# Montjuïc circuit

The Montjuïc circuit was a street circuit located on the Montjuïc mountain in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The circuit was also the venue for the Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix from 1950 to 1968, and then hosted the event on even-numbered years until 1976. The last Formula One Grand Prix held there in 1975, is notable for both a fatal crash that led to Formula One abandoning the venue and the only occasion to date that a female driver has scored World Championship points.

## History

By 1908 international motorsport was conducted at the Circuit Baix Penedès with the Copa Catalunya. In 1923 the first Great automobile Prize of Spain in the permanent Sitges Terramar circuit was run near Barcelona. In 1932 a race was held on a street circuit with the start in the Montjuïc Park, wooded parkland on a hill above the city's harbour. The course of the 1933 east circuit of that race became the Montjuïc Circuit proper, holding the Penya Rhin Grand Prix.
In 1968, Montjuïc was selected as the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix, which had been held at the Jarama circuit in Madrid, with the inaugural Grand Prix being held there on 4 May 1969. The variable character of the anticlockwise course (with one half slow and the other very fast) made setting the cars up correctly a challenge.
The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix was marked by tragedy. Many drivers felt that the circuit was unsafe, and two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi withdrew in protest before the start of the race. On lap 26 the Embassy Hill-Lola car of Rolf Stommelen left the track, killing four people. The race was subsequently stopped before half distance and half points awarded, with Jochen Mass being recorded as the winner. Lella Lombardi became the first and only female driver to score world championship points, taking 0.5 points for 6th place. Formula One never returned to the circuit after the accident.
The circuit of Montjuïc was also the scene of the 24 hours of Montjuïc, a motorcycle endurance race from 1960 to 1982.
The area where the circuit was located is now part of Anella Olímpica, where many Venues of the 1992 Summer Olympics are now located.
In 2004, the city council of Barcelona decided to mark the layout of the old circuit.
On 13–14 October 2007 the circuit was used for the Martini Legends, to honour the 75th anniversary of the circuit. Signalling the return of Formula One cars to Montjuïc, Emerson Fittipaldi (re-)appeared in his Lotus 72, and Marc Gené drove a contemporary Ferrari.

## Lap records

The official race lap records at the Montjuïc circuit are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
| Temporary Street Circuit: 3.791 km (1933–1950, 1953–1986) |||||
| Formula One | 1:23.800 | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus 72E | 1973 Spanish Grand Prix |
| Formula Two | 1:25.580 | Hans-Joachim Stuck | March 742 | 1974 Montjuïc F2 round |
| Group 5 | 1:29.800 | Gérard Larrousse | Lola T292 | 1973 Montjuïc European Sportscar Championship round |
| Group 6 | 1:35.600 | Jorge de Bagration | Porsche 908/02 | 1969 12 Hours of Montjuïc |
| 350cc | 1:42.300 | Franco Uncini | Yamaha TZ 350 | 1976 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 250cc | 1:43.000 | Walter Villa | Harley-Davidson RR250 | 1976 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 125cc | 1:48.800 | Pier Paolo Bianchi | Morbidelli 125 | 1976 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 500cc | 1:49.850 | Angelo Bergamonti | MV Agusta 500 Three | 1970 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| GP | 1:56.000 | Tazio Nuvolari | Alfa Romeo 12C-36 | 1936 Penya Rhin Grand Prix |
| 50cc | 1:57.000 | Ángel Nieto | Bultaco TSS 50 | 1976 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Temporary Street Circuit: 4.205 km (1952) |||||
| 500cc | 2:33.570 | Umberto Masetti | Gilera 500 Saturno "Piuma" | 1952 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 125cc | 2:39.980 | Emilio Mendogni | Moto Morini 125 GP | 1952 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Temporary Street Circuit: 6.033 km (1951) |||||
| 500cc | 3:45.000 | Enrico Lorenzetti | Moto Guzzi 500 Four | 1951 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 350cc | 3:47.000 | Tommy Wood | Velocette 350 GP | 1951 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 125cc | 4:04.980 | Carlo Ubbiali | Mondial 125SS | 1951 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix |