Amateurs of historic car races will generally agree that the Goodwood Revival Festival, Le Mans Classique, and Grand Prix de Monaco Historique are the three top historic car races in Europe.
Monaco is justly proud of its reputation as a centre for organising world-class international events.
With five races - the , first leg of the FIA World Rally Championship, the Grand Prix de Monaco, the Rally Monte-Carlo Historique, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique , which runs every two years, and the Monaco Kart Cup - the smallest European state after the Vatican has a first class international ranking. In addition to the Principality´s glamour, beautiful scenery, standard of living and climate, credit for the exemplary reputation enjoyed by the races held by the Automobile Club de Monaco must lie with the great imagination of the organisers.

In 1990, the Automobile Club de Monaco celebrated its centenary. And in 1995, preparations started for the centenary celebrations of the oldest reigning dynasty in Europe, that of the Grimaldi family, who have reigned without pause since 1297.

The Automobile Club de Monaco, wished to pay a special homage to its Princes, and knowing the love of its Honorary President, HSH Prince Rainier III, for classic cars and automobile sport, on the 3rd and 4th of May 1997 - the weekend before the Formula One Grand Prix - it organised the first Grand Prix de Monaco Historique. Six races were held, for six classes of car, which had raced in the Principality from the creation of the first Grand Prix in 1929 up until 1975. Great collectors and drivers such as Sir Stirling Moss, Phil Hill and Maurice Trintignant entered the event while international auction houses organised special car auctions in various locations around the Principality. Jacky Ickx, Belgian seven-time winner of Le Mans, was course director.

Then, in 2000, to celebrate the passing of the century, the Automobile Club held a second Grand Prix Historique.

After this second edition, at the request of the participants and many spectators and television viewers, it was decided to hold the Grand Prix Historique every two years, thus ensuring its exceptional status.

The 6th such event will be held this year, in 2008. Due to the very high number of racing applications, the Race Organising Committee of the Automobile Club have decided to cater to additional demand by putting on one extra race: Class G – 3-litre unsupercharged Grand Prix Formula 1 cars (without compressor or turbo), which raced in a Grand Prix F1 between 1975 and 1978.