Grand Prix de Monaco Historique  
Juan Manuel Fangio Trophy, 1950-1960 single-seaters with front engines: Reventlow's legacy  

Words and pictures: Roman Klemm  

When American billionaire Lance Reventlow went to Europe with his Scarab in 1960, he had to accept that in Formula 1 the concept of his front-engined car was already outdated. However, his project received vindication this year in Monaco - and also the winner's trophy.  
The Scarab F1 is being prepared after 60 years by specialist Mark Shaw from Great Britain, and starting with free practice it was the fastest of the 20 competitors in the Juan Manuel Fangio class. In qualifying, it secured a lead of 1.2 seconds ahead of the 1958 Lotus 16 of Spaniard Joaquin Folch and both Maserati 250Fs of John Spiers and Marino Franchitti.

The race was a clear affair for the experienced Shaw. His conceptually still most modern single-seater led all 10 laps from start to finish. Behind him, the fun was provided mainly by Spiers' Maserati in a battle with the Lotuses of Folch and Smith-Hilliard, in which the Briton's 1959 Lotus 16 ultimately prevailed. The best overtaking action, however, was shown by the Spaniard Fierro-Eleta, when at the end, just before the harbor chicane, he narrowly passed his fellow countryman Folch and finished 4th.

Result GP de Monaco Historique, Juan Manuel Fangio Trophy:

1. Mark Shaw, Scarab F1

2. Max Smith-Hilliard, Lotus 16

3. John Spiers, Maserati 250F

4. Guillermo Fierro-Eleta, Maserati 250F 

5. Joaquin Folch-Rusinol, Lotus 16

6. Marino Franchitti, Maserati 250F

7. William Nuthall, Cooper-Bristol T23

8. Brad Baker, Maserati 250F

9. Tom Schlereth, Ferguson P99

10. Alex Birkenstock, Ferrari 246 Dino