Serie E – Pre-1973 3-Litre Grand Prix Cars
Beforehand, this 18-lap race looked like it could also be disputed between Roger Wills and Duncan Dayton but both looked out of contention after qualifying. Wills had set the fastest time but was sent off into the wall after colliding with a slower competitor and was unable to take the start. Mechanical issues and the red flag caused by Wills' crash prevented Dayton from completing a flying lap in either of the sessions but at least he was able to start the race but from what appeared to be a lost position.

A Tenco PA123 shoots flames from its rear during the trouble-prone Serie E event. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

Taking Wills' place at the sharp end of the grid was Andrew Smith in a similar March 701. This particular car was originally owned by Ken Tyrrell and used by Jackie Stewart to score the type's only victory.

After several drivers jumped the start, the first meters of the race were chaotic. The big victim was Frank Sytner, whose rear wheel was clipped by a false-starting Joaquin Folch-Rossinol. This resulted in suspension damage for both Sytner's March and Folch-Rossinol's McLaren, forcing the two former Monaco winners to retire.

Starting in 22nd, Dayton made a mockery of Monaco's poor reputation for overtaking as he completed the opening lap in eighth. Following a brief safety-car period, he worked his way up to second until a spin at “Mirabeau” dropped him back down the order.

Early leader Smith had problems of his own and also fell back. This made life a little easier for Dayton and after a spirited fight with Michael Fitzgerald in a March 711, he managed to claim his 11th victory with his now-dented Brabham BT33.

Serie F – 3-Liter Grand Prix Cars (1973 - 1978)

This Hesketh 308E was victorious in the rain-shortened Serie F grand prix race. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

One of the biggest fields was for the most modern Grand Prix cars entered this weekend, which were originally raced in the 1970s. As in the previous group, the Ford Cosworth DFV V8 proved the engine of choice. The only three exceptions were Ferraris that used an evolution of Forghieri's flat-12 engine first seen in the 1512 F1.

At the head of the field, however, the Cosworth-powered machines dominated. In qualifying, Michael Lyons placed his father's Hesketh 308E on pole position ahead of 2010 winner Bobby Verdon-Roe, who saw his last attempt in the ex-James Hunt McLaren M26 thwarted by a failed pass of a slower car around the outside in the tight hairpin.

Scheduled as the last race of the Historic Grand Prix, Serie F was the only one seriously affected by a heavy rain shower that had loomed ominous over Monaco for most of Sunday afternoon. Despite a thoroughly soaked track, a remarkably large number of participants decided to give it a go. After two abandoned starts, the race finally got under way from behind the safety car.

Pole-man Lyons impressed, taking the checkered flag after the shortened race a full 50 seconds ahead of Verdon-Roe. Mauro Pane was third in the ex-Graham Hill Lola T370.

Serie G – Pre-1985 Formula 3 Cars

This Lola T670 was originally raced by Dutch champion Arie Luyendijk. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

Part of the roster for the first time in 2010, the relatively modern Formula 3 cars were back this year. There were so many entries this time round that the organization was forced to spread the field in two groups and run qualifying races on Saturday for Sunday's feature race. The even-numbered F3s were out first for a race that was dominated by Ben Barker in the ex-Arie Luyendijk Lola T670.

The qualifying race for the odd-numbered machines was a lot more interesting. Taking pole in his first-ever motor race was Matteo Marzotto, the nephew of Vittorio Marzotto, who won the aforementioned 1952 Monaco Grand Prix run for sports cars in a Ferrari 225 S. He started well but eventually was passed by his friend and 1985 Le Mans winner Paolo Barilla.

Barker started the feature race on pole and the 2010 Australian Formula 3 Champion quickly pulled away from Marzotto and Barilla. After two cars had stopped on the hill after “St. Devote,” the safety car was brought out. It proved a blessing in disguise as soon after the heavens opened, flooding the track in minutes. The race was understandably red-flagged and Barker declared the winner.

An ERA B grand prix car mixes it up in close racing action. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

Compared with the earlier editions, the 2012 Monaco Historic Grand Prix featured some subtle changes. The most obvious were made to the schedule with practice sessions held on Friday afternoon for the first time. There also was one group less, which meant that a nearby parking garage no longer needed to serve as the paddock for one of the groups.

These small tweaks managed to make this year's edition even more enjoyable for spectators, drivers and the mechanics. We will certainly be back in 2014 to see what the ninth Monaco Historic Grand Prix will have in store for us.

For a gallery of photos, see Monaco Historic Grand Prix.

Read more stories like this at: The Ultimate Car Page.