Grand Prix International eMag - 2016 Monaco Grand Prix Historique

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2016 MONACO GRAND PRIX HISTORIQUE

AS GOOD AS IT GETS IN MONTE CARLO

MONACO GRAND PRIX HISTORIQUE The Monaco Grand Prix Historique is a salubrious three day event in sumptuous Monte Carlo, an event which affrims and epitomises everything that makes motor racing the greatest sport in the world.

The tenth edition of this biannual event was a feast for any racing enthusiast with a particular emphasis in Formula 1 of the fifties, sixties and seventies.

The stands were full and the harbour packed with fans who turned up to savour these masterpieces on wheels. Cars that captivated us decades ago and still do. Raw machines of pure power and engineering genius, driven by legends, which have stood the test of time.

In action were the cars that make up the legacy of Formula 1’s unmatched history, cars that we all dreamt of seeing in action, and indeed many of us did in their heyday. Today they are still immaculately maintained, roaring and throbbing just as they did in their prime. A beautiful noise, a visual feast that invariably induce goose bumps. This a trubute to these wonderful cars, their owners and a grand weekend in Monaco.

EDITOR • PAUL VELASCO

CONTRIBUTORS • GRAND PRIX 247 • LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC • GETTY IMAGES • HOCH ZWEI • REUTERS • F1 TEAMS & FIA MEDIA

CONTACT • INFO@GRANDPRIX247.COM

2016 MONACO GRAND PRIX HISTORIQUE

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2016 MONACO GRAND PRIX HISTORIQUE

RTISERS TN E R S

A K IT

AS GOOD AS IT GET

IN MONACO A

couple of weeks ago I got a call from GPXtreme General Manager Stehane Clain.

He asked: “Do you want to come to the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique with our GP Extreme Team? We have four cars entered for the race…”

“Wow!” Was my immediate (and wise) answer. Of course I did and a week later I was returning to Monaco for the first time since 1992 when I went there to cover the grand prix that year as a photographer.

This time I was returning in style, as a guest of a racing team, staying on a yacht and at the same time committed myself to taking some ‘snaps’ during the course of the weekend. Life can be very hard at times!

2016 MONACO GRAND PRIX HISTORIQUE

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AS GOOD AS IT GETS DO YOU WANT TO COME TO THE GRAND PRIX DE MONACO HISTORIQUE? Of course, as a photographer at heart, I wanted track-side access which was kindly given to me by Richard Micoud, ACM Communication & Media Manager, despite my very late application. Good guy Richard and I owe him one.

So there I was in among the cars that ignited my passion for Formula 1 around 1973 as a lad. From then on I devoured everything about the sport. Thus it was great that the cars from 1973 to 1976 – no less than 43 of them – were the headline act on a sumptuous bill that included race cars from the pre-war era.

But honestly anything before 1966 I know very little about, so my focus was to savour three classes during the course of the weekend which were Grand Prix Cars from 1961 to 1965, 1966 to 1972 and 1973 to 1976.

All I can say is that I wallowed in pure bliss as I trudged up and down the pit lane and paddock, in qualifying I made my way to La Rascasse, Piscine and Tabac areas and then for the races it was Saint Devote for the start and then up the hill to Massenet and Casino.

The GPXtreme yacht, where we ate and were kept well entertained by a myriad of the team’s associates, was anchored at the Chicane.

2016 MONACO GRAND PRIX HISTORIQUE

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AS GOOD AS IT GETS

Five star and more is the only way I can describe life in the Monaco harbour aboard a yacht watching the cars of my dreams.

The team had four cars in the field for ex-F1 driver Jean Dennis Deletraz in the Durex Surtees TS19, Dubai 24 Hours class winner Jordan Grogor in the ISO Marlboro (Williams FW03), Ron Maydon in an Amon AF101 and GPXtreme boss Frederic Fatien in a Hesketh 308 (yes the one that James Hunt won his first grand