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of the world's greatest and most challenging motor-racing events, the Monaco Grand
Prix is the last 'street course' remaining in the Formula
One calendar. Staged around the narrow, winding streets of Monte
Carlo, the attraction of the Monaco Grand Prix is the proximity
of the speeding Formula One cars to the race spectators. The twisting
78-lap circuit offers countless opportunities over the 263-kilometre
race to witness the thrill of screaming engines, smoking tyres and
the genius of the drivers on a course that allows no margin for
error.
Since
the first Monaco Grand Prix
was staged on the 14
April 1929, the fastest average race speed has risen
from 80 kilometres (50 miles) per hour to 142 kilometres (88 miles)
per hour. Seventh in the Formula One racing calendar (following
the Austrian Grand Prix on 13th May and preceding the Canadian Grand
Prix on 10th June), the 64th Monaco
Grand Prix takes place at 2:00 pm on 20th May 2004,
following preliminary rounds on the 21st and 22nd. |
The
78-lap race begins with a short burst of acceleration before the
treacherous right hand of Virage St Devote. Accelerating up through
the gears from St Devote before slowing for the sharp left into
Casino Square, it then opens up again for the downhill section past
the Hotel
Metropole. Keeping to the right in the approach to
the Hotel Mirabeau
corner, it gathers speed before slowing dramatically for the hairpin
at the Monte
Carlo Grande Hotel and the sharp right of the Virage
du Portier. Down into the cool darkness of the tunnel, where the
sweeping curve facilitates the circuit's fastest section, then accelerating
up through the gears, the cars emerge into the sunlight at 280 kilometres
per hour (174 miles per hour).
Decelerating
for the tight left and right of the chicane, there's a brief surge
of speed just before the swimming pool. |
The
hairpin of Virage Rascasse leads on to the uphill section,
before the dangerous Virage Anthony Noghes and a burst of
acceleration towards the end of the first lap, to face again
the challenge of Virage St Devote. |
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