The line-up for this 14th Grand Prix de Monaco Historique is made up of extremely varied profile. There are, of course, the former professional drivers, those who entered some races in Formula 1, Endurance, IndyCar or other categories. And then there are the public figures, whom spectators have already seen in other circumstances. The versatile Stéphane de Groodt is one of them as he is rekindling an old passion this weekend by driving a 1958 Maserati 250F. Competing in the A2 Series named after Juan-Manuel Fangio, the Belgian actor, film-maker and comedian will be taking eighth place on Sunday’s grid.

Our second guest is not entered in any series, but took to the track to open the weekend in style, on Friday, in a Porsche 911 as part of a promotional operation. Patrick Dempsey is no stranger to the racetrack, having finished 2nd in the 24 Hours of Daytona in the GT category and 3rd in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LME GT Am category. The American actor swapped his Doctor Shepherd white coat for the steering wheel of the German beauty wearing the famous colours of TAG Heuer, partner of the event, for a few laps with Eddie Irvine in the passenger seat. “It’s just so great to see these cars you grew up watching, you’ve read about or you’ve seen in classic films to be out on the track”, enthused Patrick Dempsey on Saturday from the terrace of the fabulous Garage 1. “It’s a great way to honour the legacy.” There’s no doubt about it, on the Circuit de Monaco, they are not acting it, they are true passionate.