Ever wonder what it's like to drive the Monaco circuit when they're not racing? This video, which I just found, will show you. It hardly looks like an F1 circuit! A lot has to be added, like all the armco and all the grandstands, and a lot has to be removed, like the planters along the waterfront after the swimming pool, and at least one speed bump.
It does look very different indeed! I've gone to the GP de MC every year since 1992, and in 2006 when I went back to MC again a couple of months later in July, I was amazed at how much had changed once the town had been returned to its normal state.
Monaco getting ready for race....already??? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It seems that at Monaco, unlike even the other temporary circuits, all of the structures are temporary and are dismantled and re-erected every year.
I have driven there much faster than the video above on a Monday after the GP. At evening they are still starting to dismantle the circuit, but you can almost do the whole GP lap. At around 23h/00h on Monday the city becomes a bit empty because all spectators have gone but the residents are still returning home. I made sure to mimic all the F1 curbing . Very fun and didn't see a single police or receive a ticket later.
In the 80's I drove the circuit about 2 in the morning the day of the race. I was in a Renault 5 (aka Le Car) with a drunk French friend of mine. I don't know about today but back then after qualifying they opened the streets back up. I was sober (which is why I was driving) and I was being passed by nutcases in Bmws. So, I can claim to have driven the Monaco GP on race day! I should say the reason he was drunk is that we passed through the Grand Casino and he won a slot pull with one 10 Franc coin. Ah, the champagne flowed that night.
I also drove the circuit, it was awesome. The tunnel!! My only regret in life is I passed on renting a Ferrari to do it again the next day. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
I remember being there about 10 years ago in April right at Easter time and they were setting up structures right around the harbor area. I drove the course a couple years ago during the daytime. All the traffic made it far from exhilarating!
I've driven the race circuit many times, both when the course was set up and on other days during the year. Actually, I feel compelled to drive the circuit every time I'm in Monaco. The last time was a few months ago. It took over 10 minutes with the heavy traffic, pedestrian crossings and stop lights, and (at least for me) the only real resemblance to driving the race course is up the hill after St. Devote, then after the Casino to Mirabeau around the hairpin and entering the tunnel and, perhaps to a lesser extent, rounding La Rascasse. The rest is like driving on any busy city street, and you have to really concentrate to visualize what it looks like on race day. The video posted appears to have far less traffic than I usually encounter.
