Maserati MSG Racing secured a top 10 finish in the second leg of the double-header 2024 Shanghai E-Prix, with the team bouncing back from a difficult first race to score four points in China.
After losing a provisional ninth place finish in Race One, the team regrouped for Sunday and showcased renewed pace in a promising FP3 which saw Maximilian Günther set the fourth-fastest time.
For Qualifying, Max and his team-mate, Jehan Daruvala, completed their initial runs in Group A but despite displaying clear pace, missed out on the duels in one of the closest sessions of Season 10 so far.
With a 1:14.672 lap, Max missed out on the head-to-head stage by only 0.018 seconds to start 10th while Jehan, who was a mere 0.120 seconds shy of Max, qualified 16th.
Facing another peloton-style race ahead, energy saving was a top priority for the duo and when the race got underway, both set out to establish a consistent saving rhythm.
While Max held position on lap one, Jehan slipped to 18th but quickly recovered his lost ground by overtaking Sergio Sette Camara and Sacha Fenestraz on laps three and five.
Ahead, Max strategically fell out of the top 10 to build an energy advantage and pressed forward to eighth place before taking his first of two Attack Modes, rejoining in ninth.
On lap five, the 26-year-old overtook Jean-Eric Vergne to reclaim eighth in the first part of what would be a race-long battle with the DS Penske driver.
After pushing forward to overtake Mitch Evans for seventh, Max took his second Attack Mode on lap eight and continued to battle with Vergne when he rejoined the circuit and exchanged positions with the Frenchman for the next 12 laps.
Unfortunately, Vergne cleared Max on lap 20 and while Max remained a consistent threat, he was unable to regain the position and took a hard-fought eighth at the chequered flag. Jehan, meanwhile, finished 17th after losing time in an incident ahead.
Season 10 of the FIA Formula E World Championship will resume on 29th and 30th June for the 2024 Portland E-Prix – the penultimate race weekend of the current campaign.
Monaco Life met with Emeric Garcia to learn about his challenging new position as Director of Top Marques Monaco, and the novelties for the latest edition of this now prestigious paradise of supercars.
The highly anticipated 19th edition of Top Marques Monaco (TMM) will run from 5th to 9th June at the state-of-the-art Grimaldi Forum, with more than 25,000 visitors expected. This unique international luxury auto show, founded in 2004, is attended each year by the zenith of car brands and niche constructors. It is an open market for classics, supercars and hypercars, motorbikes, and superboats, the perfect forum for launching new models.
Since August 2018, Top Marques has been under the direction of Monaco Check-In, a prominent events company in the Principality. Deputy Chairman Salim Zeghdar successfully restored the show’s true essence, focusing on supercars. Upon assuming the role of Prince Albert’s Estate Controller, Salim Zeghdar handed over the reins to Emeric Garcia, who had demonstrated exceptional leadership within the organisation and is now at the helm of Top Marques 2024.
Emeric’s debut with Top Marques happened 13 years ago as a security guard. He went on to join the team as a salesperson responsible for the superboat department. “The following year, I was assigned to take care of the luxury products department and started to help the director at the time. I understood each sector of the event and became knowledgeable about every aspect of the show. The year after, they created a classic car section and later introduced a luxury sports car auction.” Emeric Garcia tells Monaco Life.
“It was very inspiring and motivating for me to work with Salim. In 2019, he allowed me to take care of those departments. It was not easy initially, but we have pushed the limit yearly through hard work from the team and me. Now, we offer an exceptional panel to all our visitors who come to the show.”
Top Marques 2023 showroom
The transition has run smoothly, with Emeric Garcia proudly hosting a press conference in early May to present the event at the Monte-Carlo Casino, promising an unprecedented number of Supercar world debuts.
