Practice: BRM had abandoned its H-16 engine project and most cars were now using the V8 Cosworth 3 litre, which had practically become the standard racing machinery. The edge over the competition had to be searched in tiny changes to their chassis, aerodynamics and suspension. Finally after multiple conferences, wings attached to the chassis were allowed. Overnight all cars were modified, cut, re-welded etc. So teams settled down to get the best starting position, Stewart had moved to Matra and happily took pole with 1’24,6”.
Race A Sunday with dry overcast weather. Prince Rainier III and Princesse Grace open the circuit in a Lamborghini Espada and the new race director Charles Deutsch dropped the starting flag.
Stewart and Amon rocketed away, Hill in third place followed by Ickx, Courage and Siffert.
Bruce McLaren in the McLaren
The pace set by Stewart was very high, Hill did not want to challenge since he was sure that the cars pushed this hard would not last long.
In lap 10 Brabham collided with Surtees going into the tunnel, he managed to come out at the other end on three wheels and no brakes left.
Lap 19: Amon out and Stewart are finally easing down.
Although Stewart was driving the Matra gently now, the harm was probably done in the previous beating and the car broke a drive shaft in lap 21 and so did the one of Beltoise.
Thus 1 2 3: Hill, Ickx, Courage. Hill with his Monaco expertise would not have this opportunity taken away and smoothly controlled the race, while Ickx and Courage gave the public an exhilarating spectacle fighting each other for 2nd and 3rd place.
The result was Ickx retiring with a broken axle and Hill showing his mastership and being rewarded his fifth Monaco victory.
THE MONACO GRAND PRIX LIBRARY BY ROY HULSBERGEN
