Jo-Anne travelled along with her associate Paul to attend the 2023 Italian Grand Prix and tells us about her constructive trackside expertise at Monza.
Photographs & video by Jo-Anne. Further pictures © F1Destinations.com
General, attending the 2023 Italian Grand Prix at Monza was a completely stress-free expertise; we have been amazed about how nicely it was all organised. We weren’t there final 12 months, however it should have been terrible for the followers [Learn More: Fans Unimpressed by Disorganized 2022 Italian Grand Prix]. It was constructive to see that the organisers appear to have taken discover of all of the criticisms and improved the areas that didn’t work final 12 months, like token funds within the fanzones. As long-time F1 spectators, that was good to see.
We journey as a pair, and we’ve been going to the Belgian Grand Prix for about ten years. At Spa, we have now seen the organisation getting worse annually. It’s not enjoyable for us anymore, that’s why we have now determined to not attend the Belgian GP anymore. I affiliate Spa now with stress, heated discussions with safety and dangerous site visitors organisation. We skilled the exact opposite in Monza this 12 months; that’s why we are going to most likely additionally return in 2024.
Arrival & Safety Controls at Monza
This 12 months at Monza, we solely went to the circuit on Saturday and Sunday. We rented an residence in Bergamo and travelled by automotive. I’ve a sense that in case you journey to the circuit from the course of Bergamo (northeast of Monza), there’s a lot much less site visitors on arrival and departure.
We left Bergamo at 7am on each days and it took about 40 minutes to reach at Monza. We had no site visitors in any respect on each days, besides close to the parking space, however even then, it was by no means greater than a 10-minute wait. We parked on the inexperienced car parking zone referred to as Biassono – Lesmo. The parking charges have elevated since we have been right here final time, however €30 EUR per day was justifiable on condition that we solely needed to stroll about 5 minutes from parking to the safety gates of the circuit.
We thought the safety controls on the entrance have been nicely organized. Stewards have been round to information folks to the management traces, which prevented folks from standing round and blocking the world. The controls themselves have been simple. We propose to actually test upfront what you’ll be able to take to the circuit and what you’ll be able to’t. [Learn More: Trackside at Monza – 2024 Italian Grand Prix] It avoids any uncertainty and retains the road transferring. It was clearly talked about upfront which gadgets have been allowed or forbidden. Arriving early within the morning (earlier than 8am), we didn’t have any queue to enter the circuit. This compares with Spa, the place it’s important to get to the gates at 5 or 6am and nonetheless must queue!
Ascari 3 Grandstand
The stroll from the safety gate to our grandstand, Ascari 3 (Grandstand 12), was about 10-Quarter-hour. We arrived at our grandstand round 8:15-8:30am each days. We had already sat in Ascari 3 again in 2018, so it was a recognized amount. We actually just like the views right here; loads of motion to observe on the monitor at this nook, you may have an enormous display to observe the motion, and the ambiance is wonderful! Even in case you don’t cheer for Ferrari, you’ll find yourself doing it anyway 🙂
We will solely evaluate to 2018, which was already a while in the past, however the worth for a ticket within the Ascari 3 grandstand, and I assume many of the different grandstands at Monza, has doubled throughout this time. That’s the one small unfavorable comment, as I do know costs have gone up in every single place. [Ascari 3 (Grandstand 12) is priced at €501 EUR for the 2024 Italian Grand Prix]
Monza Trackside Facilities & Avoiding the Crowds
Right here is one little factor that Spa does higher. Every grandstand has its personal bogs, and food and drinks stalls. However we nonetheless can’t complain, there have been bogs immediately behind the grandstand and a small drink stall. The meals stalls have been additionally not too distant.
We want to take our personal meals and drinks anyway, as we discover the trackside costs a lot too costly. Although I have to say that water was moderately priced at €1.50 EUR, plus you may replenish your bottles at no cost at many spots. Typically they have been busy, however you didn’t must queue for lengthy. If we return subsequent 12 months, we will certainly select Ascari 3 once more.
Another excuse we just like the grandstand at Ascari is that this grandstand is nicely positioned to keep away from many of the greatest crowds on the circuit. It’s a private alternative, however we don’t like going to the fanzone or listening to pumping DJ music within the background for the entire weekend (Spa does a whole lot of this!) Our grandstand location at Monza made it simple to keep away from all of this, which is one motive why we liked it a lot!
Leaving the Circuit
Leaving the circuit was nearly as simple as getting into. It by no means took us lengthy. Getting out of the took a bit longer than within the morning, however it was nonetheless fast. On Saturday, we have been out in about Quarter-hour. We encountered some delays getting on to the motorway, however in comparison with Spa it was nothing! Police and stewards have been available within the parking space to information the circulate from every course extraordinarily nicely. It was a bit slower on Sunday, about 20 minutes to exit the parking after which an additional 30-45 minutes to succeed in the motorway. Not dangerous for race day. I have to say that we did depart the monitor instantly after the race. Maybe those that left later had a unique expertise.
