Monaco Grand Prix: Formula 2, Formula 3, Porsche... These races in the shadow of F1

Because there's more to life than Formula 1, motorsport fans are in for a treat this weekend. Alongside the F1 race, three other races will be taking to the stage on the legendary Monaco circuit: Formula 2, Formula 3, and the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. While these competitions will take place on the same circuit on Sunday, just hours before the start of the highly anticipated Monaco Grand Prix, they also share the same organization. " There are the same number of marshals and firefighters, and the emergency system is identical. In the event of a major accident, in F1, F2, and F3, we deploy a car or a safety car," explains Alain Pallanca, race director of the Automobile Club de Monaco . "For minor incidents, we use a virtual safety car. In the Porsche Supercup, there is no such thing. Instead, a yellow flag, called full course yellow (FCY), is displayed throughout the circuit to indicate to drivers that they should reduce their speed to allow teams to intervene ."

The slightest mistake can be costly.

Regarding the duration of the race, each competition is different: Formula 1 lasts 78 laps or 120 minutes, Formula 2 takes place over 42 laps or 60 minutes + 1 lap, Formula 3 lasts 27 laps or 45 minutes + 1 lap, and finally the Porsche Supercup is held over 17 laps or 30 minutes + 1 lap. For qualifying, it also varies, the three races take place during continuous sessions of 25 to 30 minutes where the drivers achieve their best possible time. " No matter the competition, in a circuit like Monaco, qualifying is decisive. A good starting position is essential because it is very difficult to overtake in Monaco. Those who start in the lead have a definite advantage, and making a mistake can be very costly ," emphasizes Marc Duez, deputy race director at the ACM and former driver in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

Another similarity between F2, F3, and the Posche Supercup is that all the cars are the same between the drivers. " There are strict regulations, with limited intervention for the mechanics. They can adjust the shock absorbers, the ride height, or the rear wing. But these settings are practically identical between the teams in Monaco," adds Marc Duez.

In Monaco, it's the driver who makes the difference

An opinion shared by Alessandro Giusti, French F3 driver at MP Motosport. " Generally speaking, there are slight differences between F2 cars, around 3-4 seconds per lap, unlike in Formula 1 where it is possible to reach 10 seconds or more per lap. In F3, there is usually not much of a gap, but with the new cars this year, there will probably be a bit more. But in Monaco, the driver plays an even more important role on a circuit that demands a lot of precision ."

While F2 and F3 have a lot in common with Formula 1, the Porsche Supercup is almost in a different universe despite speeds that can reach 300km/h on circuits like Le Mans. In terms of technical characteristics, the cars weigh around 1,250kg, compared to 800kg for F1 cars and offer much less power and downforce. " It's a very different driving style than single-seaters. That's why it's not guaranteed that an F1 driver will be fast in GT, and vice versa ," explains Huub van Eijndhoven, a Dutch driver in the Porsche Supercup for GP Elite. "Because we have no downforce and are less affected by the air, we can drive very close to each other and even have slight contact sometimes. That's why our races are so intense. In addition, there is no ABS, so you have to be particularly focused ."

The Porsche Racing World Cup

The Porsche Supercup is made up of cars based on the rear-engined Porsche 911 and brings together the elite of the 12 Porsche Carrera Cups around the world, as well as the numerous Porsche Sprint Challenges. " It's a bit like our own World Cup ," says Huub van Eijndhoven. "You have to adapt your driving style. The car has great traction, but you have to master braking to keep the nose in corners and maximize grip on the front axle. This is where most drivers who take the wheel for the first time have the most difficulty. It's very difficult to brake to the limit with this car, but that's also what makes it so demanding and where you can stand out from the other drivers ." Another special feature of these cars is the presence of a lifting system using suction cups installed on the roofs, just like the single-seaters. "On a circuit like Monaco, a road accident causes significant damage to the barriers. The organizers therefore have this system in place to quickly remove damaged cars ," explains Marc Duez.

Finally, regarding the drivers, the Porsche Supercup has 26 cars, with four rookies who are discovering the competition. There are also semi-professionals who aspire to progress in GT or towards endurance competitions like the WEC. " The dream of Formula 1 is much less present than in F3 or F2 where it is mainly very young drivers ," explains Marc Duez. F2 and F3 are respectively composed of 22 and 30 drivers including members of the academies of the Formula 1 teams. But, whether in F1, F2, F3 or Porsche Supercup, Monaco remains a legendary Grand Prix that every driver dreams of winning. "Winning here is an exceptional and unique memory," concludes Marc Duez.