a big rush of adrenaline and everybody knows it’s a big challenge. »
© Jean-François Galeron
Recruited by Renault to replace Kevin Magnussen, Nico Hulkenberg was kick to justify the confidence placed in him by the French team. Extremely strong in qualifying, the German also get three consecutive entries in the points before to start the most legendary race of the calendar.
« There is no track like Monaco , said the 2015 24 Hours of le Mans winner. It’s the highlight of the year. It’s unique and special in every aspect. There is no place like it to give you a sensation of speed. »
If he didn’t manage a good performance each year on the Monegasque track, the Renault’s driver hopes to get a good result in 2017. But to reach his goal on Sunday, the German knows that a good starting grid is essential. »
« Overtaking is hard but it is a thrilling race and a huge challenge, reveals Nico. Physically is not the most demanding track, but mentally it’s a really tough one. You have to keep all the time a high level of concentration. I really love racing at Monaco . »
© Jean-François Galeron
The FIA Formule E Championship’s leader : Sébastien Buemi (Renault E.dams) won the 2nd edition of the Monaco ePrix.The Swiss pilot, who indeed earned his first pole position of the season for the 5th race of the Championship, wins in the Principality of Monaco his 4th race and wins for the second time in as many editions the race in Monaco .
The next Grand Prix de Monaco Historique will mark the 11th edition of this prestigious event (May 11-13, 2018) in the Principality. The Organizing Committee and the Historic Department of Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) have already made three crucial decisions.
Following a request by drivers willing to enter pre-war cars, the A-series (organized in 2016 as a demonstration event) is coming back, as a race, in order to become THE unmissable world meeting for this category of Grand Prix cars, which were called “Formula 1” as soon as World War II ended. We expect huge success for this race, and this should pave the way for an expansion of the A-series.
The Sport race has also been rethought, in order to present a panel of the most beautiful sportscars of the first after-war decade. Without eliminating, of course, cars that took part, in 1952, in the one and only Grand Prix de Monaco reserved to sportscars.
Finally, the smallest single-seaters (Formula Junior and F3), for which Monaco represented kind of a World Championship, will not be part of the 2018 program. One might regret it but ACM intends to focus even more on Formula 1, the absolute pinnacle of speed racing.
Including the pre-war A-series, over 180 Grand Prix cars will be selected for both their historical value and their degree of authenticity. They will enter proper races on the mythical track of the Principality of Monaco .
In fairness, this 2018 edition will be rare and exceptional for all spectators, whether you consider the global picture or give a closer look to the menu: five distinct starting grids covering the first thirty years of the Formula 1 World Championship, a unique sight for motor racing fans, worldwide collectors and nostalgic enthusiasts.
During two and a half days, all competitors will share their passion for high level motor racing with thousands of fans. The cars will not be parked in a closed room but involved in endless racing moments, noise and smell included, against their rivals of the old times when they all chased a win in the heart of the Principality of Monaco . On a mythical track where 80% of the straight lines and turns are exactly the same as in 1929, and still used every year for the most glamorous Grand Prix of the Formula 1 World Championship.
The Automobile Club de Monaco organizes since 1997 the Grand Prix Historique de Monaco , always running two weeks before the Grand Prix de Monaco de Formule 1. This competition gathers collection cars lovers every two years at the heart of the Principality.
This eleventh edition will take place from May 11 to May 13, 2018. Cars that can participate are listed below, sorted by race.
7 Races – Restricted to cars that took part in International Races & that are in conformity with the regulations for the relevant period
Pre-war Grand Prix Cars and Voiturette
Pre-1961 front-engine F1 Grand Prix and F2 cars
B.1: Cars built between January 1st 1946 and December 31st 1953 fitted with a supercharged engine of maximum capacity 1500cc or with an unsupercharged engine of maximum capacity 4500 cc.
B.2: Formula 2 cars built before December 31st, 1953, fitted with an unsupercharged engine and a maximum capacity of 2000cc.
B.3: Formula 1 cars built between January 1st, 1954 and December 31st, 1960, fitted with an unsupercharged engine of a maximum capacity 2500cc, or with a supercharged engine of maximum capacity 750cc.
Front-engine Sport and Prototype Racing cars with engine capacity of 2L or more and which raced between 1952 – 1957 inclusive
C.1: Cars equipped with a 2L engine.
C.2: Cars equipped with an engine of over 2L and drum brakes.
C.2: Cars equipped with an engine of over 2L and disk brakes.
F1 Grand Prix cars from 1961 to 1965 inclusive
D.1: Cars fitted with 4 or 6 cylinder engine.
D.2: Cars fitted with 8 or 12 cylinder engine.
F1 Grand Prix cars from 1966 to 1972 inclusive
E.1: Cars having participated in F1 Grand Prix races between January 1st 1966 and December 31st 1969.
E.2: Cars built between January 1st 1970 and December 31st 1972 equipped with a Ford-Cosworth DFV engine.
E.3: Cars built between January 1st 1970 and December 31st 1972 equipped with any other make/type of engine.
F1 Grand Prix cars, from 1973 to 1976 inclusive
F.1: Cars equipped with a Ford-Cosworth DFV engine.
F.2: Cars equipped with any other make/type of engine.
F1 Grand Prix cars, from 1977 to 1980 inclusive
G.1: F1 Grand Prix cars designed without ground effect.
G.2: F1 Grand Prix cars designed with ground effect equipped with a Ford-Cosworth DFV engine.
G.3: F1 Grand Prix cars designed with ground effect equipped with any other make/type of engine.
Some cars have marked their times, in a specific way. Renault 8 Gordini is one of them, so Renault decided in 2017 to enter four of them in this rally. One of the most popular sportscar ever produced, Renault 8 Gordini guaranteed a top speed of 175 km/h at a very affordable price.
Born in 1964, it allowed awhole generation of drivers to start enjoying a very sportyway to drive. Because the «Gorde» (its nickname) was ready for it, thanks to a pack of changes brought to its road car base, the Renault 8 Major. Amédée Gordini, nicknamed the “Sorcerer”, doubled the power avaiable, thanks to a new cylinder head and two superb Weber carburettors.
Suspensions, steering, brakes and additional equipment go well with the top speed of 175 km/h. They fully justify the round dials and the white stripes on the legendary blue livery. Born with a 1,108 cc engine, this little bomb was equipped with 1,255 cc in 1966, as well as two extra round lights giving it a famous look.
The same year, the “Gordini Cup” was launched, in order to make themyth evenmorepopular.
Many drivers started racing in a R8 Gordini and remember it well. In 1970, the Renault 8 Gordini was replaced by a Renault 12 Gordini.
Renault enters four Renault 8 Gordini in Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique 2017.
The Renault Classic crews start from Barcelona on Friday January 27, aiming to reach the chequered flag in Monaco on Wednesday February 1st.
• Crew #5 : Manu Guigou / Jean-Pierre Prevot
• Crew #8 : Jean Ragnotti / Sebastien Delanney
• Crew#12 : Michel Leclere / MichelDuvernay
• Crew#14 : Guillaume Chancel / François-Paul Forgeoux
The four Renault 8 Gordini entered by Renault Classic this year in the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique are using Michelin tires X M+S 89 (135×15) which proved their worth along previous editions.
(extract of The Quotidien#3)
