Monaco and Cannes attract hundreds of car spotters during the summer months—enthusiasts who hunt for exceptional vehicles to capture exclusive photos and videos. However, authorities are now stepping in to regulate this practice following several incidents, with help from GMK, a YouTube star in the car spotting community.
These videos sometimes exceed one million views on YouTube or TikTok, featuring exceptional, rare, expensive, and exclusive cars. Lamborghini Huracáns, Aventadors, Bugatti Chirons, Ferrari SF90s, Mercedes SLRs, six-wheeled G63s, and McLarens are among the supercars that spotters like Thomas Delmas know inside and out. This car enthusiast from Toulon has been passionate about the hobby for nearly 15 years and now has 15,000 followers on his Instagram account. He regularly travels to Monaco for photo hunting sessions, aided by a valuable tool: a WhatsApp group on his smartphone fed by hundreds of luxury car enthusiasts who share insider tips.
At Casino Square, conversations quickly spark with tourists who think they've spotted Formula 1 driver George Russell driving a Mercedes AMG-One, a machine estimated at 5 million euros. "I got the information on the WhatsApp group—he headed toward Monte Carlo Bay," Thomas Delmas reveals, planning to visit the location later in the day. Since this summer, barriers and signs have appeared at Casino Square, installed by the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM). The barriers channel car spotters and onlookers who had a tendency to wander too close to the precious bodywork, while the signs remind visitors of privacy rules since the supercars carry palace clients.
Some spotters have become more interested in the car occupants, particularly female passengers. Videos of young women emerging from very low cars in sometimes disrespectful positions go viral on social media. The SBM has taken the issue seriously, deploying more security personnel to prevent voyeuristic behavior. One YouTuber who specialized in these voyeuristic videos is reportedly persona non grata at Casino Square.
A few hundred meters away, at the legendary Fairmont hairpin turn (formerly Loews), dozens of people watch for passing supercars. These gatherings sometimes generate disturbances. On August 5, Thomas Delmas posted an Instagram video showing crowds invading the roadway. "We look like clowns because of poorly educated people who pay absolutely no attention to anything," the spotter denounced. His video has since exceeded 5 million views.
The Principality has since taken measures. Police officers from the Event division regularly remind pedestrians not to stand outside sidewalks. "When we have gatherings, we intervene preventively, maintaining a police presence to show we won't tolerate disruptions," explains Commander Fabien Vachetta, head of Monaco police's Event division. "Generally, it goes very well—it's part of the Principality's attractions."
Police monitor pedestrians but also watch drivers who might take liberties with traffic laws to attract attention, as happened in 2023 with a Citroën Ami crash, fortunately without serious consequences. Recently, YouTuber GMK, caught by spotters crossing a solid line just meters from the famous turn, received a citation. This was ironic for this enthusiast who maintains close relationships with Monaco police and doesn't hesitate to educate spotters about proper conduct rules.
"Unfortunately, there are people who, when they see me, act recklessly. Some will run into the middle of the road with children!" says Georges Maroun Kikano, alias GMK. "When people are there now, I'm forced to tell them, 'Guys, please get back on the sidewalk, take your photos from the sidewalk!' It's a bit preachy, but I can't risk someone getting hit by a scooter or another car speeding up the line."
No bodily injuries have fortunately occurred in Monaco to date, but some veteran car spotters are beginning to desert the Principality. This includes Romain, known on social media as GE Supercar, one of the few car spotters who makes a living from his passion. "The golden age in Monaco is over for me," laments this pioneer of the discipline. "Spotters have changed, unfortunately for the worse, with the appearance of people doing TikTok lives without being passionate about cars. They film and take photos without necessarily respecting other car spotters. This means there are enormous crowds in Monaco now—it's even becoming dangerous when they run onto the road."
Romain GE Supercar, like many other car spotters, now more willingly walks the Croisette in Cannes, where supercars abound, particularly in summer, with stays by Persian Gulf billionaires. The shift represents a significant change in the car spotting community, as longtime enthusiasts seek new locations to pursue their passion while avoiding the chaos that has overtaken traditional hotspots.
