Anything can happen and it usually does
Often chaotic but never short of controversy, the Monaco GP has given us pure motor racing theatre. Simon Arron picks 20 seminal days
1
April 14
1929
A landmark day in motor racing history, as the first Monaco Grand Prix took place on a course slightly shorter than the one we know today, though much of the layout hasn’t really altered. Englishman William Grover-Williams, racing simply as ‘Williams’, fought off an early challenge from Rudolf Caracciola’s Mercedes SSK and led for most of the 100 laps. His Bugatti T35B crossed the line more than a minute ahead of Georges Bouriano’s T35C, with Caracciola having slipped to third.
2
April 19 1931
Alfa Romeo withdrew in the wake of a tyre row (it was contracted to Pirelli, but wanted to run on Dunlops), but there were strong entries from Maserati and Bugatti. The latter’s T51s were favourites, but with grids still being drawn by ballot, Achille Varzi and Louis Chiron, above, started on row four. Varzi worked his way to the front, but a broken wheel handed the initiative to Chiron. He led thereafter and became the first and only Monégasque to win a home race.
3
August 8 1937
Bernd Rosemeyer’s Auto Union having been sidelined by steering failure, the Mercedes W125s of Rudolf Caracciola and Manfred von Brauchitsch dominated.
They fought until a lengthy stop delayed the former, but a jammed front brake cost von Brauchitsch time in the pits. He retained his lead, with Caracciola just behind, and ignored signals to let his team-mate pass.