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The checkered flag drops on another exciting Monaco Grand Prix beginning Thursday, May 24 through Sunday, May 27, 2012.

Featuring a gritty street course through the narrow and winding streets of Monte Carlo, the Monaco Grand Prix provides the most challenging race in the annual Formula 1 circuit.

The streets themselves are Monaco Grand Prix's major attraction, thrilling spectators with an up-close view of screaming engines as racers take the twisting 78-lap circuit for all it's worth. For fans around the world, televised coverage can be seen in the UK on the BBC, the US on SPEED TV, and in Canada on TSN.

The first Monaco Grand Prix was held on April 14, 1929. Since then, average race speeds have risen from 50 miles (80 kilometres) per hour to almost 90 (142 kilometres) per hour.

The 2011 winner, German driver Sebastian Vettel, won in 78 laps with a final time of 2:09:38. Coming in second was Spaniard Fernando Alonso, and in third was British champ Jensen Button.

Learn more about the Monaco Grand Prix around the Web at top sites offering histories and photos, racer profiles, stats and trivia, and more on this year's glamour race in Monte Carlo ...

More information about the Monaco Grand Prix around the Web:

Automobile Club de Monaco - The official site covering the history and excitement of one of the toughest street tracks on the Grand Prix circuit. In French and English.

Monaco Grand Prix - Wikipedia - A good read with a hyperlinked and detailed history on the subject with stats on times, laps and list of recent and past winners, photo, links.

Monaco Official Site - Formula 1 Grand Prix - The official travel site offering the best recommendations on viewing areas, tours and hotels, plus take a spin around the rest of the site for related Monte Carlo attractions, history, FAQ, photo galleries, maps and more.

BBC Sport | Formula 1 Circuit Guide - Monaco - A brief overview, related links, weather forecast, and featuring a very cool Flash presentation on the race course and its most hair-raising hairpin turns.

Formula 1 - Complete coverage of the Grand Prix with news features, pictures, TV images.

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