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Day: 19 May 2022

Esteban Gutierrez: “It was a dream to drive this car in Monaco”

by: Luke Entwistle
19/05/2022

The weekend’s Historic GP was a nostalgic, exciting event, not least for the drivers. As former F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez told Monaco Life, they relish the chance to test themselves in these iconic cars, on this legendary circuit.

In an interview with Monaco Life after his race, Gutierrez opened up about the strong, often contrasting emotions that driving an iconic single-seater around the streets of Monte-Carlo elicits.

Gutierrez has had a varied professional racing career. After amassing 38 race starts in Formula 1 for Sauber, the Mexican driver then became the test driver for Scuderia Ferrari, before rejoining the Formula 1 grid with Haas in 2016. In a highly uncompetitive Haas, Gutierrez struggled, and the following year he tried his hand in Formula E.

He then joined Mercedes F1 team as a development and then reserve driver, and now competes in FIA Endurance World Championship. At the age of just 30, Gutierrez has amassed a wealth of experience in a variety of different cars, but as he told Monaco Life, taking the wheel of Pedro Rodriquez’s 1970 Belgian Grand Prix-winning BRM was one of the most special experiences of his career.

“It is definitely in the top three cars I have driven. I drove Michael Schumacher’s 2003 Ferrari car, which was an incredible experience, and then I drove the 2016 Mercedes, the most successful car in the history of Formula 1. That was also incredible,” he said.

Racing the car of his late compatriot around some of the most iconic streets in the world was special, he says. “It’s an honour to be here representing my country, driving Pedro’s (Rodriguez) car. To be driving this car, and especially here in Monaco, I never thought it was going to be possible. It just came together, and it was really fun to drive; an incredible experience.”

An incredible experience, but also a challenging one, and on the unforgiving streets of Monaco no less, where no mistake goes unpunished. That risk factor is only intensified when coupled with a lack of preparation time with the machinery itself. “I tested it on a small track at an airport. Luckily, I could test it for a couple of laps to get used to the gears,” revealed Gutierrez. “That was the most challenging part to do the hill and toll. It is something I’m not used to, lately of course with the modern cars is no longer part of driving. It was really interesting and here in Monaco it’s really fun; you have basically no margin for error in that respect.”

He added, “When you arrive at practice, you’re new to the car and you’re not used to it. There are lots of new things. It’s very mechanical, but it’s very physical as well. One of the beauties of the car is that it doesn’t give you any time to think about anything else, you have to live in the moment and you’re very busy with the gears and it’s just amazing when you get everything right.”

Photo of Esteban Gutierrez by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

It is not just the technical aspect, dealing with the very visible oversteer and a way of driving that is alien to many modern motorsport drivers, but also the psychological aspect, as Gutierrez revealed.

“It’s not only hard, the approach is completely different,” he explained. “You get in the car and you know you’re vulnerable. In the back of your mind, you kind of consider and have a huge respect for the car itself and also the danger that it represents.”

Gutierrez admitted that despite the danger in driving this era of cars, which don’t feature all of the safety features of the modern-day racer such as the HALO system, a competitive drivers’ instinct kicks-in when they get behind the wheel.

“Even though it’s a race weekend, it’s more like a demonstration event. People out there are still competing and they want to achieve a good result. As a competitive racing driver, you still want to do well. Just like today, I was honestly pushing the car,” revealed the Mexican.

He added, “It’s a strange line. We all know that we’re here to demonstrate the cars, but at the same time there is a podium, there’s a result, and whoever is on top has the most prestigious result of the weekend.”

Ultimately, Gutierrez’s race didn’t pan out as he had hoped. Racing in the D Series race, he had to abandon on lap five due to a mechanical issue. However, that only strengthens his will and determination to come back and compete next year. “I am very angry with the mechanical failure to be honest. I can’t remember the last time I felt so disappointed. Of course, I’m going to come back and try to win it,” he said.

But it’s not simply Gutierrez’s competitiveness that compels him to take on Monaco’s streets again next year. “The whole weekend has been an incredible experience, but it’s also putting me outside of my comfort zone. I haven’t felt that in racing for a while… It is just fantastic. It was a dream to be here in Monaco, driving this car.”

Far more than simply an exhibition, Gutierrez reminds us of the inherent competitiveness of motorsport, which annually gives these historic cars a new lease of life in the Principality. For spectators and drivers alike, it is an event that transcends time, mimicking not only the aesthetic of the past, but also the sensations and feelings of that golden age of racing.

Click on the picture below to see our Instagram reel of the Historic Grand Prix…

 

Photo source: Esteban Gutierrez Instagram 

 

 

 

Monaco offers solution to Alpes-Maritimes taxi drivers

by: Stephanie Horsman
19/05/2022

The Monaco government has put out an olive branch to French taxi drivers, relaxing summertime quotas in an effort to stave off a protest which threatens to disrupt the Monaco Grand Prix.

With the busy summer season heating up and tourism making a comeback after two years of pandemic, the last thing the Prince’s government needed was taxi drivers threatening to wreak havoc on tourists and local passengers trying to come and go from Monaco.

A standoff between the local taxis and those coming from the neighbouring Alpes-Maritimes region nearly came to a head as Nice taxis declared their intention to block roads leading into the Principality from 26th to 29th May, coinciding with Grand Prix weekend. They went as far as to file for a strike notice at the Prefecture, finally pushing the Monaco authorities to compromise.

The government was incredibly reactive and issued an announcement on Tuesday giving French passenger transport drivers a 50% increase in their quota compared to 2021 for the high season from 1st May to 31st October with 180 stickers for VTC’s and up to 30 for taxis.

“The introduction of a limit of 100 rides per sticker, once considered, has been abandoned,” the Monaco government said in their announcement.

Meanwhile, some provisions currently in effect have been altered, such as the “easing of the constraint ‘to have three years of existence’ by adding the mention ‘including, possibly, in various successive societal forms’, for VTC’s only, the removal of the constraint ‘having acquired a vignette for at least two years’ for VTCs, and the removal of the constraint ‘to have, between 2014 and 2019, acquired at least one vignette’ for taxis.”

Other terms, such as morality obligations, are unchanged.

The new arrangements are to be published in the 20th May Journal de Monaco, but the government wanted to assure the French taxi drivers of the decision as soon as possible to give drivers the chance to jumpstart their applications to obtain the necessary stickers.

The rules concerning out-of-Monaco taxi and VTC drivers will be reviewed again in September to determine what measures will be applied for the winter season.

The Nice taxi union Nice taxi union and the Côte d’Azur VTC Committee have agreed to the terms and called off the strike action.

Photo by Krzysztof Jagodziński on Unsplash

 

 

Clothes drive to repurpose unused fashion

by: Stephanie Horsman
19/05/2022

The Mairie of Monaco is using the impetus of Monaco Fashion Week to launch an event that will mix style and sustainability, and give a second life to gently-worn clothes.

Ever wonder what to do with that mountain of clothes sitting in the closet that are in great shape, but never get worn? Now there is an opportunity to give those pieces a shot at a new purpose and probably a whole new look.

The Mairie has joined forces with the Mission for Energy Transition (MTE) and the Monegasque Chamber of Fashion (CMM) during the 10th edition of Monaco Fashion Week inviting people to bring their cast-offs to one of three collection points around Monaco from Monday 23rd May to Wednesday 25th May.

Fast-fashion has created a culture of throw away clothing items, clogging up landfills and releasing harmful methane gases as they degrade. The decomposition process can take up to 200 years. It is also estimated that a mind-blowing 10,000 items of clothing get sent to landfills every five minutes. Additionally, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, making it one of the biggest polluters out there.

To stop some of the madness, the people of the Principality are being asked to recycle used clothing items. Organisers request the donations be those made from denim, silk, and pure cashmere as well as cotton shirts, with the aim of these pieces being repurposed by local designers.

The collection points will be in the main hall of the Marie from 8:30am to 4pm, in the offices of the  Mission for Energy Transition at 18, Allée Lazare Sauvaigo from 8:30am to 12:30pm, and from 1:30pm to 5pm, as well as a smaller drop-off spot at the Marché de la Condamine from 9am to 12pm on Wednesday only.

 

 

 

Fans and club in unison as AS Monaco’s final challenge awaits

by: Luke Entwistle
19/05/2022

Players and supporters alike revelled in the “good vibes” during an open training session at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday, as AS Monaco prepare for their final game of the Ligue 1 season.

Prior to Wednesday’s session, the club recognised the unwavering support of the fan groups as they were presented with the new AS Monaco 2022/23 home kit by owner Dimitry Rybolovlev before last Saturday’s match against Brest.

The 18 fan groups, from all across France and even Italy, are what give Monaco their motto “Everywhere. Always.”. The groups are largely responsible for the club filling the away ends matches across the country, and they will do so once more before the season’s end.

In under a day, Monaco sold their 1,000-seat allocation for the trip to RC Lens on Saturday, where just a draw will suffice to earn them a place on the Ligue 1 podium. For those who don’t have the opportunity to make the trip up north, there is an exciting alternative right here in the Principality.

A giant screen will be erected in front of the Pésage stand of the Stade Louis II, which will broadcast the game live. It will be a spectacular open-air cinema experience, with the stadium’s iconic arches towering above the screen. With qualification for the Champions League on the line, there is bound to be a great atmosphere in a stand that is usually inhabited by the club’s Ultras group.

Tickets for the event can be bought at www.billeterie.asmonaco.com, or from the Stade Louis II ticket office. Access is free for season ticket holders, whilst general admission will cost just €5. VIP access is available for €70 (without tax), and can be bought by contacting gmotyka@asmonaco.com.

