Porsche Michelin Supercup Round 3 - Monaco F1 Grand Prix

Porsche Michelin Supercup Round 3
- Monaco F1 Grand Prix
(21st May 2005)

Racing on the world's most famous track

Back in 1983, as a 14-year old living in England, I watched Keke Rosberg win the Monaco Grand Prix. On a wet track the Finn started the race with slick dry-weather tyres. He danced his Williams-Ford between the barriers at electrifying speed. It was a great victory. Inspired I went out into a drizzly English afternoon and, for the first time ever, achieved an oversteer slide – on my bicycle. Last week, 22 years on, I was sliding again, but this time actually at Monaco - and in a racing car.

After his victory in this year's Monaco Grand Prix McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen said, “a win here scores the same 10 points as at any other race,” but he admitted that, “perhaps people look at you differently when you win Monaco.” Like the Le Mans 24-hours and the USA’s Indianapolis 500, the Monaco Grand Prix is more than just a championship round.

The same is true for the warm-up acts. The Porsche Michelin Supercup supports all the European rounds of the F1 World Championship - and the United States Grand Prix - but the race at Monaco is the most prestigious. Thus being invited to drive one of the two VIP cars was an extraordinary privilege.

My excitement level was raised further by the news that my team mate for the weekend would be Stephane Ortelli. Together with Allan McNish and Laurent Aiello the Frenchman had won the 1998 Le Mans 24-hours for Porsche. It was probably no coincidence that Ortelli was shortly after offered Monegasque nationality.

Huisman leads Ortelli and Zampedri down to Mirabeau

After being fastest in the free practice session Stephane qualified second to Patrick Huisman. The order remained the same in the race despite Ortelli's best efforts.

I was seven seconds slower that Stephane in the first session. Then a little over three in qualifying. This put me 14th on the grid. I made a good start but lost this advantage in the first corner. I finished the 16-lap race in the same position.

The winner: Patrick Huisman

The experience of racing at Monaco was fantastic and, perhaps obviously, I am now very keen to have another go - and to try to improve on my performance!