The Valencia Street Circuit is located in the Spanish city of Valencia. It is a so-called semi-permanent circuit as a part of it utilizes the roads of the city harbor during Grand Prix weekends. The circuit is primarily known as host to the annual European Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The official layout of the Valencia Street Circuit was unveiled by the Valencia Counselor and Transport Counselor Mario Flores in July, 2007. Its first European Grand Prix was held in August, 2008 and won by Felipe Massa. The circuit includes, besides the temporary city roads, also a permanent part. This part was designed exclusively for race purposes by the German architect Hermann Tilke along with the infrastructural buildings for the circuit. The temporary part goes along the harbor and includes the well known section over a 140 m long swing bridge.
The Valencia Street Circuit has a total length of 5,419 km with 25 turns, of which 11 right-handers and 14 left-handers. It is a fast circuit as its top speed is estimated at 323 km/h. Though the circuit is not as narrow as the Circuit de Monaco, it has quite many tight turns which make overtaking difficult. A notable feature of the circuit is that its straights are not really straight, but slightly bended; especially notable when comparing to other Formula 1 circuits. F1 driver Robert Kubica has said that good traction and good braking stability are crucial to win at this circuit as a lot of long straight lines end with heavy braking.
The circuit has a contract to host the European Formula 1 Grand Prix until at least 2014. This contract was singed in 2007 by Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone and the Valmor Sport Group, which is led by former MotoGP racer Jorge Martinez Aspar and Villarreal Footbal Club’s president Fernando Roig. Initially, Bernie Ecclestone stated that no European country should host more than one Grand Prix. Since Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona already hosts the Spanish Grand Prix each year, the deal has been made for the Valencia Circuit to host the European Grand Prix.
Valencia street circuit
| Circuit details | |
|---|---|
| Total track length | 5.473,5 metres |
| Estimated lap time 1min | 37seconds |
| Estimated maximum speed | 323,3 km/h |
| Estimated minimum speed | 95,2 km/h |
| Estimated average speed | 201,3 Km/h |
| Length of pit lane | 657 metres |
| Length of service roads | 3.824 metres |
| Length of private access service roads | 1.828 metres |
| Minimum width on home straight | 15 metres |
| Minimum width on rest of track | 12 metres |
| Number of turns | 25 |
| Left turns | 11 |
| Right turns | 14 |
