Contents

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was built in 1991 and began hosting the Spanish Grand Prix that same year.  Construction also coincided with the Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Barcelona[4] the next year, where the circuit acted as the start and finish line for the road team time trial cycling event.[5] The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya should not be confused with the Montjuïc circuit, which hosted the Spanish Grand Prix four times between 1969 and 1975 and, unlike the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, is actually located within the city of Barcelona. 

Because so much testing is done at this circuit, Formula One drivers and mechanics are extremely familiar with it.  This has led to criticism that drivers and mechanics are too familiar with Catalunya, reducing the amount of on-track action. 

When first used, overtaking was frequent as cars could follow closely through the last two corners and slipstream down the long straight.  As aerodynamic balance became more critical, this overtaking method drastically decreased as the cars were unable to follow each other through the fast final corner due to turbulence created by the leading car.[4] The 2007 season saw the first of the two final sweepers replaced with a slow chicane in an effort to improve overtaking. 

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has hosted a motorcycle Grand Prix since 1992, originally the European motorcycle Grand Prix from 1992 and later the Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix since 1996.  There are at least five points on the track (turns 1, 2, 4, 10, 14) where riders are known to overtake.  As in Formula 1, Turn 1 is arguably the most popular place for overtaking.  The circuit is not known to produce copious amounts of overtaking, despite the long straights.  Originally, the Formula 1 circuit changes were not instituted for MotoGP; however, after a fatal crash in the 2016 MotoGP round involving a Moto2 rider, the Formula 1 layout was implemented to slow down riders for safety purposes.  The FIM made a further change to the chicane for 2017 by moving up the chicane to prevent riders from cutting the pit lane entrance, but that was abandoned because the motorcycle chicane had a surface change that created more safety issues with the transition.  Further changes were made to the circuit in December 2017 as grandstands were removed to add additional runoff that allowed the FIM to eliminate that chicane (although the Turn 10 hairpin was kept). 

The track is demanding of a car's aerodynamic qualities.[8] The wind direction at the circuit can change drastically during the day, a significant factor given the importance[9][10] of aerodynamics to modern Formula One cars.  It is then hard[according to whom?]  to find a good setup since cars can have massive aerodynamic drag and understeer on one part of the circuit in the morning, but suffer oversteer at the same part of the circuit in the afternoon.  A given tyre compound can work well when tested, but not so well a couple of months later.  These changeable conditions can make for unexpected performances from some teams during the race.  The changeable wind conditions have also caused accidents at the circuit, with Fernando Alonso's testing accident in 2015 partly blamed on the severity of the wind. 

Turns 1–3

The MotoGP layout uses the 1995-2003 version of the Grand Prix circuit.  Originally the layout was the same as Formula One, but in 2004 the La Caixa turn was modified; the motorcycles used the old version, and they also ignored the shorter Europcar turn and RACC chicane.  The F1 layout was implemented originally in 2016 following the fatal accident of Luis Salom in Europcar on 3 June 2016 race control switched to the F1 circuit for qualifying and the race on 5 June 2016.  On 15 December 2016, the FIM announced the change was permanent by announcing plans for a chicane ahead of the current car chicane.  However, during the 2017 race, the new chicane was deemed dangerous by riders because of a surface change, and the car chicane was used during that event.  After changes to the track in the off-season including removing grandstands in Turn 12 in creating additional runoff and a complete repaving of the circuit, the F1 layout from 2004-06, including the new La Caixa hairpin instead of sweeper, will be used, eliminating the chicane. 

The World RX of Spain uses parts of the track near turns 11–15, with two additional gravel sections. 

Turn 1 is the main overtaking point at Catalunya, as it is a braking zone at the end of a long DRS straight.  The inside and outside are equally difficult for overtaking; drivers who can hold the line around the outside of turn one, can get the inside line for turn two.  The corners themselves make up a medium-speed chicane – drivers brake rather late for turn one (Elf)[11] and shift down to gear two, and turn two is almost full throttle as they try to gain as much exit speed as possible.  Turn 3 (Renault)[11] is a long, flat-out (in most cars) right-hander that has a g-force of about four,[11] and it leads to a short straight before turn 4, the Repsol[11] curve.  Another right-hander, turn four is similar to Monza's Curva Parabolica – drivers brake and take an early apex (in third gear), carrying lots of speed out of the exit.  Turn 5 (Seat)[11] comes immediately after and is a slow left-hander taken in second gear which drops rapidly downhill towards the left kink of turn 6 which is ignored by F1 cars.  Turns 7 and 8 make up a medium-speed, uphill, left-right chicane.  Drivers brake and shift down to gear three, and must not run too wide as turn eight has a large kerb on its apex which could potentially damage cars' suspensions.  Turn 9, Campsa Corner, is a very fast, sixth-gear right-hander which is made incredibly difficult by being completely blind (drivers cannot see the apex on approach).  It is initially quite steep uphill but the exit is then downhill, so it is quite easy to run wide onto the astroturf.[11] The long back straight leads into turn 10 (La Caixa), a second-gear, left-hand hairpin, then turns 11 and 12, a left kink before a long, slow, third-gear right.  The next section has been redesigned by German engineer Hermann Tilke to lower speeds onto the 1,047 m (1,145 yd) pit straight – which in turn increases overtaking opportunities and safety.[12] Turn 13 is a tight, third-gear right-hander and drivers have to cross the track quickly to take the racing line through the slow left-right chicane of turns 14 and 15, taken in second gear.  Good traction is needed here as it determines speed down the pit straight.[11] Turn 16 (New Holland)[11] is a flat-out right-hander which takes cars across the start/finish line. 

