A look back at the first Monaco Grand Prix
On 14 April 1929 the first ever Grand Prix of Monaco was held on the streets of Monte Carlo. The challenging course, which included many bends and two hairpins, had to be completed 100 times to complete the race.
The history
The race was established by wealthy cigarette manufacturer Antony Noghès. Along with some friends, he had set up the Automobile Club de Monaco and the invited 16 participants raced for a prize of 100,000 French francs. The race was supported by Prince Louis II and the Monegasque driver of that time, Louis Chiron, and was cleared by Prince Pierre of Monaco, who drove the course in a Voisin car just prior to the race itself.
There were no qualifying heats and the grid positions were drawn by a ballot. Philippe Étancelin drew pole position; his main rival, Rudolf Caracciola, started 15th.
The race
The race was not …