23rd May 1982: The Race That Nobody Wanted To Win

The 23rd of May has a habit of producing extraordinary racing at Monaco. Three times across three different decades, the same date has delivered three completely different kinds of grand prix.In 1971, Jackie Stewart arrived already leading the championship and proceeded to give a clinic in perfection. He took pole by more than a second, led every one of the eighty laps, set the fastest lap, and won by twenty-five seconds. Around him, a twenty-seven-year-old Ronnie Peterson was making his way through the field in a way that announced he would be a name to watch.In 1982, the Monaco Grand Prix became known as the race nobody wanted to win. Four drivers led in the final three laps. Alain Prost crashed. Riccardo Patrese spun and stalled. Didier Pironi stopped in the tunnel on the last lap. Andrea de Cesaris stopped at Casino Square, out of fuel. Patrese, having bump-started his Brabham, came through to win his first Formula One Grand Prix — without knowing he'd won it.In 1993, Ayrton Senna claimed his sixth Monaco victory, breaking Graham Hill's record that had stood since 1969. Second place went to Damon Hill. The son of the man whose record had just been broken. Same date. Same place. Never the same race twice. Send us Fan MailMusic by #Mubert Music Rendering