Valencia Street Circuit

Motorsport venue
Name = Valencia Street Circuit
Location = Valencia, Spain
Time = GMT +1


Opened = 2008
Events = FIA Formula One
European Grand Prix
FIA GP2 Series
Spanish GT Championship
Surface = Asphalt
Length_km = 5.419
Length_mi = 3.367
Turns = 25
Record_time = 1:37.842
Record_driver = flagicon|GER Sebastian Vettel
Record_team = Toro Rosso-Ferrari
Record_year = 2008

The Valencia Street Circuit is a semi-permanent race circuit in Valencia, Spain which hosts the Formula One Grand Prix of Europe Telefónica. [cite news |title= Telefónica is European GP Sponsor (Translated from Spanish) |url=http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.valenciacircuitourbano.com%2F&langpair=es%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 |publisher=Valenciacircuitourbano.com |date=2008-01-28 |accessdate=2008-01-28 ] The circuit utilizes the roads around the port city's port area, and also includes some roads designed exclusively for racing purposes by the German architect Hermann Tilke who also designed the infrastructural buildings for the circuit.

Origins

The deal to host the Valencia race was signed on June 01, 2007 and is for seven years. [cite web | date = 2007-06-01 | url = http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/06/01/valencia_done_deal/ | title = Valencia deal done | accessdate = 2007-06-01] The deal was made between Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the Valmor Sport group, which is led by former motorcycle rider Jorge Martinez Aspar and Villarreal football club's president Fernando Roig. This deal goes back on comments made by Ecclestone previously stating that no European country should hold more than one race each year as Barcelona currently holds the Spanish Grand Prix each year.

Although now confirmed, the deal was rumored to be conditional on People's Party winning regional elections on 27 May 2007. [cite web | date = 2007-05-10 | url = http://www.formula1.com/news/6058.html | title = Valencia street race for 2008 | publisher = The Official Formula 1 Website | accessdate = 2007-05-12] However, Ecclestone had clarified his comments on May 16, 2007: "I said I wouldn't formalise a contract until after the elections because I didn't know who I would be signing it with." He said his statements were taken out of context. [cite web | date = 2007-05-16 | url = http://www.eemsonline.co.uk/news/16-05-07_21 | title= Ecclestone seeks to clarify Valencia deal | publisher = EEMS | accessdate = 2007-05-19] Ecclestone has since been cleared of influencing the election by the Valencian Electoral Commission. [cite news| title =Bernie Ecclestone cleared of influencing elections in Valencia, with Formula 1 announcement| publisher =bymnews.com| url =http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=10633| date =2007-06-21| accessdate =2007-06-25]

The official track layout was unveiled by Valencia councillor and transport minister, Mario Flores, on 19 July 2007. It will be convert|5.4|km|mi long and incorporate a total of 25 turns - 11 right-handers and 14 left-handers. [cite web | date = 2007-07-20 | url = http://www.forumula1.net/2007/f1/f1-news/valencia-plans-revealed/ | title = Valencia plans revealed | publisher = Forumula1.net | accessdate = 2007-07-20] It is estimated that the track would have a top speed of around convert|323|km/h with an estimated lap time of 1 minutes and 37 seconds. [cite web | date = 2007-07-19 | url = http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=32151 | title = Valencia track unveiled | publisher = Pitpass | accessdate = 2007-07-19]

The track was first used in the last weekend of July 2008, as the circuit hosted a round of the Spanish F3 Championship and International GT Open.

References

ee also

*List of Formula One circuits

External links

* [http://www.valenciastreetcircuit.com/index_eng.html The F1 Valencia Street Circuit Official Site]
* [http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/europe_798/circuit_diagram.html Valencia Street Circuit guide from Official F1 Site]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/circuit_guide/7249387.stm BBC's circuit guide]
* [http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/8/8229.html More Monza than Monaco - why Valencia's no ordinary street circuit]
* [http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/8/8232.html City limits: Toyota on what to expect in Valencia]
* [http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/8/8235.html A lap of Valencia with Honda’s Mike Conway]
* [http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/8/8244.html Facts and figures - Valencia and its new street circuit]
* [http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/8/8245.html Valencia - the technical requirements]
* [http://maps.google.es/maps/ms?hl=es&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&msa=0&msid=115227997683311632225.00043a68df3bc1d993279&ll=39.45843,-0.327616&spn=0.016468,0.034332&z=15 Valencia F1 Street Circuit in Google Maps]