Why there was more to Monaco than Leclerc’s Lauda Ferrari crash

The accident that befell the current Formula 1 world championship leader, which was caused by a brake issue, certainly stole the headlines. But there were also eight races, seven for grand prix cars dating back to before the Second World War and one for sportscars of the 1950s, and several past masters competing.

The historic event around the famous streets normally takes place once every two years, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the 2020 event to be postponed. That meant competitors returned just over 12 months after the 12th Historique, which was the scene of another incident involving an F1 driver and a classic Ferrari…

GT ace Stuart Hall was one of the undoubted stars this time around, scooping a double with McLaren machinery in two of the races for 1970s F1 cars.

Dominant poleman Hall made a poor getaway in the race for cars of the 1966-72 era, allowing the screaming ex-Chris Amon Matra MS120C of Jordon Grogor to lead as far as Tabac. There, Hall sent Roald Goethe’s M19A down the inside before heading off into the distance.

Grogor then came under pressure from the BRM P153 of ex-F1 racer Esteban Gutierrez. Wearing a Pedro Rodriguez tribute helmet, Gutierrez channelled his fellow Mexican despite a relative lack of power with his V12.

Sadly, Gutierrez soon dropped out with gearbox trouble, briefly causing a full-course yellow. Grogor was penalised for a jump-start and dropped to third, handing second to the Surtees TS9 of regular historic frontrunner Michael Lyons.

Hall also took pole for the 1973-76 F1 race, which had arguably the finest grid of drivers in the meeting. Brazilian veteran and 41-time world championship GP starter Roberto Moreno qualified second in an Embassy Lola T370 and three-time Le Mans winner Marco Werner was third in a Lotus 76. They were followed by Lyons (McLaren M26), winner of the contest and two other races in 2021, and Goodwood favourite Nick Padmore (Lotus 77). The field also…