List of Formula One circuits
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Formula One, abbreviated to F1, is the highest class of open-wheeled auto racing defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body.[1] The "formula" in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants and vehicles must conform. The F1 World Championship season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, usually held on purpose-built circuits, and in a few cases on closed city streets.
The first World Championship Grand Prix was held in 1950 at Silverstone; since then 68 circuits have hosted a Grand Prix. Circuits such as the Nürburgring have hosted Grands Prix using different configurations. The first race at the Nürburgring used the 22.835 km (14.189 mi) configuration, but concerns over safety meant that more recent Grands Prix have used a shorter, safer circuit.[2] F1 circuits were predominately in Europe during the early years of the championship, as the sport has expanded so has the location of its circuits. The expansion into Asia and America has been a recent occurrence. Of the 20 circuits that will host a Grand Prix in 2012, nearly half were not on the calendar before 1999.[3]
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza has hosted the most Grands Prix; it has been used as the circuit for the Italian Grand Prix 61 times. The only season it did not host a race was in 1980, when the Italian Grand Prix was held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.[4] The Buddh International Circuit became the 68th circuit to host a Grand Prix, when it held the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in 2011. The Circuit of the Americas is set to become the newest circuit to host a Grand Prix when the United States Grand Prix is staged there in 2012, at Austin, Texas.[5] The longest circuit to have hosted a Grand Prix is the Pescara Circuit, which hosted the 1957 Pescara Grand Prix. The 25.800 km (16.031 mi) long circuit in Pescara, Italy, held the annual Coppa Acerbo race; in 1957 it was included as part of the World Championship, with Stirling Moss winning the race.[6]
As some circuits have hosted Grands Prix using different configurations, the most recent configuration used is listed in the table below.
Circuits
| † | Circuit will host a Grand Prix in the 2012 season |
- The "Map" column shows a diagram of the circuit configuration
- The "Type" column refers to the type of circuit. Therefore Street is a circuit held on closed city streets, Road refers to a mixture of public roads and a permanent track and Race is a permanent facility.
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Proposed circuits
Two new circuits are proposed to be used in Formula One in the near future. The Port Imperial Street Circuit is scheduled to hold the Grand Prix of America in 2013, in streets around Hudson County, New Jersey.[7] Formula One is scheduled to host a Grand Prix at the Sochi Olympic Park Circuit, in Sochi, Russia.[8] The circuit will host the Russian Grand Prix in 2014, although this could be pushed back a year if the International Olympic Committee believes preparations for the race will affect those for the 2014 Winter Olympics.[9]
| Circuit | Map | Type | Location | Length | Grand Prix | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Imperial Street Circuit | 
|
Street | New Jersey, United States | 5.101 km (3.170 mi) | Grand Prix of America | 2013 |
| Sochi Olympic Park Circuit | 
|
Road | Sochi, Russia | 5.872 km (3.649 mi) | Russian Grand Prix | 2014 |
Footnotes
A. ^ From 1950 to 1960, the Indianapolis 500 was part of the F1 World Championship.[10]
References
General
- Hughes, Mark; Tremayne, David (2002). The Concise Encyclopedia of Formula 1. Parragon. pp. 70–93. ISBN 0-75258-766-8.
- "Circuits". ESPN. Retrieved 17 June 2012. To find circuits which are not listed on the page, type the name of the circuit into the search bar.
Specific
- ^ "About FIA". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Retrieved 31 October 2008.
- ^ Hughes; Tremayne (2002). p. 76.
{{cite book}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Gill, Pete (31 October 2011). "A truly global sport". Sky Sports. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ "Facts and figures – Italian Grand Prix". Formula 1. 7 September 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
- ^ "Formula One returns to the United States". Formula 1. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ "Pescara Circuit". ESPN. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ "New Jersey to host Grand Prix of America in 2013". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
- ^ "Sochi agrees deal to host Russian Grand Prix". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
- ^ Kelso, Paul; Cary, Tom (22 June 2012). "London 2012 Olympics: plan to host Formula One race in and around Olympic stadium on shortlist". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- ^ "United States Grand Prix history". Formula 1. 16 June 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
External links
