WilliamsF1 Monaco GP Facts & Figures

By Andrew Hooper
May 15 2004

 

 

  
Facts & Figures
 
* In logistical terms, the consecutive Grands Prix in Monaco and at the Nürburgring are hard work. As soon as the Monte Carlo race is over, the cars are dismantled on site. Only the FW26 chassis are taken by truck to the Nürburgring. The majority of car components, including the steering, chassis and suspension parts, as well as the gearboxes, are flown back to the WilliamsF1 factory in Grove where they are subjected to the usual meticulous diagnostic checks or replaced according to schedule. Body panels are also air-freighted to Grove to be freshly painted for the European GP. The BMW P84 engines are demounted in Monte Carlo on Sunday evening and taken to Munich by truck. New racing engines for the Nürburgring are dispatched from Munich by road.

* The WilliamsF1 and BMW trucks, along with the motorhomes, drive straight to the Nürburgring. The first truck will already set off from Monaco late on Sunday evening. By midnight on Monday, the entire WilliamsF1 manifest has been moved from Monaco to the Eifel region. The final new components from Grove and Munich reach the team at the Nürburgring on Wednesday.

* The current modifications to the pit complex in Monaco, on the other hand, are easing the teams' workload. For the first time they will have the use of garages in which they can carry out work on the cars. Previously, the cars were ferried back and forth between the work tents in the paddock and the pit lane. The old buildings largely served as a shelter for the fuel rig, spare parts and computer networks.

* To allow for the extension of the pit area, part of Monaco's harbour has been reclaimed. The track section between the Swimming Pool and the Rascasse corner has been shifted towards the sea, freeing up enough space for a new pit lane, which now runs along the ocean-side of the hill. The pit lane entrance has remained in situ. The new pit building is a two-storey structure. The garages are downstairs and open to the waterside, and above them are offices. The trees were not sacrificed during the construction project, and some branches run unimpeded through the new building. The timing stands for the teams have remained in place along the start/finish straight, but there is no longer any line of sight from the pit box.

* The circuit covers a distance of 3.340 kilometres. The Monaco course is the shortest GP circuit of all and has more race laps than anywhere else (78). Even so, at 260.520 kilometres, it has the shortest race distance of the season..

* The Monaco Grand Prix kicks off at the usual European start time of 14.00 hrs on Sunday, 23rd May 2004. Qualifying also takes place at the customary time on Saturday. On Friday, however, the Formula One engines will remain silent as the first two free practice sessions have been brought forward to Thursday.

* Since the official launch of Formula One in 1950, Monaco has played host to 50 Grands Prix. The first was won by Juan Manuel Fangio on Alfa Romeo. The race distance at the time was 100 laps, amounting to 318 kilometres.

* WilliamsF1 has celebrated three wins in the Principality to date. In 1980, Carlos Reutemann was first to cross the finish line, in 1983 it was Keke Rosberg, and in 2003 the winner was Juan Pablo Montoya for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team. Pole position in 2003 was taken by his team-mate Ralf Schumacher with a lap time of 1:15.259 minutes. Kimi Raikkonen driving for McLaren-Mercedes posted the fastest race lap at 1:14.545 minutes.

* Covering an area of 1.95 square kilometres, Monaco is the world's second smallest independent state after the Vatican. It comprises the districts of Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco Ville and Monte Carlo. The state is famous as a gambling paradise and tax haven, and has a total population of 32,000, just 16 percent of whom are true Monegasques.

* Monaco is a hereditary monarchy as set down in the 1962 constitution. Its head of state is Prince Rainier III. In 1419, Monaco became an independent state when the Grimaldi dynasty secured power.
 
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