For nearly a century, an automobile race held in a small principality south of France has been considered one of the pinnacle events of motorsports. With the track spanning nearly the whole country, the Monaco Grand Prix is no stranger to the spotlight.
Part of the Triple Crown of Motorsports, alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the importance of the Monte Carlo event is beyond apparent. Masses of racing fans make their pilgrimage to the historic event each year. Furthermore, the sight of yachts lining the harbor has become a staple of the race.
With such significance in the racing world, it is no surprise that the event receives global attention and coverage. As a result, the motorsport spectacle has earned its own spot in the limelight of Utah media. Looking at the Monaco Grand Prix’s coverage in Utah over the years provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the extensive history of the event and its publication in the Beehive State.
One of the earliest instances of Utah media coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix was via a publication in the Salt Lake Telegram. The piece was printed on April 3, 1930, only the second year of the race’s existence. The work mentioned the introduction of “pari-mutuel” betting, also known as pool-betting, to the sport for “the first time in the history of automobile racing.” The piece noted the coordination of car colors and numbers with manufactures, comparing it to stable representation in horse racing.
After a hiatus for the event, it returned to the racing scene in 1948. Furthermore, the spectacle also became a part of the Formula One World Championship for its first season in 1950. An entry in the Deseret News from May of 1955 reflects on that year’s qualifying for the race. As a result, it provides a solid representation of race pace in the early years of Formula One.
The publication notes that Mercedes’ Juan Manuel Fangio earned pole position for the 1955 Grand Prix with a lap time of 1:41.1. For comparison, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc earned pole in 2024 with a time of 1:10.270, nearly 31 seconds faster than Fangio’s time.
Despite Fangio’s qualifying performance, he failed to finish the race. Alberto Ascari, another favorite to win the race, famously crashed his car into the harbor during the event. Maurice Trintignant ended up claiming the victory for Ferrari, while eleven cars did not finish the race.
The Logan Herald highlighted the 1970 Grand Prix in its upcoming week. The publication anticipated the Monaco debut for American driver Mario Andretti, who won the Indianapolis 500 the year prior. While Andretti’s race debut would be delayed until 1975, the 1970 race did not disappoint.
As reported in the Salt Lake Tribune, three-time world champion Jack Brabham lost the lead of the Grand Prix in the final corner of the final lap. Brabham’s mistake made way for Lotus’ Jochen Rindt to win the race in stellar fashion.
Heavy rain made a large impact at the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, where McLaren’s Alain Prost lined up in pole-position. The treacherous conditions forced eleven of the drivers to retire from the race. The Salt Lake Tribune’s recap of the race noted the “magnificent” driving of rookie Ayrton Senna.
Senna, who would go on to become a three-time world champion, bravely conquered the wet conditions in Monte Carlo and worked his way up the grid. Despite starting in 13th, he earned his way to second place. Later, Senna was only eight tenths away from Prost when the race controversially ended early.
Fans best remember the tantalizing battle between Senna and Nigel Mansell in the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix. Mansell looked to win his first Monaco Grand Prix in his 12th attempt. He started on pole and had an phenomenal start to the race, but things fell apart late in the event. As the Ogden Standard Examiner put it, “Mansell passed the Monte Carlo Casino 70 times Sunday … However, just after he passed the casino for the 71st time, his luck run out.”
A late pit-stop for Mansell allowed Senna to take the lead of the race. Mansell quickly erased the gap, leaving the two to battle for the final three laps. Senna’s elite defense prevented Mansell from regaining the place, resulting in Ayrton’s fifth consecutive win in the principality.
The 21st century has also had its fair share of memorable Monaco Grand Prix too, each with coverage in Utah. From Michael Schumacher being “stripped” of pole-position after his controversial qualifying tactics in 2006, to Red Bull’s critical pit-stop error that prevented Daniel Ricciardo from winning in 2016, it is evident that the Monaco Grand Prix is must-see racing. As a result, local coverage and publication enables Utahns to get their fill of the stellar racing around the streets of Monaco.
