Geoffrey Keato on Winning the Monaco Grand Prix 2025 Sweepstakes
Since the first race in 1929, the Monaco Grand Prix has been considered one of the most prestigious and important auto races in the world – a bucket list experience for any racing fan. Geoffrey Keato, the winner of the SCCA Foundation 2025 Grand Prix Megayacht Experience, was at the heart of the action with exclusive access to the energy and excitement of the Grand Prix.
Winning the trip for two to the Monaco Grand Prix 2025 was a dream come true. I am immensely grateful to the Sports Car Club of America Foundation for organizing the Sweepstakes Competition and the entire event. The experience was nothing short of spectacular, and I hope it was a great success for the foundation.
I grew up in Sydney and as a teenager who was mad about cars and car racing. I attended the opening of Sydney’s first “Real Motor Racing Track” in 1960. The Australian Grand Prix, included stars such as, Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss and Jim Clark.
The experience of going to Monaco for the Formula One Grand Prix, cannot be compared to any other Grand Prix and it is the most iconic of all, because of so many factors.
Our prize included two days, practice and qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
On the day of the race, arriving at the track among the massive crowd, the atmosphere was like nothing I have experienced, added to this is the fact that my son and I were then transported by yacht tender to “our yacht” – Titania – for the day.
The yacht was in the marina along with many others being the crème de la crème of some of the biggest yachts in the world. The marina itself was packed, with tenders, yachts and people.
We had a wonderful crew, with two great chefs for the day, and all of this was included in the prize as was the entertainment on board.
It is hard to describe the crowd with every balcony of every building loaded with people. We were so close to the track and facing grandstands packed to the limit and the whole Principality of Monaco was in our view and the noise of it all added to the excitement. There was an electricity in the air I have never felt before.
There was a newly introduced rule for this race which was that every car had to make two tire changes, because of this the race was exciting and in the last two laps the lead changed from Red Bull Team leading to McLaren Team winning.
After all the exciting parts of the day and the race finishing, we were now part of the biggest party on board yachts you could ever witness.
Words cannot fully capture the amazing experience I had, thanks to the Sports Car Club of America. Special appreciation goes to Jeff Jacobs, Chairman of the SCCA Foundation, and Josh Murrell from Exceed Giving.
- Geoffrey Keato