Triple Formula One champion Nelson Piquet was fond of saying that racing at Monaco was
"like trying to cycle round your living room"
"a win here was worth two anywhere else"
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Anthony Noghes plotted out a course which went from the Boulevard Albert I, uphill to Casino Square, then back down to Monte Carlo station, turning right at Portier onto the harbour front, emerging through the tunnel on Quai des Etats-Unis, before a left turn onto Quai Albert I, heading towards the gasometer and finally turning back to the starting point.
The proposed course drew favourable comment and support from local racing ace Louis Chiron and, encouraged, Noghés took his plans to Prince Louis II, who immediately saw the advantages it could bring in boosting Monaco's profile across the world, drawing in rich tourists from across the continent in what would otherwise be the off-season.
On 14 April 1929, the plan became reality, when 16 invited participants turned out to race for a prize of 100,000 French francs.
Notably, the course has always included the tunnel. The contrast of daylight and gloom when entering/exiting the tunnel presents "challenges not faced elsewhere", as the drivers have to adjust their vision as they emerge from the tunnel at the fastest point of the track and brake for the chicane in the daylight.
DID YOU KNOW?
The fastest-ever qualifying lap was set by Lewis Hamilton in qualifying (Q3) for the 2019 Grand Prix, at 1m 10.166.