Spanish Grand Prix

Circuit de Catalunya, host of the race since 1991

The **Spanish Grand Prix** (Catalan: *Gran Premi d'Espanya*; Spanish: *Gran Premio de España*) is an event of the Formula One World Championship which is held at Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.

## History

### Origins and pre-war

The first race commonly referred to as a Spanish Grand Prix was held in 1913. Though not run according to the Grand Prix formula of the day, it was a race for touring cars held on a 300 km (190 mi) road circuit in Guadarrama, near Madrid, on the way to Valladolid. It was officially named the **RACE Grand Prix** (after the Royal Automobile Club of Spain, known in Spanish as *Real Automóvil Club de España*) and won by Carlos de Salamanca in a Rolls-Royce.

Prior to that, there had been motor racing events in Spain, the most notable of which was the Catalan Cup, which was held annually on roads around Sitges, near Barcelona, from 1908 to 1910. The first event was won by Giosuè Giuppone in a Lion-Peugeot, and the two subsequent events were won by Jules Goux, also in a Lion-Peugeot, these races helping to establish a strong racing tradition in Spain that has continued to this day. This enthusiasm for racing led to the construction of a permanent track at Sitges—a 2 km (1.2 mi) oval known as Sitges-Terramar, which hosted the first race to officially carry the title Spanish Grand Prix in 1923, won by Albert Divo in a Sunbeam.

#### Lasarte

Following the first race, the track ran into financial difficulties, forcing the organisers to look for another venue. The Spanish Grand Prix relocated to the 17.749 km (11.029 mi) Circuito Lasarte on the northern coast near Bilbao in 1926, which had previously hosted Spain's main race, the **San Sebastián Grand Prix**, in the 1920s. The 1927 Spanish Grand Prix was part of the AIACR World Manufacturers' Championship, but the race was not yet established, and in 1928 and 1929, it was run under sports car regulations. The 1930 Spanish Grand Prix for sports cars, scheduled for July 27th, was cancelled due to the economic downturn that followed the Wall Street crash of 1929. The 1931 and 1932 Spanish Grands Prix were also announced, but were cancelled due to political and economic difficulties. Finally, in 1933, the Spanish Grand Prix was revived at Lasarte with government support. Following the 1935 race, Spain descended into civil war, and racing was discontinued. Racing returned to Spain in 1946 with the Penya Rhin Grand Prix, held on Barcelona's Pedralbes street circuit.

### Formula One

#### Pedralbes

Spain did not return to the international calendar until 1951, when it joined the Formula One championship race schedule at Barcelona's very wide Pedralbes Street Circuit. Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio won his first world championship in 1951 in an Alfa Romeo, taking advantage of the improved works Ferrari's tyre problems. The race was scheduled for the 1952 and 1953 seasons but was cancelled due to a lack of funds, and in 1954, Briton Mike Hawthorn ended Mercedes' dominance by winning in a Ferrari. In 1955, the Spanish Grand Prix at Pedralbes was scheduled to take place, but a terrible accident at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that killed more than 80 people resulted in regulations governing spectator safety, and the scheduled Spanish Grand Prix (like many others) was cancelled that year and for the following two years (also owing to more problems with money to hold the race), and the wide but pedestrian-lined street track at Pedralbes was then never used again for motor racing.

#### Jarama and Montjuïc

In the 1960s, Spain made a bid to return to the world of international motor racing. The Royal Automobile Club of Spain commissioned a new permanent racing circuit just north of Madrid at Jarama. The Spanish government also refurbished the Montjuïc street circuit in Barcelona with safety upgrades. In 1967, Jim Clark won a non-championship Grand Prix at Jarama while driving a Lotus F1 car.

Jarama hosted the Spanish Grand Prix in 1968, near the start of the Formula One season. Following this event, it was agreed that the race would alternate between the tight, slow, and twisty Jarama and the fast, wide, and sweeping Montjuïc circuit. The Montjuïc circuit hosted its first Formula One race in 1969, with British driver Jackie Stewart winning. Jarama would hold the race in even-numbered years and Montjuïc in odd-numbered years. Belgian Jacky Ickx and Briton Jackie Oliver were involved in a fiery accident during a race in 1970, and both escaped with burns. Stewart won the race, and he repeated his victory the following year after holding off three more powerful 12-cylinder engined cars. Austrian Niki Lauda won his first of 25 races in 1974. The 1975 event was marked by tragedy. Concerns were raised about track safety during practice races at the Montjuïc circuit due to improperly fastened Armco barriers surrounding the city streets. There were several protests, and the drivers declined to race. The organisers panicked and threatened to lock the cars inside the stadium where they remained while not being raced. The drivers and teams agreed, but double-winner Emerson Fittipaldi retired in protest after just one lap. On the 26th lap of the race, Rolf Stommelen's car crashed after the rear wing broke off, killing four spectators. The race was stopped on the 29th lap, and Jochen Mass won, but only half the points were awarded.

