Tag: Formula One

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Speed Queen Kart Trophy

Start your engines – this International Women’s Day, Monaco is celebrating girl power at full throttle.

On March 8, Box 98 Monaco at Les Terrasses de Fontvieille will host the very first Speed Queen Kart Trophy, a feel-good, all-female amateur race designed to bring women and girls – from age seven upwards – together for a day of speed, sisterhood and a little friendly competition.

In a country synonymous with the glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix, motorsport is part of the DNA. But while the drivers’ grid has historically skewed male, the fanbase is shifting fast. According to Formula One, 42% of F1 fans worldwide are women – with the fastest-growing demographic aged 18 to 24. The message is clear: women aren’t just watching from the stands, they’re ready to take the wheel.

The Speed Queen Kart Trophy taps into that momentum with a day that blends competition,  and celebration. Racers will battle it out for the fastest lap between 10 am and 2 pm followed by the Grand Final at 3 pm, when the fastest stars from every category go wheel-to-wheel hoping to win the coveted Speed Queen Trophy.

Drivers Ella Häkkinen, Vicky Farfus and Lina Salamanca will be on hand to share their passion and expertise, offering tips on kart driving technique and talking about their future projects and ambitions.

Monaco resident Ella (below) is the youngest female member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, the result of major European karting victories.

Vicky (above), also a Monaco resident, is competing with Iron Dames and finished P4 in the FIA World Karting Cup 2025. She became the first girl in history to finish in the top five of a FIA karting race, among nearly 90 drivers from around the world.

Lina (below) is the winner of the prestigious Volant Jules Bianchi, an emerging talent driven by strong ambition.

The trio will also be alongside event organiser Tiffaney Perlino, president of the Women in Motorsport Commission at the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), at the prize giving to present trophies, which are offered by the ACM.

“I have always loved motorsport and loved driving but like many women I never really had the opportunity to race,” says Tiffaney. “It wasn’t just about opportunity to be honest. It was also that I didn’t dare. It all looked so out of my comfort zone.”

That all changed for Tiffaney when years ago a girlfriend had a joint birthday party with her husband at a karting track. She decided to get behind the wheel and give it a go – and had the time of her life. “It gave me the confidence to try other motorsport activities and I haven’t looked back. I wanted the chance to give the same opportunity to other girls and women, who are hesitant, to try racing in a relaxed and friendly environment.”

Registration for the Speed Queen Kart Trophy (€27 adult; €25 under-18) at Box 98 includes 8 minutes of track time plus a light lunch and refreshments at the Paddock Bar courtesy of the ACM. Whether you sign up solo or with your daughter and her friends – or make it a family affair cheering from the sidelines at no cost – it’s a high-energy and highly memorable way to mark International Women’s Day together, swapping the usual panel discussions and ladies lunch for helmets and horsepower, and the next-generation.

“This event is about showing that motorsport is more than just Formula 1 and Netflix. It’s about participation, inclusion and representation. There are countless ways to be part of the sport – whether you’re in the driver’s seat or working behind the scenes, whether you’re a boy or a girl. Motorsport belongs to everyone … and its fun!”

For more information, contact comfemsport@acm.mc.

Article first published March 1, 2026. Photos: feature Instagram f1drivelondon. Instagram Ella Häkkinen. InstagramVicky Farfus. Instagram Lina Salamanca.

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Lina Salamanca

Lina Salamanca was only seven years old when she tried Crazy Kart. “As soon as I drove, I knew I loved it! The speed and the thrill of driving…it was a revelation,” Lina enthuses.

Like many young people, the 10-year-old Monaco student cites Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton as her inspiration but also greatly admires drivers like Doriane Pin, Maya Weug and Lola Lovinfosse who prove that girls can succeed in motorsport.

Lina also told her of her ambition to represent Monaco in motor sport one day. This exchange was a very special moment for her, a great source of motivation that gives her even more determination to move forward. She has unforgettable memories of it and is very grateful for the exchange.

Last season, Lina was part of the F1 Academy, the female-only single-seater racing championship founded by the Formula One Group in 2023 and run by Monaco resident Susie Wolff. She was selected to take part in the Champions of the Future Academy international championship. “I was lucky enough to represent the girls in the Mini category with two other drivers. It was a great experience,” shares Lina.

Obviously, getting picked for F1 Academy is one of Lina’s favourite racing memories. But there is another moment that stands out for the young driver. “When I won the Volant Jules Bianchi, which was incredible and a great source of pride for me.”

Lina says she tries to be organised and do well at school so she can continue to do karting. “When I’m driving, I feel free and happy! I love the feeling of speed. I’m fully concentrated and I enjoy every moment of it. I try to train as much as I can on the track. And when I can’t drive, I work out so that I’m fit and ready for the next race!”

She admits she makes mistakes on the tracks but “every mistake helps me to progress. So, I never give up and I always try to improve.”

That’s her advice to other girls thinking about taking up go-karting. “Never give up! It’s a great experience, because you learn a lot of things – to be patient, determined and disciplined. When you’re passionate, anything’s possible!”

When Lina met Prince Albert at the International Women’s Sports Day forum on January 24 at the Prince’s Car Collection, she presented him with a copy of her book, Le Grand Départ de Lina, to give to Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. It was an unforgettable moment for the young racer, and she told HSH about her dream of driving at Monaco Grand Prix one day.

But motorsport dreams need sponsors and that, says Lina’s mom Anaïs is tough, especially when you’re just starting out. “Go-karting is an expensive sport and it’s often difficult to raise the money needed to train and compete. You need equipment, travel, entry fees… Without sponsors or external financial support, it is very complicated to follow a full competition programme. That’s why outside support, whether from sponsors or people who believe in Lina, is essential to help her move forward.”

Anais looked for an alternative that would allow her both to share Lina’s passion and to help fund her journey. “That’s how the idea for the book Le Grand Départ de Lina came about. I wanted to tell Lina’s story but write a book that was both motivating and educational, with a touch of dream and adventure.” This book in French is based on Lina and is especially for children who love sport, challenges and inspiring stories. There is also an English-language version: The Karting Lina’s Grand Start.

“Through this story, I wanted to capture that unique moment when Lina discovered her passion, but also to inspire other children to believe in their dreams. This book is a message of encouragement: it shows that anything is possible with determination and that you should never be afraid to follow your path, even in an environment that is still very male-dominated.”

“A lot of parents and young drivers see themselves in Lina’s story. The book has also been well received in the world of karting, as it helps to promote the sport to younger people.”

The feedback was so positive that Anaïs wrote a second book, Karting Heroes – Discover the World of Karting, also available in French and English, which delves into the world of karting with explanations of equipment and much more.

These books are more than just a story of a young girl’s passion, they offer a practical way of helping Lina move forward on her journey. “Each reader becomes, in their own way, a supporter so that she can continue to progress and show that girls have their place in motorsport.”

In addition to the book, Anaïs launched a brand inspired by Lina – Adrenalina Racing by Lina – with merchandise linked to go-karting. “It’s a project that allows me to pass on Lina’s passion and create a world around her. At events, I talk about Lina, her story and her commitment to go-karting.”

For Anaïs, “This adventure proves to me every day that you should never give up, and I’m grateful to those who believe in Lina and want to support her on her journey. And, as an author, knowing that this book can inspire other children and make them want to believe in themselves is an immense source of pride.”

She adds, “Lina is an incredibly passionate child, and I want to do everything I can to help her make her dreams come true. Seeing her grow through this experience is my greatest reward.”

The overall message is that no matter what age or background you come from, you have to believe in your dreams and work hard to achieve them. “Never give up. We are capable of much more than we think! Creativity, passion and perseverance drive us to find unexpected solutions. We need to explore every possible alternative, seek out local sponsors, create opportunities and, above all, tell everyone about it.

“Every meeting, every initiative can open unexpected doors. The most important thing is to believe in your child and to show that girls have their place in go-karting and motorsport.”

Follow Lina’s racing adventures on Instagram.

Article first published March 15, 2025. Photos: Ed Wright Images.

