9th Monaco Historic Grand Prix

26 Aug

9th Historic Grand Prix of Monaco

Collectors from around the world and lovers of classic cars will meet in Monaco from 9 to 11 May 2014

Organised by the Automobile Club de Monaco since 1997, the Historic Grand Prix is a “biennial” event that takes place two weeks before the Formula 1 Grand Prix. 

A real sprint race, contested on the legendary circuit of the Principality of Monaco, the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco is an event that devotees of the mechanics of yesteryear, whether drivers or spectators, will not want to miss.

For two and a half days, from the afternoon of Friday 9 May until Sunday 11 May 2014, the Principality of Monaco will be transformed into a real time machine, with this event that commemorates almost 50 years of motor racing.

Historic Grand Prix of Monaco 
From 9 to 11 May 2014

For further information: www.acm.mc

8 May

Two Bugattis return to Monaco to compete in the Monaco Historic Grand Prix

After traveling more than 18 000 km Bugatti Type 37 and Type A 51/35 will be in Monaco from May 9 to 11, 2014

This year’s Monaco Historic Grand Prix marks not only 85 years since the first Monaco Grand Prix, when William Charles Frederick Grover-Williams finished first, but so too the year in which two very special cars return to Europe for the 9^th Monaco Historic Grand Prix.  The two cars have covered up to 18,000 kms to arrive in Monaco - from Australia to London by sea, and then from London to Monaco by road.

Both Bugattis, the cars are a Type 37A chassis number 37327, once driven by Monégasque Louis Chiron and now owned by Australian Adam Berryman.  The Type 51/35TC, chassis 4847, once driven by Robert Cazaux and Marcel Balsa and now proudly owned by the Consul de Monaco in Melbourne, Andrew Cannon.  Following a three-year restoration in Christchurch New Zealand, the Type 51/35B is ready to race the Monaco Historic Grand Prix.  

It has been around 60 years since the cars have been in Europe, and specifically, this race will be the first race for the Type 51 in Europe since the Coupe des Prisonniers (commemorating the end of WW2 in 1945, in which Balsa finished 5^th).  Earlier, the car had raced Williams the year after he won the Monaco Grand Prix, at Le Mans for the French Grand Prix

The Bugatti Type 51 and the Alfa Romeo Monza are of the two most popular and Historic cars raced in the Grand Prix since inception.  Therefore, the participation of Chassis 4847 is particularly momentous. 

Various Australians have competed in the Monaco Grand Prix over the years, including, Sir Jack Brabham OBE, who won the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix, marking his first ever Grand Prix win.  That year he went on to win the World Title. In more recent years, Mark Webber was victorious on this famous track (2010 and 2012).