The Everyperson's Guide to the Monaco Grand Prix, Pt. 2

The second part of the Swimming Pool complex consists of a quick left-right around the outside of the Rainer III Swimming Pool. Again, Grandstand M is the seat to occupy if you like this view.

This section of the track is magnificent for the simple fact that you sit very close to the action and get to see both the driver and car working hard to not skate into the barriers on the outside.

Also, the backdrop adds to the flavour to provide one of the best seats anywhere in the world to watch a motor race.

Sit here if you like:

Seeing an F1 driver pushing his machine to the absolute limit of traction whilst maintaining a decent speed.

Watch out for:

Cars with shot tyres slithering into the barriers on either side. Also, the cars are extremely close together at this part of the track in the first few laps.

The second part of the Swimming Pool complex from the other side of the track. Although not as good as Grandstand M for viewing this corner, Grandstands N, O and P are great seats if you want to see the action here. Worthy of not is the fact that this grandstand is actually floating on the harbour.

Sit here if you like:
Seeing the cars tackle this challenging section from the front.

Watch out for:
The seats on the end of the rows have a sheer drop into the harbour. Do not do what I saw one fan do and drop your camera into the drink. Camera straps are a must!

As if the first three sections of the swimming pool weren’t enough excitement for you, the fourth part makes you gasp for air.

This is my personal favourite part of the track. You never appreciate more the sheer skill of the drivers until you have sat here and seen 20 screaming F1 cars at speed through the Swimming Pool, coming to nigh on a halt and blasting out on their merry way to Rascasse.

Again, Grandstands N, O and P are your options for this part of the track (O is on the opposite side next to M and mainly overlooks the pits).

On top of all this, you get to privilege of seeing the majority of the pit lane from an elevated position. This in itself is unique as the pits are behind the actual main straight.

It’s very exciting to see the cars flicker past you through the swimming pool, only to reappear scant second later in a flurry of pit lane action.

Sit here if you like:
The unique mixture of hard braking action in foreground, with the frenzied movements of the pit lane in the background.

Watch out for:
I saw several passes lower down the pack and a few near misses. There is plenty of action through here.

The very short sprint from the Swimming Pool down to the tricky Rascasse is not as spectacular as some of the other parts of the course. However, it does really give you an appreciation of how quickly a racing car gets up to speed from a touch faster than stationary.

You also get a healthy eyeful of the pit lane (in fact, most of it is visible from the stands), so if stops are your thing grandstands T1, T2 and T3 are ideal for you. Also, the General admission area up on the hill behind the track (where this photo is taken from) gives a marvelous overhead view.

Sit here if you like:
Pit stop action and the comfort of being in one of only four stands with a canopy over the top and two TV screens in easy viewing range.

Watch out for:
The very brave making a move down into Rascasse.

Rascasse is one of those corners renowned for claiming at least one car a race. It’s greasy off-camber surface is made even more treacherous by the fact that the corner is totally blind.

Although nearly every bend on this track has greatly reduced visibility through the corner due to the proximity of the barriers to the track, Rascasse has not one ounce of vision through the turn.

To compound the problem, the pit entry is just out of site around the turn, so quickly slowing cars may catch the unwary driver off-guard.

Therefore the short story is thus: expect some kind of incident.

Grandstands T2, T2 and the General Admission area are where you want to be.

Sit here if you like:
Seeing what lies ahead of a race driver well before he does and watching his startled, wheel-jerking reaction to it.

Watch out for:
Dubious parking manoeuvres. Michael Schumacher’s efforts in 2006 have yet to be bettered. Surely someone will have a crack again soon!

The last turn and the last chance to get a good run onto the main straight. The exit here will make or break your lap, and depending on how well you get out of this turn, it might even ruin the next.

To compound the problem this corner is off camber in the middle and tight on the exit meaning there is between zero and zero-point-zero, zero one percent chance of a pass coming off.

The view here is from Grandstand V, a small stand which allows you to see the blast out of Rascasse, the pit entry and some way down the finishing straight.

Sit here if you like:
An easier post-race exit from the grandstand than the other options. Oh, and the cars sprinting down the straight on their way to the line.

Watch out for:
The pit entry at Monaco has caught out many a driver in the past, with the drivers peeling away as late as possible to dive into the lane.

The finish line is a magical place on any race track. It is the scene of jubilation and frivolity. And at Monaco, in the case of M Schumacher's famous last gasp dashes, as scene of insanity. As the saying goes, this is where the magic happens.

Site here is you like:
Spending a lot of money on an apartment. Unfortunately there are no grandstands along the main straight. Instead the very fortunate amongst us will rent a room along the main straight and watch the race from there.

Watch out for:
The mechanics running out of the pit building (which faces the harbour and not the track) run across a narrow street, jump through a small garden and clamor over a very low and unsafe guardrail to greet their driver at the line. Pure comedy.

A lot has been said of Monaco's general admission area and I include it here because like the rest of Monaco, it's a bit unique.

Where else in the world would race fans be allowed to scramble down a very steep, very slippery slope, dig out a seat and set up for the weekend. The constant risk of slipping down onto a roof makes it all the more rewarding.

Hope you enjoy the Grand Prix!