“I feel very honoured to continue Salim’s vision and ensure that the Top Marques team and I can raise the quality of Top Marques every year,” says the director. “Our mission is threefold: To satisfy our clientele coming from all over the globe every year to see the latest supercars, rare classic cars, and the current innovation trends; to assure our exhibitors who have chosen Monaco and Top Marques as a podium to unveil their latest models; and to develop our innovation department and increase the number of eco-friendly vehicles at the show.”
Emeric is not shy in anticipating that this 19th edition of Top Marques will be the most accomplished ever, thanks to 13 launches versus five in 2023. They include NanoFlowcell, whowill present The New Quant, an electric vehicle that runs without a battery; Laffite Automobili will unveil their LM1, a street-legal hypercar inspired by the Le Mans prototypes of the 1970s and 1980s; Tedson Motors will present their daydream Targa, a Porsche Targa remastered from A to Z with 375hp, yours for the price of € 550 000; Bertone will show their GB110, a hypercar of 1100 hp which with a limited production of 33 specimens; McLaren will expose their McLaren Artura Spider; Aston Martin is coming with the new Vantag V8 665 hp; Engler Automotive will present the Engler V12 1000 hp new superquad; Porsche will present their new electric Macan and Taycan; Audi is showing their new Audi RS6 GT V8 biturbo 630hp; Pro Engineering & Design Treditech will unveil two cars, the Zorin Le Mans, and the Arerra; Eyelights will bring the Rocket One, a 100% electric motorbike at € 189,000; and Caroof Shore will uncover their new boat Abarth.
Top Marques Monaco, Lucas Scherrer Production 47, photo courtesy Top Marques Monaco
One of the main attractions of Top Marques again this year will be the second edition of l’Astarossa, organised by their partner MonacoCarAuctions on 8th June in the Verriere of the Grimaldi Forum, presenting an incredible catalog of emblematic Ferrari vehicles and collectible objects. “Approximately 60 classic cars will be on display for sale, and we have handpicked each one to present something very exclusive for our visitors,” reveals Emeric. To access the catalog and discover the lots for sale, visit https://monacocarauctions.com/vente-du-8-juin-2024
“Furthermore, we have exhibitors from more than 15 countries, with more than 190 vehicles. Most importantly, Top Marques has been chosen as one of the first places in Europe to see Tesla’s Cybertruck on display from Wednesday night through Thursday night.”
To satisfy the demands of their distinguished visitors, Top Marques will also have a dedicated area for watches and jewellery and a section reserved for automotive art. Several incredible superboats will grace the Esplanade.
Top Marques Monaco in the capital of luxury
Monaco is considered the international capital of luxury and is represented everywhere around the Principality, in its top-class hotels, gourmet restaurants, brand boutiques, high-end car companies, and more. Luxury brands are therefore extensively present in Monaco. “However, it has taken a lot of work during the last few years to gain the trust of our exhibitors. At the end of the last show, around 70% of the exhibitors reconfirmed their participation in 2024 due to the quality of the audience that came to the show. The Monegasques automobile groups are critical to us and represent around 20 luxury automobile brands.”
“When a potential buyer comes to the show, we must give them an unforgettable, unique experience.”
Top Marques 2023
The secret to success
“To be able to attract HNWI, you must make sure that supercar brands bring their latest models to the show so that visitors can see them in avant-première before their general release,” says Emeric. “The same goes for new transport innovations and exceptional classic cars. When a potential buyer comes to the show, we must give them an unforgettable, unique experience.”
So, what exactly is a supercar and a hypercar? “A supercar is a type of automobile generally described as a street-legal, luxury superlative performance sports car, both in terms of power, speed, and handling. A hypercar is originally made to be used on a closed circuit. Still, they have been homologated to be street legal and are more powerful, luxurious, expensive, and made in limited edition.”
“At Top Marques, you can also admire vehicles from another era in the classic section, reminding you of a time in your past, an emotional voyage that brings back incredible memories. You continue your visit, immersing yourself in the supercar area, many of which have been inspired by the classic cars you have just seen. Finally, you can see innovative vehicles, which will be the transport of tomorrow.”
