The series made a highly successful debut in Monaco in 2005, providing a thrilling spectacle as Adam Carroll took a close-fought win ahead of Gimmi Bruni and
Nico Rosberg. The result not only cemented Carroll's position as a frontrunner in the series, but also provided Rosberg with his first podium of a season destined to produce the overall title. The German's joy was mirrored by main rival
Heikki Kovalainen, however, who appeared set for a possible victory before a sticking wheelnut scuppered his pit-stop.
The race was not without the more usual Monaco incidents either, as the notoriously narrow roads caught many off guard. Carroll survived a brush with the barriers, before holding his nerve to control an ailing car under pressure from Bruni and Rosberg in the closing stages. Although aided by the narrowness of the track, the Irishman still had to keep his Super Nova machine out of the barriers before recording his second win of the year.
As current championship leader Piquet discovered to his dismay in 2005, qualifying is all important around the streets of the Principality. The Brazilian made contact with Can Artam at Mirabeau during the sole 30-minute session, putting him out on his first lap and at the back of the grid on a circuit not known for its overtaking opportunities. He will be
hoping for a clearer run at pole this year in order to maintain his championship momentum.
Hamilton's pace so far this season would also mark him out as a pole candidate but, with all 26 cars circulating in search of a clear lap at the same time, timing - and a little bit of good fortune - will be crucial.
None of this year's early title contenders fared well in Monaco last season, with Piquet eventually claiming eleventh but Premat and Lapierre retiring. Viso, meanwhile, did not start well after more reliability problems and was then disqualified for running the red light at the end of pit-road. Hamilton thus heads into the weekend with the best memories of the circuit, while Ammermuller will be making his first appearance there.
