Monaco is as much the stuff of legend for the World Series by Renault drivers as it is for the world of
Formula One itself, as it provides their opportunity to race alongside the category they one day hope to join.
Since 1972, drivers taking part in the various Renault formulae have had the privilege of showing off their talents in Monaco and, although shorn of one of their usual two events, Sunday will see 30 Renault-powered Dallaras lining up in the principality for the curtain raiser to the 63rd Monaco Grand Prix. And the race will also give the series a valid opportunity to compare itself with the supposedly senior GP2 championship, which races on Saturday afternoon.
For Enrico Toccacelo, Jaap van Lagen and Damien Pasini, this race has that little something extra-special, given that it is quite simply their favourite race! An opinion shared by Tomas Kostka… even if the young Czech driver only knows the circuit from video games! Toccacelo started his season in style by romping to victory at Zolder two weeks ago, while van Lagen and Pasini showed enough to suggest that, if they find the right set-up for the tricky street circuit, they could be in with a shout of following the Italian on to the top step of the podium.
The experienced Toccacelo knows the circuit like the back of his hand after racing there for the last three years in F3000 but, while the Italian driver will likely view this weekend as a golden opportunity to take a second victory in the World Series, he will also remember how potential victory was snatched away from him after a botched pit-stop in 2004.
Pasini, like several others, will remember Monaco from last year's visit with the Renault V6 Eurocup, while fellow Frenchmen Simon Pagenaud, Tristan Gommendy, Eric Salignon and Patrick Pilet will want to do well simply because the principality offers them something close to an extra home event.
