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| Monte
Carlo - Monaco |
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| Monaco
Grand Prix - 01 June 2003 |
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| Race
Distance : |
262.860km
/ 163.334m |
| Number
of Laps : |
78 |
| Lap
Distance : |
3.370km
/ 2.094m |
| Lap
Record : |
D.
Coulthard 1.19.424 |
| Qualifying
: |
13:00
- May 25/2002 |
| Race
: |
14:00
- May 26/2002 |
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| The
start of the Monaco Grand Prix is
all about getting to, and through,
the very first corner safely. Do
that and you have a chance! The
Virage de Sainte Devote is a near
90-degree right-hander that is
approached from the Start-Finish
line at 170 mph. Then, it's a hard
brake at -3.6 g and down to a
2nd-gear 55 mph for cornering. The
Montée du Beau Rivage is a short
straight that takes the cars past
the world famous Rosie's Bar in 6th
gear at 165 mph and then it's over
the crest of the hill and down to
4th gear as Virage Massenet beckons.
A long left-hander, the car must be
kept close to the inside kerb in 3rd
gear at 80 mph. The cars then come
to Virage Casino which is a quick
right-hander that is taken in 2nd
gear at 70 mph. |
| Coming
out of Casino the cars get a chance
to accelerate briefly along a short
straight before they enter one of
the most complex sections of the
course. The Virage Mirabeau is
approached downhill in 4th at 130
mph, requiring fast gear changes to
get into 2nd gear for this bumpy
right-hander, taken slowly at 30
mph. Out of this comes the short
approach to the Virage Loews, a
left-hand hairpin negotiated in 2nd
gear at about 20 mph with the
steering turned full lock, then
right - this is one of the most
famous TV and photographic views in
F1. The turns are ended by the
Virage du Portier, another sharp
right-hander cleared in 2nd gear at
50 mph. |
| Coming
out of the turns, the cars start on
a long sweep through the Tunnel.
Noise and sparks fly as the cars
change up to 5th gear and 145 mph.
Once out of the tunnel, left-right
Nouvelle Chicane is approached at
175 mph before drivers change down
to 2nd gear and a sedate 30 mph. |
| The
most spectacular and glamourous part
of the course is Tabac, lying, as it
does, alongside the harbour, which
is driven through at 95 mph in 4th
gear. Piscine or the Swimming Pool
complex provides a short kink in the
circuit which pushes the drivers
through a succession of gear changes
and speeds ranging from 50 mph to
100 mph. This section of the circuit
underwent major revision prior to
the 1997 Grand Prix to make it
safer. |
| Virage
de la Rascasse is the slowest part
of the circuit with a very tight
hairpin that is taken in 1st gear at
a crawling 20 mph. Along a very
short straight and a faster
right-hander, Virage Anthony Noghes,
is taken in 2nd at 45 mph before
accelerating and climbing upwards
into the Start-Finish straight. |
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