#### Jarama

Following the tragic events at the dangerously fast and tight space of Montjuïc, the Spanish Grand Prix was moved permanently to Jarama. In the 1976 race, Briton James Hunt took advantage of Lauda's broken ribs in a tractor accident; he was later disqualified after his McLaren was found to be 1.8 inches too wide. McLaren appealed the decision, which was successful; Hunt's points were reinstated. In 1977 and 1978, Mario Andretti dominated in his ground-effect Lotus 78. The 1980 race was notable because, on the Friday morning of race weekend, FISA president Jean-Marie Balestre announced that the Spanish Grand Prix would not be counted as a championship event. As a result, none of the factory teams (Ferrari, Renault, or Alfa Romeo) attended the event, leaving only the independent constructors from FOCA to compete. Alan Jones won the race driving a Williams. Gilles Villeneuve won the 1981 race in his ill-handling Ferrari by holding off four better-handling cars on the twisty and confined circuit. However, the Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama was also dropped from the racing calendar after being cancelled in 1982 due to the organisers' apparent interest in the golf course near the circuit, as well as the narrow track, uncomfortably hot late June conditions, and small crowd at that year's race; it would return in 1986.

#### Jerez

An attempt to revive the Spanish Grand Prix on a street circuit in the southwestern resort town of Fuengirola in 1984 and 1985 failed, but in 1985, the Mayor of Jerez commissioned a new racing circuit in his town to promote tourism and sherry. The Circuito Permanente de Jerez, near Seville in southern Spain, was completed in time for the 1986 championship race, which featured a fierce battle between Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell, with the two cars finishing side by side. Senna won by 0.014 seconds, one of F1's closest finishes.

This section is incomplete. If you'd like to help, please add the relevant information.
#### Catalunya

Work on the Circuit de Catalunya was underway in Montmeló, few kilometres from Barcelona, thanks to the support of the Spanish government, and in 1991, the event moved to this new track, where it has remained since. The 1992 event was advertised as the *Grand Prix of the Olympic Games*. Since that race the race has been held in early season, usually in late April or early May.

## Official Names

 1967
 1970
 1981

## Venues

 **Catalunya** | 1991–present

Pedralbes (1951, 1954)Jarama (1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976–1979, 1981)Montjuïc Park (1969, 1971, 1973, 1975)Jerez (1986–1987)
## Winners

### Repeat winners (drivers)

*A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.*

 2
  Mario Andretti

### Repeat winners (constructors)

*Teams **in bold** are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season. A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Formula One World Championship. A yellow background indicates an event that was part of the pre-war European Championship.*

 4
 2

### Repeat winners (engine manufacturers)

*Manufacturers **in bold** are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season. A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Formula One World Championship. A yellow background indicates an event that was part of the pre-war European Championship.*

 2

### By year

*A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Formula One World Championship. A green background indicates an event that was part of the pre-war World Manufacturers' Championship. A yellow background indicates an event that was part of the pre-war European Championship.*

## Notes

1. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Marriott, Andrew. "Spanish Grand Prix". *Motorsport Magazine*. No. June 1969. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
2. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Higham, Peter (1995). *The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing*. p. 435. ISBN 0851126421.
3. ↑ Gran Premio del RACE, official name at a newspaper promo.
4. ↑ Gran Premio del RACE, by Pablo López Castillo.
5. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"La Copa Catalunya – Splendide victoire de Giuppone". *L'Auto*: 1. 29 May 1908. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via BnF/Gallica.
6. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"La Copa Catalunya – Belle Victoire de Goux sur « Lion »". *L'Auto*: 1. 21 May 1909. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via BnF/Gallica.
7. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"La Coupe de Catalogne – Victoire de Goux sur « Lion »". *L'Auto*: 1. 30 May 1910. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via BnF/Gallica.
8. ↑ Announcement of the I Spanish GP.
9. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Divo, sur Sunbeam, remporte brillamment le Grand Prix d'Espagne". *L'Auto*. 29 October 1923. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via BnF/Gallica.
10. ↑ Looking back: F1's Phantom Races. *talkingaboutf1.com*.
11. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Hayhoe, David (2021). *Formula 1: The Knowledge* (2nd ed.). Veloce Publishing Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 1787112373.
12. ↑ Built by Cosworth, funded by Ford.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sports car race.
14. ↑ Cómo se desarrolló el GP de España 1929 (es). *Mundo Deportivo* (29 July 1929).
15. ↑ Rigal, sobre Alfa Romeo, fue el ganador de la carrera (es). *Mundo Deportivo* (29 July 1929).