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Monaco’s new F1 experience: “Closing the gap between virtual and reality”

by: Luke Entwistle
20/05/2022

AS Grand Prix vibes reach fever pitch, Monaco’s own Bond international, RS Simulation and iCrew Services are partnering-up to bring a thrilling F1 simulator experience to the Principality, on the biggest screen you could ever imagine.

“As with most things, we like to do something that we think has not been done before,” Bond Management Director Will Faimatea tells Monaco Life.

What they have created in the Samsung Lounge is certainly something that hasn’t been seen, or experienced, in the Principality before. The enormous, ultra-modern, electronically advanced screen by Samsung, dubbed “The Wall”, is a must-see in itself. Pair that with a €42,000 SectorOne professional simulator created in partnership with Scuderia Alpha Tauri’s F1 driver Pierre Gasly, and you have a seriously immersive racing experience.

This “eye-catching” synergy between Bond and RS Simulation Monaco was born out of a chance meeting between Will Faimatea and Jonathan Mareschal, business director of RS Simulation Monaco. Having seen the capacities of the simulator on a 50” screen, Faimatea immediately saw the potential to maximise the product and bring it to a larger, more advanced screen.

“The Wall is suited to fast moving actions, which you get driving on the simulator because we’re driving through Monaco and the background is changing at a very high speed,” says Faimatea.

The Wall is often used to show sporting events and movies, but the addition of the simulator will allow guests to engage in an exclusive, unforgettable experience.

The SectorOne simulator itself is the first compact simulator born from real racing, from the work of race engineers using simulation as a tool in the racing industry to answer an increasing demand of professional drivers wanting to work/train at home. They include Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly, SectorOne’s main ambassador, a racing enthusiast eager to use the ultimate simulation technology, as performant as luxurious.

The SectorOne was inaugurated in 2019 with Pierre Gasly on a yacht in Monaco, whilst a whole host of other drivers such as Nico Hülkenburg, Nico Rosberg and Jean Eric Vergne have also tested what the simulator has to offer. It is “a state of the art compact simulator to live the race at its best,” according to Pierre Gasly.

Simulators are nothing new. They’re well-known for gaming and sim racing. You can often go to racing events around the world and try them out, but it’s normally on a small screen and they’re a cheap set-up designed for the general public.

Jonathan Mareschal says RS Simulation wants to offer people more than a game from a simulator experience. “Since 2013, RS Simulation Monaco has developed professional simulators for professional racing teams, and as the general public cannot access anything like this, we aim to provide them with a taste of real racing with luxurious finishing,” says Mareschal.

The focus of RS Simulation’s engineers is therefore to deliver the most accurate feedback to the driver, with components as close as possible to those used in the racing world, or even actual racing parts.

“What we’re trying to do is close the gap between virtual and reality,” adds Mareschal. “The public can try our cutting-edge SectorOne tubular frame (like a real roll cage), the finest Dbox Haptic motion platform with a professional hydraulic pedal box system, one of the best steering wheel’s available, and a carbon fiber racing seat in a single-seater position.”

And this is where the partnership with Bond comes in, creating something unique and special within the Principality of Monaco. “One thing that is very important on a simulator is graphics. You need to be as immersed as possible,” says Mareschal. “So, this immersion is critical and here the idea is ultra-innovative. It’s like a laboratory with Samsung’s technology, with The Wall. You don’t usually find simulators with this size screen.”

There is a reason for that: the logistical challenge of bringing together the two elements cannot be underestimated. Trent Sprules, managing director of iCrew Services, is used to installing simulators at events such as the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, but setting it up in a small lounge in Monaco provided a unique set of challenges. “Getting the simulator in here, up the narrow stairs, is quite a challenge,” he explains.

Key to this project is the idea of creating an “experience”. It is one thing to have the tools, but maximising their potential is the important part. Faimatea has already formulated plans to attract clients not just from Monaco, but beyond.

“It’s something that wasn’t previously available in Monaco,” began Faimatea. “So, it’s about increasing exposure in Monaco, and also bringing in outside companies for corporate events; to experience Monaco with staff and management teams, try the simulator and have some competitive fun; see who gets the best time in the company, for example.”

The competitive element is a key ingredient to the project, and could manifest itself in a type of “Monaco Cup” where clients compete to record the best times. “The idea is to have the best drivers and personalities in Monaco come here, to enjoy it and think for example: Pierre Gasly or Mika Häkkinen has set such a flying lap time. I have the opportunity now to challenge them,” says Mareschal.

More broadly speaking, the addition of the simulator to the Samsung Lounge is about creating a more interactive event. Clients have long since been used to visiting the lounge to watch sporting events, for example the F1 races, but that is about to change, starting with this weekend’s Spanish GP.

“The simulator brings so much added value to the event. When you watch an F1 race, you stay passive, but here the VIP can become active. They are part of it. It’s interactive,” says Mareschal.

“The idea is that you come in before the official race, do a couple of time trials on the track, and then watch the race live on The Wall with the memory of having just driven it,” adds Faimatea.

And that is the key to this synergy event, this perfect marriage of Monegasque businesses. By coming together, pooling their respective expertise, they are creating a new experience in the Principality, one that is unique and interactive and, with the introduction of the “Monaco Cup”, potentially highly competitive.

