The stand-off between Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One’s Mr Big, and the Automobile Club of Monaco ended yesterday with the news that a new 10-year contract has been agreed. Ecclestone caused widespread consternation in early July when he suggested that the Monaco Grand Prix could be dropped from F1’s annual fixture list. The announcement followed a meeting in London between Ecclestone and Michel Boeri, President of the ACM. The next Grand Prix of Monaco will take place on May 29, 2011. "We can do without Monaco" Ecclestone had told a British newspaper, The Independent, in an article published on July 11. Since Ecclestone and the ACM were already in negotiations to extend the contract at the time, some observers said that the veteran motor racing entrepreneur was simply putting pressure on the ACM. Ecclestone, who became rich thanks to the commercial rights attached to F1, said in the interview that emerging countries should be encouraged to stage Grand Prix. "The Europeans should pay more, otherwise we will go elsewhere" he told The Independent. However, many poeple hold the view that Formula One needs Monaco more than Monaco needs the Grand Prix.

ASM Monaco found their feet on Wednesday night with a convincing 3-1 victory over Dynamo Moscow in a pre-season friendly. Played at home in front of a crowd of only 3,000, the game was lively and entertaining, particularly in the first half, during which all the goals were scored. After an opening goal for Monaco from Bulot, the Russians equalised in the 23^rd minute with a shot from Kuranyi. But four minutes later Hansson put the Principality ahead, and eleven minutes later the die was cast with a goal from Niculae. With just 10 days to go until the opening of the League 1 season, Monaco had plenty to be pleased about tonight at Stade Louis II.

The Metropole shopping centre is undergoing a quiet transformation, with an overhaul of security systems, installation of a defibrillator and regular fire drills for traders. A number of new outlets are due to open in the next few months, all of which will maintain the centre’s upmarket image. The centre’s Stephanie Penasse said: "I do not try to copy and paste what is in Cannes or St. Tropez , but to create an atypical offer in the Principality, with luxury brands, all striving to differentiate themselves." The Metropole centre has constraints of space but remains attractive to top-end brands. The Parisian designer Laurent Guyot has chosen to open a men’s shoe shop, while the upmarket grocery store Fauchon will open next year. Other outlets, such as Orcanta and Lina’s Sandwiches are undergoing remodelling.

The Automobile Club of Monaco has announced that the 79th Monte-Carlo Rally will be held from Wednesday, January 19 until Saturday, January 2011 as part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC). Next year’s event is of particular significance since it marks 100 years since the inception of the rally in 1911. The route will reflect the history of the event, although the first day will see a new departure with sections in the Ardeche. The last day will be along the back-country of the Principality and Nice. In all, 13 sections are included with some used twice. The total distance of the rally will be 1,340 kilometres including 324 of special trial sections. Amateur drivers will play an important part. René Isoart, Commissaire- Général of the ACM, said that amateur drivers have written many of the most beautiful pages in the histry of the rally. "It’s because of them that the event has been able to survive for a century. We are hoping that the centenary of the Monte-Carlo Rally will reflect that spirit, and from the beginning of September we will be unveiling a number of measures that we hope will attract amateur drivers to the event, as well as the full details of the route." Prince Albert is a keen supporter of the Rally and will be involved in supporting the event and promoting it at an international level. The fact that the rally takes place in January, when the climate in the Principality is usually much warmer than elsewhere in most of Europe, will also be a message from January’s event. The organisers are evidently looking forward with great enthusiasm to the forthcoming rally, an event that has seen two world wars come and go.