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Eternel Senna

In Annette Anderson’s fascinating debut in The Monegasque magazine, her article “Will the Funkiest Prince Please Stand Up?” links two events that marked Monaco’s history in the first week of May 1994. One is the death of F1 driver Ayrton Senna and how “at the request of Michael Schumacher and Keke Rosberg” several drivers, compatriots and Stars’n’Bars owners Kate Powers and Didier Rubiolo “commandeered the upstairs bar and drank into the wee hours, toasting and sharing memories of their fallen brother.” The other, well, you’ll have to pick up a copy of the latest issue to read her compelling story.

WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Author Daniel Ortelli talks about his new book on Ayrton Senna and the FNAC event on Wednesday, May 22.

Thirty years may have passed since Senna died tragically on the Imola circuit aged 34, yet the fascination for the Brazilian driver has not diminished. And a new book Eternel Senna: Le Livre Hommage (Éditions Glénat, €39.95) provides an unprecedented 10-year snapshot of Senna’s character. The 224 pages by Daniel Ortelli, Thomas Woloch and Dominique Leroy cover his Formula 1 debut in 1984 to his final season with Williams and include exclusive testimonials from those close to the man from Sao Paolo.

The trio promoted the book at the Rendez-Vous Culturel at the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo last Friday. Daniel, a veteran motorsport journalist in the region, said. “Senna always attracted attention, even the years when he didn’t win. Because he was in Pole position, because he was driving a Renault, there was always a good reason to talk about him. There were some years when he won three times, and other years when he didn’t win a title, but it didn’t matter. Every year there were stories to tell about him.” 

Eternel Senna authors Daniel Ortelli and Thomas Woloch and photographer Dominique Leroy.

“In France his rivalry with Proust was followed very closely, at a time when TF1 beat all the records for audience sizes. Dominique Leroy was in the front row and we had Dominique’s eye on the event from the beginning to the end. Sometimes during F1 you may have five different photographers and so five different styles of photos. With Dominique, who knows the subject so well, there was unity. The quality was consistent.”

On being approached about the book, Dominique said, “There are always around a hundred photos of Ayrton Senna that appear all the time. But they wanted 500 photos and that was a bit complicated. I started looking in the cellar, in the attic, to try and find some photos. To be honest, three quarters of them were unpublished.”

An accomplished painter, Dominique was at San Marino the day Senna died. “I had the immense privilege during the first Formula One to be sent almost permanently to the Williams garage. On May 1, 1994, I was at the starting line. Ayrton Senna arrived and did something that he never did – he took off his helmet and his balaclava. Everyone was surprised.”

Dominque unknowingly took his penultimate photo of Ayrton Senna at 1:50 pm, 27 minutes before he died and this photograph graces the books cover. (Dominque’s last Senna photo is with the driver wearing his balaclava.)

Daniel added, “The inquiry by AutoSprint, the Italian motorsport magazine, was exemplary. They could have produced something trashy and dramatic that we see nowadays. They knew pretty much exactly what happened. They knew that the steering column had broken, but they didn’t write it. They respected the memory of this champion and they refused to enter into a debate, to create a buzz with the information that they had.”

Rendez-Vous Culturel at the Hotel Metropole on May 11 with Daniel Ortelli, Thomas Woloch,
Laurence Genevet and Dominique Leroy.

Thomas Woloch, a Monaco resident and author of Max Verstappen, le sacre d’un champion, shared an insightful anecdote. He had spent months and endless nights researching Eternel Senna speaking to those close to “Beco” as Senna was nicknamed by his parents. Nuno Cobra, Senna’s coach and mentor, who is now in his 80s, explained to Thomas by phone about the dual personalities of Senna. There was Ayrton on one side, and Senna on the other. He adored Ayrton, the sweet and kind family man, but he couldn’t stand Senna, the predator driver, who was ready to do anything to win.

As Thomas described it, “On one occasion, Senna was on his yacht in Sao Paolo. Senna was really annoyed and uptight, and his coach said, ‘Come on, let’s go and play some tennis.’ Senna was known for being anxious and quite surly and his technique for making him feel better was to go and play tennis. So, they played for a couple of hours and the coach told me that Senna gradually became Ayrton. To tease him, whenever he saw Ayrton, he would ask him, ‘Did you lock Senna in your room? Because I don’t want to see him today.’ This was his trainer, his mentor, who knew him so well.”

