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Monaco Local Reference INFOrmation

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Monaco Formula One Grand Prix

Information on the prestigious F1 motor sporting event which comes to Monaco each year. Find out the history, the circuit, where to get tickets and how to watch the race in the Principality.

The 68th Monaco Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday 23 May 2010. The practice and qualifying sessions take place from the previous Thursday, 20 May 2010.

Full details on the course schedule from the Automobile Club de Monaco

General Information

The Grand Prix, including practice sessions, generally takes place over four days on the last weekend in May each year; however in recent years the race itself has taken place as early as 7 May and as late as 4 June. The event frequently coincides with the Ascension public holiday in the Principality which occurs 40 days after Easter and would fall on the Thursday of the first practice sessions.

History

The first Grand Prix was raced in 1929 at a time when the world championship did not exist. The race was held for the next eight years before the Second World War broke out and interrupted the racing calendar. Three more races took place between 1948 and 1952 before Monaco became a permanent fixture in the racing calendar.

The Circuit

The circuit is over three kilometres long and the race covers 78 laps. The race starts on Boulevard Albert 1er, turns right at Place Sainte Dévote and climbs Avenue d'Ostende, round the Massenet curve to the left followed by a right turn across Place du Casino to Avenue des Spélugues and its downhill hairpin bends to a right turn into Boulevard Louis II which takes it through the tunnel and then on to Quai Albert 1er and around the port before a right hairpin turn at Rascasse and the end/beginning of the circuit.

Road Closures

There are road closures around Monaco and specifically the circuit.

The circuit itself is closed to traffic from:

07:00-18:30 on the Thursday
07:00-13:30 on the Friday
06:00-19:00 on the Saturday
07:00-19:00 on the Sunday (race day)

Further details will be released closer to the race.

Tickets

Tickets for the grandstands around the circuit are available through the Automobile Club de Monaco. There are also many hospitality companies that offer VIP packages.

Viewing points

Good vantage points are difficult and expensive to obtain. Hotel rooms, private balconies, terraces, restaurant tables and yachts are some of the places to view the Grand Prix. There are no official free viewing areas.

Hotels in the region are heavily booked as are flights to Nice Airport. The cost of a hotel room with view of the circuit for just one night can multiply over 20 times and be over €10,000. The best rooms are usually booked months in advanced.

Other events

Many charity events take place around the Grand Prix (free diving, drivers' charity football match), details of which are released closer to the race.