1st GrandPrix - 1929

Practice: This is the era of the gentleman drivers. Ettore Bugatti build a great many cars for fortunate people, who would then drive the cars in racing events. Bugatti made sure that they could buy high quality spare parts at any time. Thus next to the few works drivers, there are many private entries.
The British driver, Charles Grover-Williams, has not received his Bugatti 2300 compressor from the factory and cannot participate in any of the practice sessions. He does an unofficial sneak practice very early on Saturday morning, waking up Monaco. The race organisers of ACM turn a blind eye and ear to this.
'Williams' is the only works driver for Bugatti and one of the favorites to win the race. His car is painted an unfamiliar green, as was the country colour rule at the time (France; blue, Italy; red, UK; green, Germany; white). The other 7 competing Bugattis are private entries.
Local driver Louis Chiron is in the USA for the Indy 500 and misses taking part in what he considered to be his own Grand Prix.
All the Alfa Romeos entered are standard sports cars with their mudguards removed and are based on the P2 of 1924.
Maserati is present with two 8 cylinder, 1979 cc compressor 26B.  The giant Mercedes SSK of Caracciola with its huge 7.7 liter 6 cylinder compressor engine was another listed favorite; it had won the German GP. For the narrow roads of Monaco it seemed too big and heavy, but on the climb of Beau Rivage its power had a clear advantage.
A huge electrically operated score panel was installed and wired to the time keeper’s office at the other side of the circuit.
The first practice sessions on Thursday morning were in the pouring rain and many drivers turn in early.16 drivers are selected for the starting grid of three cars per line.

Race
Prince Pierre closes the circuit by doing a round in his personal Voisin motorcar. At 13.20 the engines are started, in those days one turned his cap backward and flipped away the smoldering cigarette, the cars are placed a hundred meters behind the starting line and at 13.31 race director Charles Faroux drops the starting flag for this first Grand Prix of Monaco. 15 cars roar off and leave De Rovin standing in his Delage.
Lehoux first off, is leading on the avenue de Monte-Carlo, but passed by Etancelin, closely followed by Caracciola in the heavy Mercedes. But coming out of the tunnel it is 'Williams' who is leading. Lehoux runs into the sandbags in the chicane.

Caracciola having started from the before last line is menacing within 10 laps the Maserati of de Sterlich in second place. Meanwhile Lehoux has walked to the pit lane, taken two wheels, walked back to his stranded car and was underway again with two new wheels.
Under the infernal pace many cars cannot take the beating and give up.
In lap 24 the Mercedes passes 'Williams' Bugatti uphill to Beau Rivage and 'Williams' stays glued behind Caracciola.
'Williams' puts his foot down, sets a lap record of 2’15” and in lap 36 retakes the lead.
In the 49th lap 'Williams' stops for petrol, which takes 1.5 minutes, thus putting Caracciola in the lead.
'Williams' is back on the track just in front of de Rothschild, Dreyfus and Etancelin.