Circuit de Monaco (Monaco Grand Prix)

The Circuit de Monaco is a racing track made from the ordinary streets of Monte Carlo, in the tiny country of Monaco on the Mediterranean coast. Each year the roads are closed and lined with safety barriers so that Formula One cars can race around them in the Monaco Grand Prix, one of the most famous motor races in the world.

The track is 3.337 kilometres long, and the race lasts 78 laps, about 260 kilometres in all. It climbs uphill past the famous casino, dives through a tunnel and runs back along the harbour, Port Hercule. The streets are so narrow and twisty that overtaking is very hard, which is why the race is often called the ultimate test of a driver's skill. Winning at Monaco is one of the three victories in motorsport's unofficial "Triple Crown".

History

The first race on these streets was held on 14 April 1929. It was organised by Antony Noghès and the Automobile Club de Monaco, and the winner was William Grover-Williams, driving a Bugatti. When the Formula One World Championship began in 1950, Monaco was one of its races, and it has been on the calendar almost every year since 1955. The layout has changed a little over the decades; today's Grand Prix version has 19 turns. The very last corner is named after Antony Noghès, the man who started it all.

A lap of Monaco

Cars start along the harbour front and brake hard for the Sainte-Dévote corner, then climb the hill to Casino Square. They drop down through Mirabeau to the Fairmont Hairpin, the slowest corner on the track, taken at only about 48 km/h. Next comes the tunnel, where the road bends gently and cars reach about 260 km/h. After the Nouvelle Chicane they race along the water, swing through the Swimming Pool (Piscine) section and La Rascasse, and head back to the start. The highest point of the track is 44 metres above the lowest.

Building a track in a city

Because the circuit uses real streets, it has to be built from scratch every year. Workers spend about six weeks putting up barriers, grandstands and other equipment, and about three weeks taking everything down again afterwards. Around 37,000 spectators can watch from the stands, and many more watch from balconies and boats in the harbour. Because the track is so short, the race needs 78 laps to cover about 260 kilometres.

On the globe

The model shows a simplified version of the street circuit beside Monaco's harbour, with Formula One cars racing around it. Look for the tunnel and the casino as the cars speed past.