| The tiny principality of Monaco, | | | | officially launched, Monaco has known |
| essentially comprising the famous resort | | | | only fourteen years without the race: |
| and casino of Monte-Carlo, is located on | | | | during the war years between 1939 and |
| the French Riviera, sandwiched in | | | | 1947 and then in 1949, 1951, 1953 and |
| between the City of Nice and Italy. | | | | 1954. However from the 1950s onwards the |
| Monaco is renowned for many things, not | | | | Grand Prix became a main feature in the |
| least its casino and number of yachts | | | | annual calendar of World Champion Racing |
| and millionaires per square meter. But | | | | Drivers. |
| perhaps most famously, Monaco is known | | | | As to the circuit itself, over its long |
| for the Grand Prix, now held annually at | | | | life it has never undergone any |
| the end of May. | | | | significant changes, the length |
| The Monaco Grand Prix was held for the | | | | remaining the same until 1950. Then in |
| first time on April 14th 1929 under the | | | | 1952, modifications to the Sainte Devote |
| patronage of Prince Louis II of Monaco. | | | | bend led to the shortening of the track |
| This first race had only 16 competitors | | | | to 3145 kilometers. |
| who had to complete the 100 laps of the | | | | It underwent another change in 1973, |
| 200-mile circuit. The outcome was that | | | | when it was increased in length by 135 |
| the race was won by William Grover | | | | meters through the addition of a new |
| Williams (usually simply referred to as | | | | stretch of track along the road |
| "Williams"), representing Molsheim, | | | | bordering the port, which joined up with |
| driving a green Bugatti 35B at an | | | | the track at the new marina, finishing |
| average speed of around 50 miles per | | | | in a hairpin bend around the famous |
| hour. The color of his car was to become | | | | Monegasque restaurant "La Rascasse". |
| famous as the British racing color from | | | | Visitors to Monaco today will notice the |
| then on. | | | | annual spectacle of grandstand erection |
| The appearance of the Monaco Grand Prix | | | | along the length of the old port a full |
| on international racing calendars is the | | | | two months before the date of the race. |
| result of the work of a certain Antony | | | | In Monaco, adequate preparation is |
| Noghes, a prosperous cigarette | | | | crucial to the success of the race! |
| manufacturer, who together with some | | | | Since the length of the laps had been |
| friends, in the mid 1920s set up the | | | | increased, it was then considered |
| Automobile Club of Monaco, an | | | | necessary to reduce the number of laps, |
| association that originated out of the | | | | and the race became one of 78 laps in |
| original association Sport Automobile et | | | | total. Then in 1976, a further two |
| Velocipedique, dating back as far as | | | | chicanes were added, the first being at |
| 1890. | | | | Sainte Devote, the other at the location |
| In order for the Monaco Grand Prix to | | | | of the Rascasse hairpin bend. Together |
| expand and recognized internationally by | | | | this extended the length of each lap by |
| the then equivalent of the International | | | | 34 meters. |
| Automobile Federation, an automobile | | | | Another ten years of racing history |
| sporting event had to be organized on | | | | followed swiftly on with little change, |
| its own territory. This is all well and | | | | until the 44th Monaco Grand Prix, when |
| good until you appreciate a few basic | | | | the road-widening scheme at the start of |
| facts about the country of Monaco. | | | | the Quai des Etats Unis enabled the |
| Monaco is in fact the second-smallest | | | | creation of yet another chicane, |
| independent country in the world, and | | | | resulting in the lap length increasing |
| the most densely populated, covering an | | | | to a little over two miles. |
| area of only 1.95 square kilometers. So | | | | In spite of its origins, the many |
| what did Antony Noghes do? This | | | | changes of elevation, narrow streets and |
| enterprising fellow proposed the | | | | tight corners make the Monaco Grand Prix |
| creation of an Grand Prix which would | | | | perhaps the most demanding and indeed |
| take place right in the streets of the | | | | the most dangerous track in modern day |
| Principality. He even managed to obtain | | | | Formula 1 racing. In fact the narrowness |
| the official support of Prince Louis II | | | | of many of the streets make it highly |
| and Louis Chiron, the famous Monegasque | | | | dangerous and almost impossible to |
| racing driver. Surprisingly enough, | | | | overtake on many parts of the track. |
| after a detailed study of the layout of | | | | However its history and the absolute |
| Monaco, it was decided that the | | | | spectacle of the event are likely to |
| topography of the area was indeed well | | | | guarantee the future of the event in the |
| suited to the setting up of a natural | | | | history of racing sports for years to |
| racetrack. | | | | come. |
| Since the Grand Prix was first | | | | |