Valencia Street Circuit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 39°27′32″N 0°19′54″W / 39.45889°N 0.33167°W
 |
||
| The swing bridge, an important element of the Valencia Street Circuit [1] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Location | Valencia, Spain | |
| Time zone | GMT +1 | |
| Opened | 2008 | |
| Major Events | FIA Formula One European Grand Prix FIA GP2 Series Spanish GT Championship |
|
 |
||
| Surface | Asphalt | |
| Circuit Length | 5.419 km (3.367 mi) | |
| Turns | 25 | |
| Lap Record | 1:38.708 ( Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 2008) |
|
The Valencia Street Circuit is a semi-permanent Formula One race circuit in Valencia, Spain which will host the European Grand Prix for seven years, and is sponsored by the Spanish telephone company, Telefónica.[2][3]. The first race on the circuit was held on 24 August 2008,[4] with Felipe Massa winning after starting from pole position. The circuit utilizes the roads around the port city's port area - including a section over a 140 metre long swing bridge,[1] and also includes some roads designed exclusively for racing purposes by the German architect Hermann Tilke who also designed the infrastructural buildings for the circuit.
Contents |
[edit] History
The deal to host the Valencia race was signed on June 1, 2007 and is for seven years.[5] The deal was made between Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the Valmor Sport group, which is led by former motorcycle rider Jorge Martinez Aspar and Villarreal football club's president Fernando Roig. This deal goes back on comments made by Ecclestone previously stating that no European country should hold more than one race each year as Barcelona currently holds the Spanish Grand Prix each year.
Although now confirmed, the deal was rumored to be conditional on People's Party winning regional elections on 27 May 2007.[6] However, Ecclestone had clarified his comments on May 16, 2007: "I said I wouldn't formalise a contract until after the elections because I didn't know who I would be signing it with." He said his statements were taken out of context.[7] Ecclestone has since been cleared of influencing the election by the Valencian Electoral Commission.[8]
The official track layout was unveiled by Valencia councillor and transport minister, Mario Flores, on 19 July 2007. The track was first used in the last weekend of July 2008, as the circuit hosted a round of the Spanish F3 Championship and International GT Open. It was first used for the European Grand Prix on August 24, 2008.
[edit] Layout
The track is 5.419 kilometres (3.367 mi) long and incorporates a total of 25 turns - 11 right-handers and 14 left-handers.[9] It is estimated that the track has a top speed of around 323 kilometres per hour (201 mph), [10] with a lap record of 1:38.708, held by Felipe Massa.[4]
[edit] 2008 European Grand Prix
The 2008 European Grand Prix was held on August 24, 2008. It was the 12th race of the 2008 Formula One season. The race, contested over 57 laps, was won by Felipe Massa for the Ferrari team after starting from pole position. Lewis Hamilton finished second in a McLaren car, with Robert Kubica third in a BMW Sauber.[11]
During the race Massa was reprimanded by the stewards and fined €10,000 for nearly colliding with Adrian Sutil's car in the pits, but the Brazilian kept his victory[12].
[edit] See also
- List of Formula One circuits
- Circuit de Valencia - another motor racing circuit in Valencia used for MotoGP Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Swing Bridge Already Closed - Valencia Street Circuit". www.valenciastreetcircuit.com. http://www.valenciastreetcircuit.com/noticia_25_close_swing_bridge_Valencia_Street_Circuit_ENG.html. Retrieved on 2009-03-29.
- ^ "Telefónica, Principal Sponsor of the Formula 1 Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe - Valencia Street Circuit". www.valenciastreetcircuit.com. http://www.valenciastreetcircuit.com/noticia-60-Telefonica-principal-sponsor-of-the-f1-telefonica-grand-prix-of-europe-ENG.html. Retrieved on 2009-03-29.
- ^ "Telefónica is European GP Sponsor (Translated from Spanish)". Valenciacircuitourbano.com. 2008-01-28. http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.valenciacircuitourbano.com%2F&langpair=es%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
- ^ a b "The Official Formula 1 Website". www.formula1.com. http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/europe_798/. Retrieved on 2009-03-29.
- ^ "Valencia deal done". 2007-06-01. http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/06/01/valencia_done_deal/. Retrieved on 2007-06-01.
- ^ "Valencia street race for 2008". The Official Formula 1 Website. 2007-05-10. http://www.formula1.com/news/6058.html. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ "Ecclestone seeks to clarify Valencia deal". EEMS. 2007-05-16. http://www.eemsonline.co.uk/news/16-05-07_21. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
- ^ "Bernie Ecclestone cleared of influencing elections in Valencia, with Formula 1 announcement". bymnews.com. 2007-06-21. http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=10633. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
- ^ "Valencia plans revealed". Forumula1.net. 2007-07-20. http://www.forumula1.net/2007/f1/f1-news/valencia-plans-revealed/. Retrieved on 2007-07-20.
- ^ "Valencia track unveiled". Pitpass. 2007-07-19. http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=32151. Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
- ^ "2008 Formula 1 Telefonica Grand Prix of Europe". The Official Formula 1 Website. http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/798/. Retrieved on 2008-11-10.
- ^ "Europe: Massa fined, keeps win". Manipe F1. 2008-08-24. http://www.manipef1.com/news/2008/index.php?id=1902. Retrieved on 2008-08-24.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Valencia Street Circuit |
- The F1 Valencia Street Circuit Official Site
- Valencia Street Circuit guide from Official F1 Site
- BBC's circuit guide
- More Monza than Monaco - why Valencia's no ordinary street circuit
- City limits: Toyota on what to expect in Valencia
- A lap of Valencia with Honda’s Mike Conway
- Facts and figures - Valencia and its new street circuit
- Valencia - the technical requirements
- Valencia F1 Street Circuit in Google Maps
