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The three support categories of the 80th Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco are now in charge, since last year, of opening the party on Thursday afternoon, with three free practice sessions that are crucial for fine-tuning the cars before Friday’s qualifying sessions. With a large contingent of French and Monegasque drivers at the wheel.
The first free practice session on the day’s menu, at 1:30 pm, was due to mark a great comeback for F3s in the Principality, after a long absence since 2005. An absence filled by GP3 and Formula Regional Alpine. The last time F3 raced in the streets of Monaco, a certain Lewis Hamilton took two wins in two F3 Euroseries races, before moving up to F1 two years later, with McLaren.
German Oliver Goethe, who holds a driving license at Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), is starting F3 this year and holds 6th place in the series after four races. His compatriot Sophia Floersch, returns to F3 after a stint in endurance racing. She suffered an horrendous crash at Macau F3 GP in 2018. She is the only female representative this weekend in Monaco, in a championship dominated until now by Brazilian hopeful Gabriel Bortoleto.
From 3:00 pm, the Gang of Five of Formula 2 was announced, starting with Théo Pourchaire (ART GP), the leader of the championship after four rounds and eight races. The local man, from Grasse, has already won in F2 in Monaco two years ago, and he holds a three-point only lead (65 to 62) over Dane Frederik Vesti (Prema), whom he will have to watch out for all weekend.
Pourchaire leads the list of French-speaking drivers, with a very talented compatriot in his team, Victor Martins, a member of the Alpine drivers’ Academy, who is making his debut in F2 after winning the F3 title last year. Also worth watching closely are Clément Novalak (Trident), in his second F2 season, and two other debutants, Arthur Leclerc (DAMS), Charles’ brother, and Isack Hadjar (HiTech), winner of the 2021 Formula Regional Alpine race in Monaco. The same year as Pourchaire in F2.
The grand master of Porsche Supercup, Larry ten Voorde, lost his crown last year. For the 31st season in the history of this very spectacular category, the experienced Dutchman will try to regain his domination. We may start to find out this Thursday, from 4:30 pm, if Frenchman Dorian Boccolacci, 3rd in 2021 and 2ndin 2022, is able to climb on the highest step of the princely podium, on Sunday morning…
