Eager motor-racing fan, Tony Cooper, laps up Monaco’s F1 Grand Prix
And there’s a lot to lap up in Monaco! Nothing comes better than this Formula One race probably the most famous of its kind in the calendar and definitely the most glamorous. Along with my erstwhile travelling companion and motor-racing buddy, Miss X, I’ve attended this race meeting for years and beforehand watched it glued to the television set guiding my sons, Antony and Edward, through the grid. Now they’re on pole position!
Run on the streets of the Principality, currently ruled by Prince Albert II who succeeded his father Prince Rainier III in 2005, the race - organised by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) - is part of motorsport’s Triple Crown in keeping with the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Indianapolis 500.
And British drivers, in particular, have carved their name in Monaco’s hall of fame most notably London-born racing driver, Graham Hill, known as ‘Mr Monaco’ in recognition of five glorious victories. He’s also the only man to have achieved the Triple Crown.
But records are there to be broken, especially in F1 racing, and Hill’s envious record at Monaco was usurped by Brazilian super ace, Ayrton Senna, who took the chequered flag a half-dozen times which included five back-to-back wins between 1989 and 1993.
The Monaco Grand Prix