The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is integral to the Formula One season. Not only is it the venue for the incredible Spanish Grand Prix, but it is also the home of winter testing for the sport as the teams put their cars and drivers to the test.
Why do they pick Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya? Well, for one, because it’s a great Grand Prix circuit, offering a little bit of everything. So we wanted to take a closer look at this incredibly difficult, yet exciting, racing circuit.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya History
The Spanish Grand Prix lived a nomadic existence for much of its history. Four venues hosted the race between the 50’s and 80’s, in races that were littered with tragedy and controversy. Then, in 1991, the Spanish Government built the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló in time for the 1992 Olympics, at which it acted as the finish line for the road cycling event.
The first race at the Circuit de Catalunya was the 1991 Spanish Touring Car Championship, and two weeks later the circuit hosted its first Spanish Grand Prix. It’s a multi-purpose track: it has hosted a motorcycle Grand Prix every year since 1992, as well as the Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix since 1996 and the World Superbike Spanish round.
The layout of the track has remained largely the same since it opened with a few minor changes. In 1994, in response to the Imola tragedies, an extra chicane was added after the Nissan Chicane. It was so hastily done, it was actually just stacks of tyres in the middle of the track!
In 2013, the name of the track changed from Circuit de Catalunya to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, when the Barcelona City Council struck a sponsorship deal with the track.
The Formula One track was originally slightly different to the one the MotoGP used, but after the tragic death of Moto2 rider Luis Salom in 2016, the Formula One track was implemented to reduce speeds for the MotoGP riders and improve safety.
In 2023, the final chicane (the RACC Chicane) was removed for the Spanish Grand Prix for the first time, which added more speed to the end of the lap.
What is the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya like?
As a modern race track, it was designed to provide a challenge for drivers – there is a mix of fast and slow corners, long straights and plenty of elevation variance. There are incredibly tricky turns, like Campsa Corner, which is completely blind to the drivers as they turn into the steep uphill, before it then drops rapidly downhill as the exit.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was once famous for overtaking, especially with a fast final corner, going into a long straight. Over time, overtaking on the track has become much more difficult. Drivers complain about the fact that the wind direction changes frequently throughout a day, meaning the cars can experience massive aerodynamic drag. Now the first turn is the main overtaking point as it’s a braking zone.
Memorable Moments on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Despite its short history, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has thrown up some incredible moments of drama. Take the first Grand Prix, when Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna battled it out down the main straight – just millimetres apart.
Michael Schumacher won his first race as a Ferrari driver in 1996, in horrific conditions, while Fernando Alonso became the first Spanish driver to win the Spanish Grand Prix in 2006, bringing a new wave of popularity to the sport in Spain.
In 2008, Heikki Kovalainen exited the track at 150 mph and smashed into a tyre barrier. After a few agonising minutes, a relieved crowd witnessed Kovalainen giving the thumbs up. Another crash in 2016 took out both Mercedes drivers (Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg), handing Max Verstappen a win for Red Bull – the youngest driver to win an F1 race.
How to get tickets for the Spanish Grand Prix
If you want to be there for the next Spanish Grand Prix, then we can help you out. We offer incredible packages which include official tickets and accommodation in the beautiful city of Barcelona – worth the trip itself. With a Main Grandstand and the Pit Lane terrace, you’ll have an incredible view of the action.
Call us now on 0333 2309115, or speak to us here if you want to find out more about these amazing Spanish Grand Prix packages.
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