“It was a fantastic weekend, it really is like living a boyhood dream” said Paul Tattersall when he was quizzed by 2300 Club members about the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, a biannual event run on the full Monaco Grand Prix circuit.
The practice session in bright sunshine on Friday had gone well with the University of Greater Manchester team aided by Paul’s brother Nick settling into the pace steadily and only a few small adjustments needing to be made in preparation for qualifying on Saturday. “I’m very much enjoying the whole experience,” Paul enthused.
Saturday’s qualifying went exactly to plan, 4 steady laps to be sure they qualified and then a pit stop to check the car before going out in search of a faster time. “it was a smooth and very enjoyable drive” said Paul who qualified near the back of the grid for Sunday’s race. “I’m happy with that, bearing in mind that we are up against professional drivers and this track if very unforgiving as I know only too well – and just look at all the carnage and wrecked cars so far and we haven’t even raced yet”
Race day and the sky was grey. However the University of Greater Manchester team, were all looking very smart and bright in their ‘Ensign 22’ T-shirts. They prepared the car with wet tyres as the track was damp in places and it still looked like it might rain during the race. However as the cars lined up on the grid for the warm-up lap, the officials were not happy with Paul’s car “ with all the other cars but one on slicks and they told us we couldn’t take the start on wets ”.
So the drama began before the race had even started, with marshals pushing the Ensign F1 to the front of the grid and then backwards down the pit lane, while team members ran in with wheels and jacks. With the countdown within two minutes of the green light, many of us watching the live coverage at home were on the edge of our seats. We needn’t have worried—these students handled the situation professionally and swiftly, getting the job done before the light went green and the car making it out for the warm-up lap. Phew! Paul started from 22nd on the grid and got away cleanly.
Very early in the race, the safety car was deployed while a two-car pile-up was cleared from the track. The race resumed on lap five, and Paul was then able to press on and keep out of trouble—easier said than done on this narrow, unforgiving circuit.
Despite other incidents, losing 5th gear on lap 10 and a 25 second penalty, Paul managed to bring the car home in 20th place—a great result for an amateur team competing against seasoned professional drivers and teams.
“I was absolutely delighted with the race, but above all with my team who did a brilliant job, especially when the pressure was really on with the unexpected and quick tyre change. I think I actually finished 17th on the track, but I picked up the penalty for missing a drive-through signal. Apparently after the tyre change I should have gone back in to the pits following the warm-up lap and taken the start from there, not the grid”
The bigger story here though is the team. Motorsport students from the University of Greater Manchester—Katie, Em, and Adrian started with this car many months ago. They stripped it down to the chassis, put the steering and suspension components through rigorous crack-testing procedures, refitted the rebuilt engine, and then reassembled, set up, and tested the car. To finish at Monaco after three days is a remarkable achievement, and the team should be very proud of themselves. This will be a trip they will never forget.
Here is the post event article from the event organiser ‘Automobile Club de Monaco’