 

 

Photos provided

 

 

 

 

Teams chosen for Riviera Water Bike Challenge

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/05/2022

A record-busting 15 teams are now signed up for the 2022 edition of the Riviera Water Bike Challenge charity event, organised by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation to support their water safety programme for children in Sri Lanka. Here’s who will be battling it out this year.

The Rivera Water Bike Challenge (RWBC) has a new format this year and has managed to attract a huge number of participants, including many celebrity names, all for a good cause.

The last edition saw racers journey from Calvi, Corsica, to the Principality. This year, the race will be set up so spectators can enjoy all the fun from the Solarium of the Digue Rainier III from 10am Sunday 5th June as participants do a relay race in the Port of Monaco.

The teams will depart from the Yacht Club of Monaco and will run the set course of approximately 25 kilometres.

A draw held on 18th May at the Yacht Club of Monaco selected two celebrities to be part of each of the 15 teams competing. They are as follows:

Team Serenity, winning team from 2018 and already drawn, with Mark Webber, David Tanner, Terence Parkin and Caleb Ewan

Team Yacht Club de Monaco – with Pernilla Wiberg and Sofiane Boukichou

Team Mareterra – with Dan Luger and Kaiden Keyser

Team Special Olympics – with Gustavo Menezes and Cesc Fabregas

Team AMAO (Monegasque Association of Olympic Athletes) – with Jack Doohan and Victoria Silvstedt

Team AS Monaco FC – with Andrew Cotton and Bryan Habana

Team Lionheart – with Paula Radcliffe and Boris Vain

Team Monaco Cavaliers – with Kevin Crovetto and Egan Bernal

Team Interpadel – with Dee Bost and Bjorn Maaseide

Team Blitz – with Marco Holzer and Mika Häkkinen

Team U Cignale – with Dakota Schuetz and Filippo Pozzato

Team CMB – with Antti Vierula and Alexandra Bilodeau

Team Orestes – with Pierre Frolla and Muriel Hurtis

Team Metabolic Balance – with Marlene Harnois and Rudy Rinaldi

Team Beefbar – with Jérôme Fernandez and Frederik Paulsen

The public will be able to follow the race in real-time on a dedicated feed found at www.fpcm.mc/live.

Proceeds from the event will go to fund the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s ‘Swim for Safety’ project in Sri Lanka to teach swimming and water safety to disadvantaged children leading up to the next World Conference on Drowning Prevention in 2023.

 

Photo by Michael Alesi, Government Communication Department

 

 

ASM preview: “We have nothing to lose”

by: Luke Entwistle
20/05/2022

AS Monaco manager Philippe Clement has revealed that guaranteed qualification to the Europa League has eased the pressure going into Saturday’s game, saying that the team has “nothing to lose”.

For the first time all season, Philippe Clement’s side go into a match as an occupant of a podium spot; it is the first time that they are the hunted and not the hunter. Only one match remains to defend their position. It is reasonable to assume that under such circumstances, the pressure is mounting on the players to deliver, but Clement revealed that the opposite is in fact true.

“It’s the first time we have nothing to lose,” he began. “We have already secured Europa League football. That was a club objective at the start of the season. It hasn’t been easy catching up to get to this point. Now there are extra things that we can win on Saturday. That is different from earlier months,” he concluded.

Questioned by Monaco Life as to whether that means that a Champions League qualification will have meant that they have surpassed expectations, the former Club Brugge coach replied, “I don’t know because nobody told me that if we didn’t get onto the podium then it’s a bad season. That’s never been said here.”

He continued, “You have to look at the entire season. The club lost too many points in the first 60-70% of games of the season. We lost too many points in that period. It’s good that everyone has reacted at the end and done good things.”

Before heading up to Lens for what Clement rightly described as a “decisive” fixture, the side were joined by Dimitry Rybolovlev at the club’s training ground on Thursday. He observed training alongside the technical director James Bunce, whilst sporting director Paul Mitchell was also present during the session at La Turbie.

“Rybolovlev said he was happy with everyone’s work, and encouraged us ahead of Saturday’s match,” said Clement. “We are happy to be able to count on his support and that has always been the case since I’ve been here,” he added.

The presence and support of their owner isn’t the only thing that has buoyed them ahead of the trip up north. Youssouf Fofana in particular revealed that Wednesday’s open training session at the Stade Louis II had given them “energy,” whilst Clement is also looking at the longer-term impacts of the event.

He told Monaco Life, “Seeing our supporters can give us a lot of energy for the future. Lots of children came to see us. As the tickets for the Lens match sold out so quickly, they won’t necessarily be able to attend the match, but I’m sure they’ll watch on the big screen at the Stade Louis II. To have more supporters inside the ground, supporting the players is certainly one of my objectives for the future.”

But it is AS Monaco’s short-term success that may determine whether such objectives can be met. The allure of Champions League football at the Stade Louis II cannot be understated, and a draw against Lens would suffice to achieve it, although a victory would ensure safe passage to the group stages without needing to pass through the perilous play-offs: a hurdle at which Monaco stumbled this season. Although there are many scenarios and different moving parts going into this final weekend, the reality is that Monaco’s destiny is in their own hands: a position that Clement and Monaco clearly relish.

 

Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

 

 

 

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 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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)