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start of the Monaco Grand Prix is all about getting
to, and through, the very first corner safely. Do that
and you have a chance! The Virage de Sainte Devote is
a near 90-degree right-hander that is approached from
the Start-Finish line at 170 mph. Then, it’s a hard
brake at -3.6 g and down to a 2nd-gear 55 mph for
cornering. The Montée du Beau Rivage is a short
straight that takes the cars past the world famous
Rosie’s Bar in 6th gear at 165 mph and then it’s
over the crest of the hill and down to 4th gear as
Virage Massenet beckons. A long left-hander, the car
must be kept close to the inside kerb in 3rd gear at
80 mph. The cars then come to Virage Casino which is a
quick right-hander that is taken in 2nd gear at 70
mph.
Coming out of Casino
the cars get a chance to accelerate briefly along a
short straight before they enter one of the most
complex sections of the course. The Virage Mirabeau is
approached downhill in 4th at 130 mph, requiring fast
gear changes to get into 2nd gear for this bumpy
right-hander, taken slowly at 30 mph. Out of this
comes the short approach to the Virage Loews, a
left-hand hairpin negotiated in 2nd gear at about 20
mph with the steering turned full lock, then right –
this is one of the most famous TV and photographic
views in F1. The turns are ended by the Virage du
Portier, another sharp right-hander cleared in 2nd
gear at 50 mph.
Coming out of the
turns, the cars start on a long sweep through the
Tunnel. Noise and sparks fly as the cars change up to
5th gear and 145 mph. Once out of the tunnel,
left-right Nouvelle Chicane is approached at 175 mph
before drivers change down to 2nd gear and a sedate 30
mph.
The most spectacular
and glamourous part of the course is Tabac, lying, as
it does, alongside the harbour, which is driven
through at 95 mph in 4th gear. Piscine or the Swimming
Pool complex provides a short kink in the circuit
which pushes the drivers through a succession of gear
changes and speeds ranging from 50 mph to 100 mph.
This section of the circuit underwent major revision
prior to the 1997 Grand Prix to make it safer.
Virage de la Rascasse
is the slowest part of the circuit with a very tight
hairpin that is taken in 1st gear at a crawling 20
mph. Along a very short straight and a faster
right-hander, Virage Anthony Noghes, is taken in 2nd
at 45 mph before accelerating and climbing upwards
into the Start-Finish straight.
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