Authors Thomas Woloch, Daniel Ortelli and photographer Dominique Leroy at Hotel Metropole book signing.

A replica Ayrton Senna, Williams helmet from 1994 will be on display at the book signing. The collector’s item is one of a number of Stars’n’Bars sports memorabilia to be featured at an upcoming auction by Artcurial on July 8 at 2pm at the Hotel Hermitage.

Don’t miss Daniel Ortelli, Thomas Woloch and Dominique Leroy at FNAC Monaco on Tuesday, May 22. The trio will be signing copies of Eternel Senna: Le Livre Hommage from 3-to 5 pm. The book is also available in English to order.

Article first published May 15, 2024. All photos and video copyright Good News Monaco.

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The ultimate car story: Ferrari Formula One and Monaco

WATCH VIDEO: Valerie Closier of the Prince’s Car Collection on the iconic car exhibit and the evolution of Ferrari’s F1 technology (in French).

Back in 2018, Prince Albert told The Independent newspaper, “It’s true that Ferrari and Monaco are the two most important things to F1.”

Certainly, Charles Leclerc might agree. The first Monegasque to drive for the Prancing Horse told me his first Formula One memory is of playing cars with a friend near the first turn and watching the Grand Prix at the same time. While he never followed one driver in particular, he once confessed: “The red car has always been special to me.”

On May 26, 26-year-old Leclerc will race for Scuderia Ferrari as he tries for the fifth time to become the first Monegasque to win the Monaco Grand Prix since Louis Chiron drove a Bugatti to victory in 1931.

WATCH VIDEO: Egon Zweimüller on Luigi Villoresi and the first Ferrari F1 car in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix.

For F1 fans who won’t be cheering from the stands, the Prince’s Car Collection is hosting a less ear-impacting event, Ferrari F1 à Monaco: Histoire et Victoires (Ferrari F1 in Monaco: History and Victories). The exhibition, running until August 31, traces the iconic carmaker’s history back to 1950 and includes 12 single-seaters which have won nine titles.

In addition to Leclerc’s SF90 (2019) and Nigel Mansel’s 640 (1989) in the permanent collection, curator Franco Meiners sourced ten F1 Ferraris from the Schlumpf Collection in Mulhouse, and Maranello, where the manufacturer is based in Italy, and a selection from private collectors

From Ferrari’s first win at the Monaco GP in 1955 with Maurice Trintignant’s 625 to their last, with Sebastian Vettel’s car in 2017, history unfolds with Niki Lauda (1976); Jody Scheckter (1979); Gilles Villeneuve (1981) and Michael Schumacher (winning cars in 1997 and 2001).

WATCH VIDEO: Valerie Closier welcomes Prince Albert, Louis Ducruet and minister of state Pierre Dartout at the inauguration on May 9 (in French).

Ferrari F1 à Monaco: Histoire et Victoires begins with Ferrari’s first race car at the Monaco Grand Prix on May 21, 1950. Enzo and Laura Ferrari had put their savings into entering three single-seaters that year with drivers Alberto Ascari (he placed second), Raymond Sommer and Luigi Villoresi.

Luigi Villoresi’s 125 was the first F1 Ferrari to be built and the only one of the three entered in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix to have kept its initial configuration, the other two having been reworked.

Egon Zweimüller brought the Villoresi vehicle to Monaco. Zweimüller, whose family-run restauration business in Ennsdorf is one of the best in the biz, explained that the Ferrari red car was painted green when it was bought by a British driver. And at one point, it even had a gold nose when it was based in Australia.

Ferrari F1 in Monaco: History and Victories runs until August 31. The Prince’s Car Collection (54 route de la Piscine) is open daily July 1 to August 31: 10am-6pm (July & August 7pm). Tickets €10/adult and €5/ages 6-17.

Article first published May 11, 2024. Images and videos copyright Good News Monaco.