The five most prestigious auto shows, sometimes called the Big Five, are generally considered to be held in Frankfurt, Geneva, Detroit, Paris, and Tokyo, plus several shows in every continent, each serving as inspiration for Top Marques Monaco. “When I travel around the globe to visit events and scout for new products, I am very open-minded and see the potential in each event,” reveals Emeric. “The key to success, in my perspective, is to question yourself every year and to update the show in line with trends.”
Top Marques 2023
On track for a stellar 2024 event
Organisers are expecting more than 25,000 people at Top Marques this year, and as of today, they have sold almost double the number of tickets compared to last year.
The aim now, says Emeric Garcia, is to grow the brand globally. “It is the perfect event to duplicate on each continent, so our objective is to export the show abroad and to keep improving the one in Monaco with every new edition.”
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has revealed that the country is overhauling its unemployment benefits system in an effort to get its spiralling budget under control.
The changes to the current unemployment benefits system are being made with the goal of moving France towards full employment, said Attal in an interview given to French publication La Tribune du Dimanche on 26th May.
Under the new scheme, compensation will be limited to a maximum of 15 months, down from 18, and people will have to have worked at least eight of the previous 20 months to qualify, instead of six of the prior 24 months.
“If we do not reform unemployment insurance, we risk stalling on the road to full employment,” said Attal. “This reform will allow us to create ever more jobs in our country.”
The decree, which the Prime Minister said will come into force on 1st December, is being touted as a way to get more people back to work faster through “a social model more oriented toward activity”.
Some of the highlights of the plan include a senior employment bonus, whereby retirees who go back to work in a job that pays less than their former occupation will still be able to collect their pensions alongside the new salary, up to €3,000.
Additionally, the bonus-malus system for short-term contracts will be reviewed.
The Prime Minister’s announcement came as no big surprise as the government begins taking measures to lessen its debt load in the wake of a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who stated last week that the country’s deficit will be “significantly higher”- 4.5% versus the French estimate of 2.9% – by 2027 than that currently being predicted by the Palais de l’Elysée.
Despite the news, Attal is taking a brighter stance, having told the La Tribune du Dimanche, “It is not a reform of the economy, but of prosperity and activity. The gain will be measured by a greater number of French people who will work, and therefore [provide] more funding for our system.”
From VIP experiences at Lilly’s Club and the Baccarat Lounge to sundowners at Sunset Festival, Monaco Life spent the weekend touring the biggest Grand Prix parties in the Principality.
Monaco’s party scene got going on Friday 24th May at Casa Sunset, with a delicious Mexican and South American fusion lunch prepared by chefs Paola Segura and Yoni Gurman. Once the gourmet experience was over, the Sunset Festival at Le Méridien Beach Plaza began warming up for a DJ session with the world-renowned Luciano.
Casa Sunset’s gourmet prelude to a sold-out weekend of Grand Prix parties. Photo by Monaco Life
Sunset fulfilled all expectations, with tickets and tables sold out for Luciano and the rest of the weekend.
In addition to live music, artist Richard Orlinski attended the event in-person and presented a specially made Sunset edition of his iconic King Kong at the festival’s La Petite Plage venue.
Richard Orlinski’s ‘Sunset’ King Kong. Photo by Monaco Life
“I love music, art and good vibes, so this collaboration between my King Kong and Sunset fits perfectly,” the French artist told Monaco Life.
Elsewhere in the Principality on Friday night, Rampa from Keinemusik performed at the Lilly’s Club pop-up in the Fairmont with Monaco Life’s Niki Borisova watching on from the Ultra VIP Baccarat section.
Monaco Life was invited back to the Baccarat Lounge on Saturday 25th May to soak up more of the atmosphere, as well as the epic views of the Hairpin, as Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took Pole Position in Qualifying.
