Monaco grids swell

With more than 70 3-litre Formula 1 cars entered across two races, the Monaco Grand Prix Historique (May 10/11) will be the biggest event of the European historic racing season.

Favourite for at least one victory will be street race expert Duncan Dayton, with three races on Sunday including one at the wheel of his Brabham BT33. Frank Sytner’s Hesketh 308 will be one of Dayton’s leading rivals in the Pre-75 grid, while Martin Stretton (Tyrrell P34) and Joaquin Folch (Ferrari 312T3) head the Pre-78 field.

The Pre-47 GP and Voiturette race will pit ERAs against the might of Alfa Romeo and Maserati, with Julian Bronson guesting in ERA R4D to carry British hopes. “It’s the quickest ERA of them all, so it is quite a responsibility,” said Bronson, a former winner at Monaco for the Bourne marque.

Among the Pre-61 cars, Lotus 16s are the stand-out car for the streets of the principality and, with Dayton and Joaquin at the wheel of 16s, a fierce contest is probable, although Gary Pearson, armed with a BRM P25, will be a contender.

The only sports car race is for Pre-53 cars, with Stirling Moss (Frazer Nash) and Dieter Quester (BMW 328) in the field. However, the Frazer Nash of the hard-charging John Ure has won at Monaco before and could set the pace.

The Formula Junior grid is for front-engined cars and contains no fewer than 10 Stanguellinis, while Monaco resident Sytner takes on the US invasion in the Pre-66 race as Dayton and James King field rapid Brabhams.