Monte Carlo offered three exhilarating days filled with races and parades of historic racing cars that have defined motor racing history
by Giovanni Gasparini*
The Principality of Monaco experienced a revival of its golden era of motor racing. The Grand Prix Historique, organised by the Automobile Club de Monaco
took place, evoking the glory days of yesteryear by bringing back onto the streets of the city circuit – the most challenging and fascinating of them all – the cars that raced there between the 1920s and 1980s. A notable update to this 15th edition was the inclusion of turbocharged Formula 1 single-seaters, vehicles that revolutionised motor racing from 1977.
// H.S.H Prince Albert II took to the Circuit de Monaco at the wheel of a Bugatti Type 41, better known as the ‘Bugatti Royale’. //
The huge paddock, set up specifically on the harbour quay, was transformed into an open-air museum, bustling with hard-working mechanics dismantling, assembling, oiling and hammering…
Kicking things off were the 1920s and 1930s, dedicated to the legendary Monegasque driver Louis Chiron, with the never-ending battle between Bugatti (no fewer than 11 on the grid), Alfa Romeo and Maserati. Next came the glorious 1950s – dominated by the figure of the unforgettable champion Juan Manuel Fangio – in which the magnificent Maserati 250Fs, perhaps the most beautiful ever built, competed against the early Ferraris and the British Cooper-Bristolsand Lotuses: racing cars capable of easily exceeding 300 kilometres per hour, despite their basic brakes.
The 15th Historic Monaco Grand Prix attracted a high profile crowd, with drivers, athletes, and actors gathering in the Paddock. Among the notable attendees were Formula 1 drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Fernando Alonso.
The 1960s – marked by the victories of the charismatic Graham Hill – were celebrated by the legendary ‘torpedoes’, such as Lotus, Cooper and Brabham, which, moreover, gave the 1964 Ferrari 512 a run for its money. Speaking of Ferrari, the unmissable parade of red cars was spectacular: 12 marvels took to the track, including Michael Schumacher’s iconic F2004 and the F2007 driven by Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen – the latter of which, incidentally, saw Räikkönen crowned world champion.
The 2026 Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, organized by the Automobile Club de Monaco, celebrated the golden age of motorsport by bringing over 100 historic cars and single-seater racing cars to the track. The initiative highlighted the values of engineering excellence, innovation, and passion that continue to define this discipline from generation to generation.
Naturally, the event was attended by some real heavyweights from the world of motor racing: Jean Alesi took the wheel of the 1969 Ferrari 312, whilst Jacky Ickx – aged 81 – tamed the power of the 1968 model. Unfortunately, the French driver was involved in a spectacular crash, from which, thankfully, he emerged unscathed. Adrenaline on the track – and more besides.
Jacky Ickx, pictured with Jean Alesi, one of the event’s guests of honour, at the age of 81, handled the more than 400 hp of the legendary 1968 Ferrari 312 with great skill. Designed by engineer Mauro Forghieri, it was the first single-seater ever to introduce a rear wing to improve downforce, anticipating modern concepts of aerodynamics.
During the three-day event, two auctions were also organised, much to the delight of wealthy and die-hard enthusiasts. The British auction house Bonhams raised over 10 million euros, with numerous rally cars also going under the hammer. RM Sotheby’s, amongst others, sold two iconic red cars: the 1991 Ferrari 642 for 3.8 million euros and an extremely rare 312 T3 for 4.3 million, a marvellous single-seater from 1978 driven by the most beloved driver of all time, Gilles Villeneuve. Although, at least for this edition, the lucky winner who, for 16.6 million euros, took home one of the extremely rare 1960s Ferrari 250 GT SWB Californias will go down in history. Bien Fait!
(Grand Prix Historique – The sound of legend – Barchemagazine.com – Excerpted from Barche, August)
