| Racing drivers and their teams agree that the | | | | their residential investment a 'sure thing'? |
| jewel in the crown of the Formula One season is | | | | The Monaco Grand Prix has been held annually in |
| none other than the Monaco Grand Prix. Race | | | | the streets of the city since its inception in 1929. |
| fans tend to share this notion and will undoubtedly | | | | It is almost certainly the most prestigious |
| ponder McLaren's chances of repeating their | | | | automobile race in the world and is by far the |
| podium showing of 2007, by clinching both first | | | | most glamorous. |
| and second positions. This year sees | | | | Everyone that considers themselves anyone |
| bright-young-thing Lewis Hamilton favourite to | | | | ensures that they are 'seen' on race day. One |
| clinch not only this prestigious event, but likely the | | | | almost laughable situation during the 2004 race |
| entire season's spoils, if what one hears is to be | | | | saw Hollywood celebrities George Clooney, Brad |
| believed. | | | | Pitt and Matt Damon in attendance while |
| The glorious principality of Monaco enjoys some | | | | promoting their upcoming film Ocean's 12. |
| of the world's most sought-after addresses. Its | | | | The film features a massive diamond heist, and |
| homeowners are almost exclusively | | | | as part of the promotions, the Jaguar F1 race car |
| multi-millionaires and the common perception of | | | | of Austrian driver Christian Klein was fitted with a |
| many is that to own property there, one would | | | | £140,000 diamond, which was part of a |
| need to win the lottery. Interestingly enough, the | | | | sponsorship deal with diamond company |
| Principality boasts one of the world's highest | | | | Steinmetz. Klein hit the rail at the Loews hairpin |
| population densities with 16,477 people per square | | | | and the gemstone was lost forever. As the stone |
| kilometre. This fact becomes far less impressive | | | | is yet to re-surface, some say it lies in wait for |
| when one considers that the entire principality | | | | an extremely lucky pedestrian to find. |
| consists of an area no greater than 1.96 square | | | | Race organizers can take almost six weeks to |
| kilometres. | | | | erect the circuit and the removal after the race |
| Home ownership in this exclusive locale may not | | | | another three weeks. The circuit has many |
| be a reality to most but a visit to Monaco for its | | | | elevation changes and tight corners, along with a |
| flagship event - the Monaco F1 Grand Prix - is | | | | tunnel. This, along with the fact that the street |
| quite attainable and often the dream of true F1 | | | | course is extremely narrow, makes it perhaps the |
| racing fans worldwide. | | | | most demanding Formula One track. Only two |
| On race day, there is hardly an inch of free space | | | | drivers have ever crashed into the harbour, the |
| available, as the designer-few drive their | | | | most famous being Alberto Ascari in 1955 (Ascari |
| Lamborghinis and Ferraris at speeds far lower | | | | would lose his life four days later at Monza). The |
| than their capacity past some of the world's most | | | | other was Paul Hawkins during the 1965 event. |
| luxurious mega-yachts. It is such a lavish and | | | | As a racing spectacle, there are two camps: The |
| privileged affair that berthing fees alone for the | | | | first (distinctly smaller) considers Monaco to be a |
| day of the race can cost an average earner their | | | | race won at qualifying, with the difficulty and |
| entire annual salary. | | | | narrow nature of the circuit making overtaking |
| Race day aside, the tiny principality of Monaco | | | | almost impossible. The second camp, however, |
| (the second smallest independent state after the | | | | holds true to the belief that skilled drivers utilize |
| Vatican) is an absolute treasure trove from both | | | | the tight conditions to showcase some of the |
| a tourist and a resident's perspective. With | | | | most precise driving on display. However you see |
| 100m² apartments changing hands at prices | | | | the race and the setting, there can be no doubt |
| as high as EUR5,000,000, who wouldn't consider | | | | that it is and will forever be a spectacle to behold. |