There are big motorsports events this Memorial Day weekend
There is a lot going on in motorsports this Memorial Day Weekend.
In the United States, we will be celebrating Memorial Day with the Indianapolis 500. However, there is a lot also going on in Europe. There is Monaco Grand Prix and the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Monaco is round six of the 2016 F1 World Championship and always very popular with both fans and drivers alike. Many of the drivers just so happen to live nearby and quite frankly, you just can’t beat the location in terms of scenery and activity.
Monaco is one of the shortest races of the year and also one of the most demanding. A lack of runoffs, narrow stretches and tight turns is what is needed to challenge the driver and vehicle alike. It also makes some great for some great spectating for fans.
Because the circuit is run on public roads, grip levels are low. This is because the circuit is opened right after qualifying and normal traffic picks up most of the rubber laid during the race. By race time on Sunday, most of the rubber laid out by the previous days race is removed resulting in an average speed during the race of 100 miles per hour.
Because of the low grip levels and low average speed for a Formula One race, Pirelli will be providing an ultrasoft soft tire in addition to the other compounds it provides. This is a first for Pirelli.
The Monaco Grand Prix has been a local institution since it was first run in 1955. The 2.1 mile circuit has been mostly the same since then with the biggest course change in the form of a new pit stop complex, which was added in 20014.
In practice yesterday, the Manor, Haas, and Renault teams all made contact with barriers at some point during the day. The quickest time of the day went to Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo but Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg of the Mercedes AMG Petronas team right on his tail.
In qualifying taking place today, Rosberg has 100 points towards the 2016 Driver’s Championship followed by Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen,with 61 points. In third place with 57 points is Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes is leading the Constructor’s Championship with 157 points, followed by Ferrari with 109 points. Third place goes to Red Bull with 94 points. Nico Rosberg won last year’s Monaco Grand Prix.
Source: Formula 1
