Over the weekend, the Principality was abuzz with the sights and sounds of 100 years of racing as the 14th edition of the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco came to town.
The event, which pits legendary race cars from the golden age of motorsports against each other, was held over three days between 10th and 12th May.
The qualifying stages and races alike were full of excitement, with tense overtaking manoeuvers, dramatic entanglements and incidents involving the barriers giving spectators a real taste of what F1 racing was like “back in the day”.
Homage to Ayrton Senna
One particularly poignant part of the programme was the tribute paid to Ayrton Senna, who lost his life on the Imola Circuit in Northern Italy 30 years ago, and Monaco’s Prince Albert II joined a host of past and current drivers in honouring this icon of the sport.
On Saturday 11th May, six of the single-seaters driven by Senna completed four laps of the famous Monaco street circuit as part of a ‘Senna 30 Years Celebration Parade’ organised by the Automobile Club of Monaco in collaboration with the Instituto Ayrton Senna, Lotus Heritage and the McLaren Academy.
^ Bruno Senna, the nephew of Ayrton Senna (second from left), and former F1 driver Thierry Boutsen (second from right) were among the racing personalities to join Prince Albert II of Monaco in commemorating the driving icon on 11th May. Photo credit: Michael Alesi / Palais Princier de Monaco
^ A photograph from 1989, the year that Ayrton Senna won the 77th Monaco Grand Prix. It was his second of six wins in the Principality, a feat that remains the record for victories in Monaco. A young Prince Albert II stands behind the legendary driver. Photo credit: Gaetan Luci / Archives of the Palais Princier de Monaco
^ The single-seaters fly past the new harbour area of the Mareterra development. Photo credit: Michael Alesi / Palais Princier de Monaco
^ The Historic Grand Prix of Monaco track traces the same course that has been raced upon for almost 100 years. Photo credit: Automobile Club de Monaco / Maxime Le Juste / Jean-Marc Follete
^ Prince Albert shares a joke with Scuderia Ferrari reserve driver and F2 competitor Oliver Bearman in the control room of the race. Photo credit: Michael Alesi / Palais Princier de Monaco
^ A catalogue of great cars representing the history of Monaco Grand Prix racing was present at the event, which is held every two years. Photo credit: Michael Alesi / Palais Princier de Monaco
^ Actor and racing car driver Patrick Dempsey was among the celebrity figures to attend the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco over the weekend. Photo credit: Michael Alesi / Palais Princier de Monaco
^ Following the classic racing of the Historic Grand Prix weekend, the Principality is now preparing to welcome the Formula 1 grid to its streets, boulevards and avenues between 24th and 26th May. Photo credit: Michael Alesi / Palais Princier de Monaco
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Main photo credit: Automobile Club de Monaco / Maxime Le Juste / Jean-Marc Follete