The circuit has been the site of some memorable moments.  In 1991, Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell went down the entire front straight side-by-side while dueling for second place, with Mansell eventually taking the position and ultimately the race itself.[4] In 1994, Michael Schumacher managed to finish in second place despite driving over half the race with only fifth gear.  In 1996, Schumacher took his first win as a Ferrari driver, after a dominant performance during a torrential rainstorm.  The 1999 race was notable as there was only one reported overtaking move during the race.  In 2001, Mika Häkkinen suffered a clutch failure while leading the race on the last lap, handing the win to Schumacher.  At the 2006 event, Fernando Alonso became the first Spanish Formula One driver to win at his home country's track.[4]

In 2008, Heikki Kovalainen left the track at 240 km/h (149 mph) after a wheel rim failure at turn 9.  He managed to decelerate to 130 km/h (81 mph) when he hit the tyre barrier.  He was temporarily unconscious and suffered a minor concussion,[13] but a few minutes later, spectators were relieved when he gave a thumbs up. 

The circuit has been the scene of two debut wins in Formula One.  Pastor Maldonado took his first and only Grand Prix victory here in 2012, and in 2016Max Verstappen won his first Grand Prix. 

On 3 June 2016, during Moto2 Free Practice for the 2016 Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix, Luis Salom crashed in turn 12, resulting in the session being red-flagged.  After being transferred to the local Hospital General de Catalunya, Salom died of the injuries sustained in the crash.  Upon hearing this, FIM decided to change the current layout of the track to the same layout as the one used in Formula One.  After off-season discussions, the FIM announced that the track layout would be slightly modified in that the chicane would be moved up a few metres. 

^"Aerodynamics".  Formula One World Championship Limited.  Retrieved 27 June 2016.  Ask any engineer in the pit lane and they'll tell you that the most important consideration in F1 car design [...] is aerodynamics. 

^"Aerodynamics in racing".  f1technical.net.  14 May 2009.  Retrieved 27 June 2016.  Nowadays, aerodynamics is the utmost important factor in Formula One car performance. 

Hungaroring

The Hungaroring is a motorsport race track in Mogyoród, Hungary where the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix is held.  In 1986, it became the location of the first Formula One Grand Prix behind the Iron Curtain.  Bernie Ecclestone wanted a race in the USSR, but a Hungarian friend recommended Budapest.  They wanted a street circuit similar to the Circuit de Monaco to be built in the Népliget – Budapest's largest park – but the government decided to build a new circuit just outside the city near a major highway.  Construction works started on 1 October 1985.  It was built in eight months, less time than any other Formula One circuit.  The first race was held on 24 March 1986, in memory of János Drapál, the first Hungarian who won motorcycle Grand Prix races.  According to a survey put together by the national tourism office of Hungary, Mogyoród ranks third among Hungarian destinations visited by tourists, behind the Danube Bend area and Lake Balaton, but ahead of Budapest.  The circuit has FIA Grade 1 license. 

Road racing

Road racing is a form of motorsport racing held on a paved road surfaces.  The races can be held either on a closed circuit or on a street circuit utilizing temporarily closed public roads.  Originally, road races were held almost entirely on public roads however, public safety concerns eventually led to most races being held on purpose built racing circuits. 

Suzuka International Racing Course

The Suzuka International Racing Course, otherwise known as the Suzuka Circuit, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co, Ltd. It has a capacity of 155,000. 

Sepang International Circuit

The Sepang International Circuit is a motorsport race track in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia.  It is located approximately 45 km (28 mi) south of Kuala Lumpur, and close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport.  It hosted the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix between 1999 and 2017, and is also the venue for the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race and other major motorsport events. 

Bahrain International Circuit

The Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 Series and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix.  The 2004 Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East.  Beginning in 2006, Australian V8 Supercars raced at the BIC, with the event known as the Desert 400.  However, the V8 Supercars did not return for the 2011 V8 Supercar season.  24 Hour endurance races are also hosted at BIC.  The circuit has a FIA Grade 1 license. 

Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari

The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is a race track near the Italian town of Imola, 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) east of Bologna.  It is one of the few major international circuits to run in an anti-clockwise direction.  The circuit is named after Ferrari's late founder, Enzo Ferrari, and his son, Alfredo Ferrari, who had died in 1956.  The circuit has a FIA Grade One license. 

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a motor racing circuit located in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers, some 250 km from Paris and 240 km from Lyon. 

Hockenheimring

The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg(help·info) is a motor racing circuit situated in the Rhine valley near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located on the Bertha Benz Memorial Route.  Amongst other motor racing events, it biennially hosts the German Grand Prix, with the most recent being in 2019.  The circuit has very little differences in elevation.  The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 license. 

Autodromo Nazionale Monza

The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a historic race track located near the city of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy.  Built in 1922, it is the world's third purpose-built motor racing circuit after those of Brooklands and Indianapolis. 
The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix.  With the exception of 1980, the race has been hosted there since the series's inception. 

Red Bull Ring

The Red Bull Ring is a motorsport race track in Spielberg, Styria, Austria. 

Circuito do Estoril

The Circuito do Estoril or Autódromo do Estoril, officially known as Autódromo Fernanda Pires da Silva, is a motorsport race track on the Portuguese Riviera, outside of Lisbon, owned by state-run holding management company Parpública.  Its length is 4.182 km (2.599 mi).  It was the home of the Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix from 1984 to 1996.  The capacity of the motorsport stadium is 45,000.  The circuit has FIA Grade 1 license. 

Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a 4.304 km (2.674 mi) motorsport race track in Mexico City, Mexico, named after the racing drivers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez.  The circuit got its name shortly after it opened when Ricardo Rodríguez died in practice for the non-Championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix.  Ricardo's brother Pedro also lost his life behind the wheel nine years later.  Since 2015 the track once again is a host of the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix, an event it previously hosted in two separarate time periods on a different layout, the last occasion of which was in 1992. 

Macau Grand Prix

The Macau Grand Prix is a motorsport road race for automobiles and motorcycles held annually in Macau.  It is the only street circuit racing event in which both cars and motorcycles participate. 

Valencia Street Circuit

The Valencia Street Circuit was a street circuit in Valencia, Spain which hosted the Formula One European Grand Prix for five years (2008–2012).  The first race meeting on the circuit was held over the 23/24 August 2008 weekend, with Felipe Massa winning the main event, the European Grand Prix, after starting from pole position.  The circuit used the roads skirting the city's harbour and America's Cup port area – including a section over a 140-metre-long (460 ft) swing bridge, and also included some roads designed exclusively for racing purposes by the German architect Hermann Tilke, who also designed the infrastructure buildings for the circuit.  The 2012 edition took place on 24 June and was the last to go under the name of the European Grand Prix until 2016, when the Baku City Circuit used the title for one year.  It has not been used since 2013 after a deal fell through to alternate this venue with Catalunya in Barcelona to host the Spanish Grand Prix. 

Marina Bay Street Circuit

The Marina Bay Street Circuit is a street circuit around Marina Bay, Singapore, encompassing the planning areas of Downtown Core and Kallang.  It is the venue for the Singapore Grand Prix.  The track is 5.063 km (3.146 mi) long in a harbourside location similar in style to the Circuit de Monaco and the Valencia Street Circuit. 

Luis Salom

Luis Jaime Salom Horrach was a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle racer.  Salom died after a practice accident at Circuit de Catalunya, when making contact with his bike and the wall after a high-speed accident.  Racing in the Moto2 class since 2014, he finished 41 races, with 3 podium appearances, including a second-place finish at the 2016 Qatar season opener.  At the time of his death, Salom ranked 10th in the 2016 Moto2 Championship point standings.  Previously he had competed in Moto3, accumulating nine race victories, finishing 2nd and 3rd in the 2012 and 2013 championships, respectively. 

Beijing Olympic Green Circuit

Beijing Olympic Green Circuit is a street circuit in Beijing, China, which was first used on 13 September 2014 during the first ePrix of Formula E. It runs around the grounds of the Olympic Stadium used in the 2008 Summer Olympics.  The track features 20 turns, and at 3.453 km is the longest track currently used in Formula E. Choosing the location and designing the track has been done by designer Rodrigo Nunes in close cooperation with the FIA, Formula E, the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of PR China, the Olympic Green management, the Mayor of Beijing, the Chinese Government, and event organiser China Racing. 

2017 Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix

2019 Spanish Grand Prix

The 2019 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race that took place on 12 May 2019 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló, Spain.  The race was the fifth round of the 2019 Formula One World Championship and marked the forty-ninth running of the Spanish Grand Prix as a World Championship event since the inaugural season in 1950, and the twenty-ninth time that a World Championship round has been held at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit.