The oldest cars that raced at the Monaco Historique this year were cars from the beginnings of the event, built between 1926 and 1936. This class, organized by the ACM, has been omitted several times because of its danger - but what would the races around the Casino be without the roaring Bugattes, Maserati and ERA on narrow tires? And so this year, 16 brave people signed up, among them traditionally Mme Julia de Baldanza, to risk by far the most of all the participants. Driving century-old self-propelled cars without seat belts and roll bars through Monaco at the limit of adhesion already requires a certain amount of self-denial - one has to wonder that enthusiasts of this class use protective helmets..?<\/p>\n
Qualifications: Paddins Dowling as Chiron<\/strong> Race: The A1 series belongs to ERA cars<\/strong> Monaco GP Historique result - Series A1<\/strong>
In beautiful sunshine, qualifying became clear prey for experienced ERA R5B (Prince Bir's 1936 White Mouse) tamer, Paddins Dowling. The Irishman was 3.5 seconds ahead of Canadian debutant Brad Baker on another ERA (Mk R10B). In the field with the largest time gaps of this year's event, the second starting row was formed by Michael Birch on a Maserati 4CM with Jonathan Bailey (the first owner of his yellow Bugatti 35C from 1927 was a certain Eli\u0161ka Junkov\u00e1!) and the third row by Mark Winter (Maserati 5CM) with Martin Halusa (Bugatti 35B of 1927). The brave Julia de Baldanza traveled with her Bugatti 35B in the footsteps of Junkov\u00e1 for the 13th time.<\/p>\n
As in previous years, the ERA cars dominated the weekend and the 10-lap race. In the growing Mediterranean heat, the blue "Siamese" car of the experienced Dowling took the lead after the morning start - and stayed in the lead until the finish. The fight for the second position provided the excitement. Birch started better than Baker. Black ERA only managed to take advantage of a red Maserati's gearing mistake in the 4th lap to establish a double lead for ERA on the climb to Casino. The Canadian Baker even caught up with Dowling in the end - but he still had reserves. The young Briton Bailey led Eli\u0161ka Junkov\u00e1's car to the finish line as an excellent 5th, little Julia de Baldanza finished 9th. Thanks to the drivers' discipline, the race was without accidents - so the pre-war class still has its doors open for 2026 in Monaco.<\/p>\n
1. Paddins Dowling, ERA R5B
2. Brad Baker, ERA R10B
3. Michael Birch, Maserati 4CM
4. Mark Winter, Maserati 6CM
5. Jonathan Bailey, Bugatti 35C
6. Martin Halusa, Bugatti 35B<\/p>\n\n