Photo: Tatiana Hughes • Monaco Amber Fashion Show • 23 May 2008
Photos: monacoeye • Monaco Grand Prix • 25 May 2008

Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix delivered a famous victory for Lewis Hamilton, in an action-packed race. All drivers had difficulty controlling their cars in the wet conditions, but Lewis Hamilton managed to make up lost ground, after hitting a barrier early in the race, and went on to win the event and move into first place in the drivers' championship.

The weather was too poor for photos - you can get an idea from the pictures above of the Porsche Supercup, and the spectators on the hill above the Rascasse, taken a couple of hours before the Formula One Grand Prix.

Photos: Tatiana Hughes • Monaco Amber Fashion Show • 23 May 2008

Fashion photographer Tatiana Hughes has sent in this superb set of photos from the star-studded Amber Fashion exclusive fashion show and party last night, held at the Amber Lounge in Monaco.

This benefit for the Elton John Aids Foundation, was hosted by David Furnish and featured fashion lines by Elizabeth Hurley, Petra Ecclestone, and couturier Isabell Kristensen, with jewellery by Chopard and shoes by Jimmy Choo.

Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen were among those modelling the menswear, while Prince Albert, Liz Hurley, Naomi Campbell, Bernie Ecclestone, Vijay Mallya, Flavio Briatore, Lakshmi Mittal and many other top personalities from Formula One looked on.

Vijay Mallya donated one week's use of his yacht Indian Empress, including fuel and catering, to the charity auction. Although he suggested one million euros would be a fair price (€800,000 is the charter price), it was eventually bid up to €300,000 - what a bargain !

On Friday, Alfa Nero pulled in next to Indian Empress to form an Oceanco triumverate with Amevi on the T jetty. We went for a spin round the track just after the racing finished at lunch time…

Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton battled it out for fastest lap in the Grand Prix F1 practice sessions on Thursday. But Felipe Massa secured pole on Saturday.

These committed Irish fans have been there since last Sunday (!) to stake out their patch on the hill overlooking the Rascasse corner - the only free spot in Monaco. They explained their trick is for one guy to sleep there with a sleeping bag and the rest to rotate during the day. Apparently there is a "gentleman's agreement" not to nab other fans' places. They come armed with shovels and pickaxes - really ! - to flatten out the ground, and then set up a somewhat elaborate rope webbing around their patch to deter encroachers. They've been coming for four years so have it all nicely worked out. At €600 ($1000) a ticket in the stands, it sounds like they're onto a good thing. They reckoned they'll be supporting Lewis on the big day…

The ever-popular Red Bull hospitality centre was floated in on Monday morning. In previous years Red Bull have cross-marketed with Superman and Star Wars, but unfortunately no tie-in with Indiana Jones this year.

Toyota engineers checking the wheels.

The paddocks seem bigger than ever this year - no wonder the traffic has been a nightmare for the last few weeks - as all this paraphenalia has to be brought in by truck.

The big race follows on Sunday. Boats are still busy shuttling to and from Cannes but many, like Indian Empress, have taken up their race positions already.

Photos: monacoeye • Monaco Grand Prix • May 2008

Yacht name: Indian Empress
Formerly: Al Mirqab
Length: 312 ft • 95 m
Year: 2000
Builder: Oceanco
Naval architect: Richard Hein • The A Group
Owner: Vijay Mallya • Kingfisher Airlines • United Beverages

Photos: monacoeye • 6 September 2006 and May 2008 • Monaco
Photo: NT • Monaco • May 2008

May 2008: This year, Vijay Mallya has a major stake in the Grand Prix, as a partner in Force India, the team that bought out Spyker in 2007. This former Jordan stable should now have the necessary capital to recover some of its lost glory.

Indian Empress is currently in the middle of the T jetty, rubbing shoulders with Lakshmi Mittal's Amevi, which arrived today.

Sep 2006: This Oceanco giant pulled in this evening renamed as Indian Empress. The new owner is Vijay Mallya, the Indian beer billionaire and owner of Kingfisher Airlines. He is also a keen yachtsman and has racing car interests…

Tags: 312, 2000