Upcoming Events
Menu
The stars, however, and to the delight of those nostalgic for F1’s golden age, are likely to remain the 3-liter-engined single-seaters. Generally equipped with Ford Cosworth DFV V8s, their advent in 1966 fundamentally changed the image and reputation of F1. An expected field of 80 to 100 cars in Race D to G, all generally in a state of perfect preservation, capable of racing faster than fifty years ago on the streets of Monaco, in much better grip conditions and in complete safety.
Keen to preserve the identity of the Grand Prix, the organizers decided to keep the Race A1, reserved exclusively for pre-war cars, considering that the Bugatti cars (35, 37 and 51) and the Maserati are the DNA of the Monaco Grand Prix.
For the rest, the Race A2 (post-war, front-engines) and the Race C (sportscars) will continue unchanged, as will the five other F1 grids, which will present the evolution of Grand Prix racing over almost 40 years (from 1946 to 1985). Several tributes and anniversaries are already planned, in the authentic and majestic setting of the Principality’s circuit, and several fine pages of motor racing history will be turned, with sound, vibrations and smells included, during this 15th edition of Grand Prix Historique de Monaco:
100 years ago (1926), Maserati made its racing debut. In addition to their potential presence in the Race A1 (eligible models range type 26, 26B, 26C, 26M till 4CL passing through 8C, 4CM, V8RI, 8CM, 6C-34, 6CM and 8CTF), the beautiful and rebellious Italians involved in the Race A2 are, in addition to the 250F (Winners with Stirling Moss 70 years ago (1956) and with Juan-Manuel Fangio in 1957), the 4CL, 4CLT/48, A6GCM and A6GCM. In Race C, the ACM still hopes to count on the participation of 150S, 250S, and 300S.
80 years ago (1946), the first Gordini imagined by Amédée, the great French wizard of Italian descent, came out, and 70 years ago (1956), it was the last appearance, at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, of a Gordini in the championship. It wasn’t until Matra, in 1967 at Monaco, that a blue car appeared again in F1.
60 years ago (1966), new F1 engine regulations (3-liter, no turbo) came into force, allowing McLaren to make its Grand Prix debut. At the wheel was the brand’s founder, Bruce McLaren, winner of Monaco Grand Prix in 1962 in a Cooper-Climax that is now often entered in the historic version. Six decades later, the English team, now managed by Zak Brown, is at the forefront of modern F1 (Winner of the Constructors’ World Championship in 2024 for the first time since the late 90s). McLaren’s record in Monaco speaks for itself: 58 participations, with 15 wins, 11 pole positions and 28 podium finishes! However, the English brand’s last win in the Principality already dates back to 2008, thanks to a certain Lewis Hamilton.
It was also 60 years ago (1966), Guy Ligier made his debut in Formula One with a Cooper… powered by a Maserati V12 engine! 10 years later, 50 years ago (1976), Ligier made its F1 debut as Manufacturer at the Brazilian GP, with a Matra-powered JS5 driven by Jacques Laffite, which later became a JS7 in 1977. The car’s first claim to fame was a pole position in Italy, on the fast Monza track, thanks to the monstrous power of its French V12 engine. That same year, the young Alain Prost, future four-time F1 world champion, made his single-seater debut (and won the French Formula Renault Championship), following his victory in Volant Elf at Circuit Paul Ricard.
30 years ago (1996), Thanks to Olivier Panis, Ligier won its only Monaco Grand Prix, the only post-war victory for a French car. Above all, it was Ligier’s last F1 success (9 in all) before the French team was sold to Flavio Briatore, who then passed it on to Alain Prost.
