Circuit de Catalunya
Encyclopedia
The Circuit de Catalunya (sirˈkujd də kətəˈɫuɲə, also known as Circuit de Barcelona) is a racetrack
in Montmeló
, to the north of Barcelona
, Catalonia
, Spain
. With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit.
that same year. Construction also coincided with the Olympic Games
scheduled to take place in Barcelona, the next year, where the circuit acted as the start and finish line for the road team time trial cycling event.
The Circuit de 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 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. This made it much more difficult for a car to get close enough to the car in front of it to attempt a pass at the first turn, which is perhaps the best—and most popular—of very few natural overtaking points on the circuit. The 2007
season saw the first of the two final sweepers replaced with a slow chicane in an effort to improve overtaking. However, the redesign did not noticeably increase the amount of overtaking.
The Circuit de Catalunya also plays host to many other racing series, including Moto GP. The chicane which was put in the penultimate turn for Formula 1 does not play a part in the track layout for Moto GP, and 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 one is arguably the most popular place for overtaking. The circuit is not known to produce copious amounts of overtaking, despite the long straights.
to modern Formula One cars. It is then hard 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.
, Ayrton Senna
and Nigel Mansell
went down the entire front straight side-by-side while duelling for second place, with Mansell eventually taking the position and ultimately the race itself. 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.
In 2008
, Heikki Kovalainen
left the track at 240 kilometre per hour after a wheel rim failure at turn 9. He managed to decelerate to 130 kilometre per hour when he hit the tyre barrier. He was temporarily unconscious and suffered minor concussion, but a few minutes later, spectators were relieved when he gave a thumbs up.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
in Montmeló
Montmeló
Montmeló is a municipality in the comarca of Vallès Oriental in Catalonia, Spain. It contains the Circuit de Catalunya, which is the home of the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix and the MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix.- Demography :-References:...
, to the north of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit.
History
The Circuit de Catalunya was built in 1991 and began hosting the Spanish Grand PrixSpanish Grand Prix
The Spanish Grand Prix is a Formula One race currently held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, as part of the annual Formula One championship season.-History:...
that same year. Construction also coincided with the Olympic Games
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
scheduled to take place in Barcelona, the next year, where the circuit acted as the start and finish line for the road team time trial cycling event.
Cycling at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Cycling competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics. There were two categories of events – road cycling and track cycling...
The Circuit de Catalunya should not be confused with the Montjuïc circuit
Montjuïc circuit
The Montjuïc circuit is a former street circuit located on the Montjuïc mountain in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It is considered among the best Formula One circuits of all time, with Autosport rating it among its ten best for their 50th anniversary of Formula One issue...
, which hosted the Spanish Grand Prix four times between 1969 and 1975 and, unlike the Circuit de 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
Turbulence
In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by chaotic and stochastic property changes. This includes low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection, and rapid variation of pressure and velocity in space and time...
created by the leading car. This made it much more difficult for a car to get close enough to the car in front of it to attempt a pass at the first turn, which is perhaps the best—and most popular—of very few natural overtaking points on the circuit. The 2007
2007 Formula One season
The 2007 Formula One season was the 58th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship, which began on 18 March and ended on 21 October after seventeen events. The Drivers' Championship was won by Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen by one point at the...
season saw the first of the two final sweepers replaced with a slow chicane in an effort to improve overtaking. However, the redesign did not noticeably increase the amount of overtaking.
The Circuit de Catalunya also plays host to many other racing series, including Moto GP. The chicane which was put in the penultimate turn for Formula 1 does not play a part in the track layout for Moto GP, and 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 one is arguably the most popular place for overtaking. The circuit is not known to produce copious amounts of overtaking, despite the long straights.
Layout
The wind direction at the circuit can change drastically during the day, a significant factor given the importance of aerodynamicsAerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
to modern Formula One cars. It is then hard 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.
Racing history
The circuit has been the site of some memorable moments. In 19911991 Spanish Grand Prix
The 1991 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on September 29, 1991 at the Circuit de Catalunya. It was the fourteenth round of the 1991 Formula One season.- Report :...
, Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time...
and Nigel Mansell
Nigel Mansell
Nigel Ernest James Mansell OBE is a British racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series...
went down the entire front straight side-by-side while duelling for second place, with Mansell eventually taking the position and ultimately the race itself. In 1994
1994 Spanish Grand Prix
The 1994 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on May 29, 1994 at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona. It was the 36th Spanish Grand Prix to be held since the first was held at Guadarrama in 1913. It was the fourth to be held at Circuit de Catalunya...
, Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes GP team. Famous for his eleven-year spell with Ferrari, Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time...
managed to finish in second place despite driving over half the race with only fifth gear. In 1996
1996 Spanish Grand Prix
The 1996 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on June 2, 1996 at the Circuit de Catalunya.This race, Michael Schumacher's first Ferrari victory, is generally regarded as one of his finest...
, Schumacher took his first win as a Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing....
driver, after a dominant performance during a torrential rainstorm. The 1999 race
1999 Spanish Grand Prix
The 1999 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on May 30, 1999 at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, Spain. It was the fifth race of the 1999 Formula One season.- Qualifying :- Race :-Standings after the race:...
was notable as there was only one reported overtaking move during the race. In 2001, Mika Häkkinen
Mika Häkkinen
Mika Pauli Häkkinen is a Finnish racing driver and two-time Formula One World Champion...
suffered a clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
failure while leading the race on the last lap, handing the win to Schumacher. At the 2006 event, Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso Díaz is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a two-time World Champion, who is currently racing for Ferrari....
became the first Spanish Formula One driver to win at his home country's track.
In 2008
2008 Spanish Grand Prix
The 2008 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on April 27, 2008 at the Circuit de Catalunya, Spain. It was the fourth race of the 2008 Formula One season. The race, contested over 66 laps, was won by Kimi Räikkönen for the Ferrari team after starting from pole position...
, Heikki Kovalainen
Heikki Kovalainen
Heikki Johannes Kovalainen is a Finnish Formula One racing driver who spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons with British based team McLaren and the 2010 and 2011 seasons with Team Lotus....
left the track at 240 kilometre per hour after a wheel rim failure at turn 9. He managed to decelerate to 130 kilometre per hour when he hit the tyre barrier. He was temporarily unconscious and suffered minor concussion, but a few minutes later, spectators were relieved when he gave a thumbs up.
External links
- Circuit de Catalunya
- Circuit de Catalunya History and Statistics
- Circuit de Catalunya at Google MapsGoogle MapsGoogle Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...