Circuito el Bahía Azul

Circuito de la Bahía Azul is a motor racing circuit located in Bahía Azul, Ladera. It was first opened in 2008, and was a popular spot for track days and small-scale racing events such as touring cars, and these events are still hosted at the circuit to this day. While the track was opened in 2008, the current layout wasn't adopted until 2013. The new layout saw cars heading straight on after the sharp left hairpin, into a new long section of the track, where the current start/finish straight is located. The hairpin still remains and the old layout (along with the 2 other old layouts which have remained unchanged since the circuit's inception in 2008) are still used for track days and road testing of cars.

## Circuito el Bahía Azul

### Lap record

0:49.272 (old layout, 2011)0:54.782 (current full layout, 2019)

## Track History

In 2005, the first plans were being drawn up for two motor racing circuits to be built in Ladera, both of which would be used for small scale racing events and trackdays. One of these circuits would be a short, club circuit type track, and the other would be a slightly longer circuit based in Camino, a city near the Nueva Montserrat area. Both of these circuits were planned to be built in 2008, providing that the funding and land could be secured, and that the track constructors were given the go-ahead by Laderan government officials. Once the exact locations for these tracks had been found and funding was in place, the names of the circuits were announced. The short club circuit was to be named Circuito de la Bahía Azul, and the circuit to be based in Camino was named Parque del Motor de Camino. Construction for Circuito de la Bahía Azul began on October 18th 2007, and was completed on September 1st 2008. The track officially opened 2 weeks later.

Initially, the track saw lots of use as a venue for track days. The short, fast layout proved popular among drivers, and it wasn't long before the circuit started to host proper racing events. In 2009 the circuit hosted its first ever motorsport event, which was a touring car race. The grandstands were completely full and the race was loved by fans. The drivers praised the track for the high speed layout, good overtaking opportunities and smooth track surface. The 2010, 2011 and 2012 races were also successes, however things were about to change.

At the start of 2013, the track was closed for work to be carried out to it. This work involved adding an extension to the circuit from the final hairpin. The new layout would involve the drivers going straight on at the curve before the hairpin, rather than taking the left for the hairpin. A new, fast right-hand curve would follow, before a hairpin would serve as the new final corner. A new start/finish straight was constructed, with turn 1 leading onto the regular circuit. Track designers ensured that the hairpin on the existing layout would remain a part of the new circuit. Along with an extension being added, the circuit was resurfaced, and after the work was complete, the circuit was back to hosting racing again. To this day, the circuit still draws in large crowds and is a hugely popular venue for track days and car shows.

## Trivia

Circuito de la Bahía Azul is based on Iberian International Circuit from Forza Motorsport 3 and 4.