Monaco is taking another step towards energy efficiency with a programme to replace all of the lighting in the tunnels under the Rock with LED bulbs, which will result in up to 90% energy savings.
According to the Monegasque government, the seven tunnels that crisscross underneath the Rock have a total of 637 light fixtures, with 1,340 fluorescent bulbs illuminating the pathways.
This type of lighting is costly, using tremendous amounts of energy compared to light emitting diodes (LED), so the decision has been made to replace these outmoded fixtures with the latter.LED technology can require up to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, and last 25 times longer.
The works, which began on Monday 10th July, will see the total number of lights reduced to 213. The average bulb life is between 80,000 and 100,000 for the chosen type of LED, meaning that servicing will only be required once every 10 years.
The project means that there will be slight disruptions to traffic flows during the four stages of the programme, which is expected to be completed by April 2024.
The first will run throughout July and August, exclusively at night, from Monday to Saturday and between 9pm and 5.30am. The Fontvieille, Noghès and Antoine 1er tunnels will therefore be temporarily and intermittently closed during this period.
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Despite a promising grid position going into Sunday’s race at Silverstone, Monaco’s Charles Leclerc couldn’t convert it into a podium place and slid down the rankings to P9. Younger brother Arthur took a matching position in F2.
“We lacked pace today and it was a tough race,” said 25-year-old Charles Leclerc after falling from P4 to P9 during the course of the 52-lap race at Silverstone. “We stopped early and lost some positions as I struggled to get a good rhythm on the Hards. Then we stopped again, for a new set of Mediums, and I made up a couple of positions at the restart, but then got stuck in a DRS train behind Alex [Albon]. We have some things to review, but our main focus will be to work on our race trim.”
Leclerc now finds himself seventh in the Driver Standings after placing P9 on the iconic British track over the weekend. Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
“So tight between P2 and P10 that the smallest mishap makes a big difference”
Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur echoed Leclerc’s frustrations, saying, “Our plan was to do a one-stop race, running Medium then Hard. We pitted both drivers before the Safety Car, which definitely put us in a bad situation. However, we cannot just blame this episode to explain our finishing positions… We could have done a much better job here in Silverstone with the package that we have now. Next race will be Hungary, on a very different kind of track with hotter temperatures and being able to adapt the car package to the various tracks coming up will be a crucial element. We are continuing to develop the car and will have new parts soon, but it’s so tight between P2 and P10 that the smallest mishap makes a big difference.”
Leclerc’s team mate, Carlos Sainz, had a similar experience, and was didn’t come close to replicate his stunning 2022 win on the British circuit. Despite starting in P5, he too tumbled down five places to P10. Sainz is now fifth in the Driver Standings, while Leclerc is in seventh.
The team judged its choices to have been too “conservative” following the race. Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
Ultimately, it was be the unassailable Max Verstappen who would take first place, but not without challenge from the young Lando Norris, who screeched past the Dutch driver at the very beginning of the race. The roles quickly reversed again, though, with Verstappen solidifying an unbelievable running streak.
The same story in F2 for Arthur Leclerc
Meanwhile, in the F2 race, the younger Leclerc brother, Arthur, saw his Silverstone experience end in a disappointing P9. The 22-year-old who have been hoping for better after recording one of the fastest lap times of the day.
He now finds himself in 14th in the Driver Standings, after barely picking up a point since Melbourne in early April. There are five more races on the F2 calendar this year.
The next chance for Monaco’s two aspiring drivers will be in Budapest, Hungary, from 21st to 23rd July.
As part of the new ‘Monaco Water Games’, AS Monaco Rugby is offering the unique chance to play rugby on a pontoon in the middle of Port Hercule.
For three days, between 12th and 14th July, lovers of Rugby will get the chance to experience the sport like never before. A 32m by 36m pontoon will float off the shore of the Monaco Yacht Club and the extremities won’t be marked by white lines, but by water.
Spectators will be able to watch the matches free of charge from the edge of the port, but there is also the chance to get involved in the action itself. The first day will be dedicated to the rugby schools, but on the second day, 13th of July, amateurs will get their chance to compete.
France’s rugby team in the Principality ahead of World Cup
The five-a-side tournament will take place from 10am until 8pm, and teams can quite literally dive head-first into the experience for €400 per team. There can be a maximum of eight players per team. On the final day of competition, a business tournament will take place with 10 teams present, each composed of between seven to 10 players at the cost of €2,500 per team. Each team will be accompanied by either a current or former international rugby player.
The final day of competition will also bring together former internationals for a Legends Match. The identities of these “legends” are yet to be announced. However, there will be stars off the pontoon too.
The French squad will be in the Principality of Monaco between 2nd and 16th of July, and will sign shirts on the evening of the final day of the competition.
Ahead of the Rugby World Cup, which starts with France facing New Zealand in Paris, this unique experience of the game will create excitement ahead of the competition, with many matches taking place just down the road at the Allianz Riviera in Nice.