Fans can arrive from 8pm and a whole host of pre-match, half-time and post-match activities have been planned, and mascot Bouba will also be in attendance.

Before making the trip, fans descended on the stadium on Wednesday to attend an opening training session. On a hot day in the Principality, nearly 300 fans came to watch the likes of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Wissam Ben Yedder prepare for the big fixture. There was no shortage of determination and effort from the players, but all of them still mustered the energy to engage with fans after the session as they posed for pictures, chatted and signed autographs.

As Tchouaméni and Youssouf Fofana revealed post-session, not only was this a great event to allow fans to feel even closer to the club, it was also beneficial for the players themselves. “They’ve given us energy and good vibes,” said Fofana. “It’s a pleasure to train in front of the public.”

Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

 

 

 

Covid statistics show interesting anomalies

by: Stephanie Horsman
19/05/2022

Monaco’s official statisticians IMSEE have released the latest Covid-19 picture for the year so far, revealing that more people have been infected in 2022 than the two previous years combined and that infection rates have dropped significantly since their winter peak in late January.

Covid barely registers on the radar of most people these days as lockdowns and quarantines seem like bad dreams, and the infection rates are coming down to manageable and reasonable levels.

That being said, there are still some interesting facts in the latest report by IMSEE that may be a bit surprising.

As of 30th April, the total number of infected residents since the beginning of the pandemic was 11,770, equalling 28.3% of the population. 688 of those were infected twice and 507 were hospitalised, with 61 needing intensive care.

The death toll sits at 57, with the average age of patients being 84.5 years of age. This was split closely between men, at 83.4 years, and women at 85.7 years. Over two-thirds of the deceased were 80 years or older and 14 were Monegasque nationals.

It is interesting to note that by the end of April 2022, there were 6,603 total new cases compared to 5,167 in all of 2020 and 2021 combined. Additionally, at the most current checks, hospital admissions sat at 185 so far in 2022, almost double that of 2020 when there were 81 but less than 2021’s 241. The death toll is, however, less than in 2021, with 19 so far in 2022 compared to 35 the previous year.

The average age of those getting infected dropped from 46.2 years in 2020 to 39.7 years in 2021 and 39.1 years of age in 2022.

Perhaps also surprising are the number of cases reported amongst the vaccinated versus the unvaccinated who caught the virus. In April, 344 unvaccinated people were infected with Covid-19, which equates to 34% of the total new cases for the month. There were only nine partially vaccinated people who contracted the disease, but then the numbers go up again. 133 fully vaccinated residents, representing 13.1% of the total number in April, and 526 fully vaccinated people with boosters tested positive, equalling 52%.

Hospital admissions in April were up from the previous month, 36 to 29, and both months saw three new deaths. Of those hospitalised, six were unvaccinated, six were fully jabbed and 24 had received a booster. The vast majority were 80 years and older, and there have been no people under 40 in intensive care in 2022 so far.

In March, the sixth wave rolled through the region, less than two months after the previous one. The last wave was far smaller than the previous, but is still notable as the second most virulent period since the start of the pandemic. By the end of April, the incidence rate in Monaco fell to 424.

 

Photo by Maxime on Usplash

 

 

 

Club Suisse welcomes German politician Julia Klöckner

by: Stephanie Horsman
19/05/2022

The Club Suisse de Monaco recently invited former German government minister Julia Klöckner to speak on a variety of relevant topics, including the effects of rising inflation in the Euro zone and the dependence on Russian gas and oil imports. 

The Suisse Club de Monaco recently hosted an event featuring a big name in German politics as headliner, speaking on “Inflation, Sovereign Debt and Military Conflict in Ukraine – the Economy in Turmoil”, followed by a group lunch which included the International German Club of Monaco.

The speaker was none other than Julia Klöckner, who served under long-time Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2018-2021 as the German Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Production.

As economic policy spokeswoman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party’s parliamentary group as well as federal treasurer of the CDU, Mrs. Klöckner pointed out the economic interdependence with foreign countries, the development and effects of rising inflation in the Euro zone as well as the dependence on Russian gas and oil imports. Afterwards, there was an intensive discussion about the effects of the military conflict in Ukraine.

The important and serious topic garnered much attention and a lively discussion ensued.

Lest it be thought she is all work and no play, Klöckner, the daughter of winemakers, first hit headlines in Germany when she was selected to be the German Wine Queen of 1995. The Wine Queen represents the wine industry in the country and has the support of two “princesses” who together form Germany’s Wine Ambassadors for a term of one year.

 

Photo from left to right: Dr. Arik Röschke (President Club Suisse de Monaco), Julia Klöckner, Beatrix Baronne von Dellingshausen (Co-President Club Allemand International de Monaco)