The entry list for the weekend of April 24-26 includes 205 cars, dating from 1925 to 1985, and divided into eight different races (A1 to G). With the last four, reserved for Formula 1 cars from 1966 to 1985, the most competitive with 106 cars in total! Lotus is the most represented manufacturer with 29 cars entered. Next are Maserati, March, Ferrari (13 cars each) and Tyrrell (12). Some of the cars – in their original version – are former winners of the Grand Prix. Like the legendary Bugatti Type 35, winner of the very first Monaco race, but also a Lotus-Ford and Tyrrell-Ford from the 1970s and the Ferrari 312 T, that won the race 50 years ago with Niki Lauda behind the wheel and which graces the official event poster.
Battle of the veterans to open the show
If you want to feel the DNA of the original Grand Prix de Monaco the first race of the day (A1) is a must-see. The first Monaco GP took place in 1929 and was won by William Grover-Williams in a Bugatti 35. To keep the memory of the old heroes alive the organising Automobile Club de Monaco decided to furthermore reserve the A1 race for pre-war cars. So expect fierce battles between Bugatti T35, 37A or 51 versus Maseratis, Alfa Romeos, ERAs and Amilcars.
Jean Alesi takes to the track in a 1969 Ferrari 312
Jean Alesi, winner of the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix with Ferrari and an iconic figure of the Scuderia in the 1990s, will be at the wheel of a 1969 Ferrari 312, fitted with a three-litre-V12 engine. The driver from Avignon will compete in the race Series D "F1 Grand Prix Cars – 3L (1966-1972). Against the heroes of the early era of the three-litre-formula, like Lotus 72, March 701, Brabham BT33, twelve cylinder-powered Matra MS 120s, BRMs, Surtees, a Ferrari 312 B2 and 3 and even the unique German Eifelland.
Parades to mark 35th anniversary of Cavallino Classic
To mark its 35th anniversary, Cavallino Classic – an event celebrating the legacy of Enzo Ferrari – has chosen to dedicate this anniversary edition to Formula 1 cars. On Saturday (1:10pm – 1:50pm) and Sunday (1:50pm – 2:20pm), two parades will showcase Ferrari F1 cars on track. They will bring together several generations of single-seaters that defined the golden eras of the Maranello-based team, particularly in the 1990s and 2000s. The parades will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of Ferrari's first Formula 1 world-championship-victory, in 1951 at the British Grand Prix run at Silverstone, with "Pampas bull" José Froilán González at the wheel.
Turbo-Monsters to debut at Monaco Historique
For the very first time turbocharged Formula 1 cars will be eligible to compete at Monaco Historique. This inclusion was already planned for the 2022 edition but thanks to new FIA regulations now becomes reality. On the grid will be single seaters that raced in the Monaco Grand Prix between 1981 and 1985. They will for sure be the stars of the final race of the entire weekend, "Series G", in which they compete together with cars powered by normally aspirated engines, but in their own "Class 2". Expect to see mighty Renault RE 50, Toleman TG 185 or Lotus 95 fire-spitting and roaring through Rascasse, Mirabeau and around Casino Square. You really don't want to miss hearing the distinctive turbo whistle echoing through the Monaco streets.
100 years of Maserati in Motorsport
The 2026 Monaco Historic Grand Prix celebrates Maserati's 100th anniversary in motorsport, harking back to the historic debut of the Tipo 26, class winner in the 1926 Targa Florio driven by Alfieri Maserati. You will experience cars with the Trident on their bonnet in races A1, A2 (the famous 250 F, Monaco winner in 1956 and 1957 with Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio respectively) and in C. The latter is reserved for front-engined sport racing cars from 1952 to 1957 where the drivers of A6 GCS, 250 S or 200 Si will give their rivals in Ferraris, Jaguars and Aston Martins a run for their money.
Photos: Tom Shaxson and Mathieu Bonnevie for Classic Driver
