A tour of Monaco's GP Circuit
Monaco, of course, is most famous for the F1 Grand Prix, but Porsche one make championships support the GP and in the past it also featured the BMW M1 Procar and Jaguar XJR15 championship events, so it has a tenuous claim on being of interest to sportscar enthusiasts and, hey, it's an iconic motor racing circuit, whatever you think of its suitabilty to the huge modern F1 monstrosities.
In 2024, my wife and I spent a few days in Nice and caught the train to Monaco to walk the circuit and visit the Oceanagraphic Museum (one of my great loves is Scuba diving) and generally enjoy some late autumn warmth away from the unrelentily grey UK.
XJR15s in St Devote
We arrived at the circuit and walked down to the St Devote corner, which is the first on the circuit, a right hander into the long climb up to Casino Square.
View into St Devote
View looking back to St Devote
We then headed up the hill that runs alongside the harbour on Av.D'Ostende and then tweaked off the main road to dive into Casino Square.
The climb up to Casino Square
Hotel on Casino Square
Procar in Casino Square
The famous Casino
Then we turned right out of Casino Square to descend Av. Des Spelugues, which takes you down to the Mirabeau hairpins.
The descent down Av. Des Spelugues to Mirabeau
Into Mirabeau, looking back up the hill to Casino square
The turn into Mirabeau Haut is a right hander.
Mirabeau Haut
Mirabeau Haut
Then you drop steeply to the hairpin that takes you back and down to almost sea level
The famous Mirabeau hairpin descent from above
The Mirabeau hairpin
On foot, you pass a statue of an F1 car (possibly a 1990s Williams?)
F1 car statue near Portier
Things were under construction during our visit and it wasn't immediately obvious where the tunnel was, but we eventually found it after navigating past numerous building sites.
Entrance to the tunnel
The tunnel is quite light, being open to the ocean on the left hand side as you sweep along the long curve towards the chicane just after you exit the tunnel.
In the tunnel
Here we turned onto the Quai Des Etats-Unis, going straight on takes you up what is the escape road for those unable to make the chicane.
Out of the tunnel to the jink onto Quai Des Etats-Unis
From there we walked along the harbour front, past Tabac and into the Swimming Pool left-right right-left section.
Sweep past Tabac
Into the swimming pool area
Exit from the swimming pool
From there it's a curve to the Rascasse curve, named after the famous bar on the corner (Rascasse is French for Scorpion Fish, I discovered on this trip, and they are a common sight here).
Rascasse
You then ascend a little, past a statue of Fangio and his Mercedes on non-race days, at least.
Fangio statue
Exit from Anthony Noghes onto start/finish straight
At that point you are into the Anthony Noghes section and onto Boulevard Albert 1er, which is the start finish straight.
Grid markings
This is widened for race meetings, as the grid markings extend under the left hand curb stones!
From there it's a short walk up to the Finish line, marked as a chequered line on the road surface.
Finish line, with a Ferrari!
Ahead of you is some more straight before you turn right (all being well!) and take St Devote again.
If you're ever in Monaco, a walk around the circuit is both easy to find and a good way to take into many of Monte Carlo's iconic sights and views.