The view from the Baccarat Lounge in the Fairmont Hotel. Photo by Monaco Life
Cocktails were served by Andrey Bolshakov, recently ranked among the best bartenders in the world, and exclusive Hennessy bottles, in collaboration with Baccarat, were on display.
Later that night, world-famous South Korean DJ Peggy Gou performed at Lilly’s Club, filling the club with her signature house techno tracks. Famous celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Arón Piper were among those to attend the party.
Closing out the race weekend on Sunday 26th May, Travis Scott performed at Lilly’s Club, bringing that pulsating energy he is known for to the Principality’s party scene.
Check out the weekend’s activities in the Instagram video below:
Director Sean Baker’s bawdy yet charmingly funny tale of a New York City stripper who weds a Russian oligarch’s son and must fend off her horrified in-laws has won the top prize, the Palme d’Or, at the Cannes Film Festival.
The 77th Cannes Film Festival closed on Saturday 25th May after a star-studded and action-packed 2024 edition that began on Tuesday 14th May.
In the end, it was the latest movie from American director Sean Baker, a man who has made a career out of making indie films about sex workers, who took home the Palme d’Or for his film Anora. This is the first time an American has nabbed the top prize since Terrence Malick’s 2011 win for The Tree of Life and is Baker’s second time being in the competition. The last was for Red Rocket in 2021.
Upon accepting the award, Baker commented on the importance of cinema in our collective existence, saying, “Watching a film with others in a movie theatre is one of the great communal experiences. We share laughter, sorrow, anger, fear and hopefully have a catharsis with our friends and strangers. So, I say the future of cinema is where it started: in a movie theatre.”
Anora is the story of an exotic dancer, the titular character, who steals the heart of a Russian oligarch’s son. They marry after a whirlwind romance and then must face the groom’s parents, who are none too happy to have this woman in the family.
Other highlights were Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, which won the Grand Prix, and was the first Indian film to be In Competition in 30 years. The film is about two nurses, who are also housemates, going on a beach holiday together in an attempt to unravel the troubles of their respective worlds.
Best Screenplay went to French writer-director Coralie Fargeat for horror film The Substance, the tale of an aging star who uses a black-market drug to temporarily make herself younger, but finds the side-effects more than she bargained for.
The Jury Prize went to Jacques Audiard, a Cannes darling and multi-prize winner, for his Spanish language musical crime comedy caper Emilia Perez. The movie also saw the Best Actress prize go to four of the film’s cast: Adriana Paz, Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon and Selena Gomez.
Jesse Plemons won Best Actor for in his role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds Of Kindness.
Click here for the full list of this year’s winners.
Starting in 2025, anyone who buys or rents a home in an area deemed at risk of forest fires must be informed of their legal obligation to perform débroussaillement – the clearing of brush and undergrowth – by the seller or property owner.
Homeowners in these susceptible areas are required to take proactive measures against the risks of forest fires by clearing scrub and flammable debris from their properties. This is intended to reduce the overall risk to residents and the surrounding community.
As of 1st January 2025, tenants of homes in these areas will also be responsible for clearing and maintaining their gardens, and the property owner must make this requirement clear to their renters. The changes to the regulations covering débroussaillement also apply to new homeowners, who must be notified of this legal obligation prior to the sale of the property.
A risk statement, similar to the ones already provided to buyers and tenants of houses and apartments located in potentially dangerous zones, such as in seismically active areas, near mines or in places prone to natural disasters, must be provided during first visits to anyone interested in these properties to give them a full picture of the hazards as well as their potential duties. Additionally, homes located in the areas where risk statements are required must be advertised as such.
The optimal time to carry out débroussaillement is during winter. Attempts to clear land of undergrowth and brush during the spring may negatively impact the nesting season of bird species, while the carrying out of works during the drier summer months may unintentionally increase the risks of wildfires.
To read the official governmental advice on débroussaillement and to find out if your area falls in such a zone, click here.
