The date - Sunday, May 14, 1961; the place; nicely, it's discovered on the northern central coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It's a small principality that is surrounded on three sides by its much bigger neighbor, France. The center of this tiny place is also less than 10 miles from Italy. It covers lower than a square mile. Monaco is the identify of the place... each the country and it's capital city. In fact, it is solely city. Finest identified for being a well-known tax haven and favorite vacation spot of the jet-setting wealthy, this one explicit day in historical past, Monaco was host to the inaugural race of the 1961 Formulation One season.
The race was the first World Championship event held beneath a brand new 1.5 litre engine displacement limit ruling. Mainly this new set of regulations regarding automotive configuration made engines much less highly effective but the driving machine barely extra balanced from earlier years. It will additionally demand of each driver that somewhat than muscling his manner across the observe, he'd should be more skillful and strategic in his driving to remain competitive.
Even earlier than race day, excitement and racing motion fore-shadowed what was to come. Most notably, Innes Ireland crashed in the tunnel simply earlier than one of many quickest stretches of the course during the final session of practice. His Lotus was completely destroyed and his leg was damaged, effectively eliminating him from competing.
Stirling Moss was to take the pole place driving number 20, an underpowered Lotus (using a Coventry-Climax engine), for the Rob Walker team. Moss shared the primary row with Richie Ginther who was driving for the Ferrari group and Jim Clark who was additionally driving for staff Lotus. Two "Hills" share the second row, Graham Hill drove for BRM and Phil Hill, who drove for Ferrari.
The Starting flag was waved and Richie Ginther rapidly took the lead (adopted closely by Clark and Moss) into the primary corner. From there, Jim Clark shortly turned plagued with mechanical difficulties and dropped again in the race. He was not to finish. In lap 14, Richie Ginther fell to third. Moss and Jo Bonnier (from a ninth position start) passed him at virtually the same time. 1 / 4 way into the race, Moss had blazed a formidable 10 second lead in front of the opposite racers. From behind, the more highly effective Ferraris of Hill and Ginther discovered their approach round Jo Bonnier (then in 2nd) and commenced to press the arduous gained hole of Stirling Moss. Half method by way of, Moss has solely an 8 second lead. By lap 60 it has been pared right down to only 3 seconds. At lap 75 Richie Ginther moved into second place and tried to close the gap, however Moss was prepared to do battle. They jockeyed for position for the rest of this thrilling race, giving race followers fairly the spectacle to remember. Moss was to take the checkered flag in 2:forty five:50.1, just 3.6 quick seconds ahead of second place competitor, Richie Ginther. Stirling Moss was to make this race his third such victory.
I used to be virtually two months outdated when the sixty one Monaco GP took place. Having seen outdated black and white footage of this dramatic piece of auto racing history, I can honestly say it is among the most exciting System One occasions that I've watched. Even 50 years after it took place and knowing the result prematurely, I can still watch and revel in it once more and again.
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