Ciudad del Motor de Aragón
Encyclopedia
The Ciudad del Motor de Aragón, also known as Motorland Aragón, is a 5.344 km (3.3 mi) race circuit located near Alcañiz
, Spain
.
The circuit has been designed by well-known German
architect
Hermann Tilke
in conjunction with the British
architectural firm Foster + Partners
. Formula One
driver and McLaren
test driver
Pedro de la Rosa
is a technical and sporting consultant on the project.
The facility has been designed to incorporate three main zones – a technology park, a sports area and a leisure
and culture area. The technology park will feature research and educational institutes based around the motor industry
, the sports area will include the racing circuit (with multiple layouts), a karting track and various gravel circuits, whilst the leisure and culture section will feature a hotel, business centre and shopping facilities.
It was announced on May 26, 2008 that the circuit will host a round of the World Series by Renault
in both 2009
and 2010
, the first international championship to race at the venue. Renault Sport Technologies
will also have access to the circuit for thirty days per year for testing and promotional events.
On 18 March 2010, Motorland Aragón was announced as a replacement for the Balatonring
on the 2010 MotoGP
calendar. Aragón was already in place as a reserve event and replaces the Hungarian race which was postponed because of overrunning construction work. This made the Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix
the fourth Spanish race on the calendar. In March 2011 Dorna Sports
signed a contract with the circuit to make it a permanent entry on the main calendar until at least 2016. On 19 May 2010, it was announced that the circuit will hold a round of the Superbike World Championship
from 2011, with a three-year deal being agreed.
Alcañiz
Alcañiz is a town and municipality in the province of Teruel, in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. The town is located on the banks of the river Guadalope. Alcañiz is the unofficial capital of the Lower Aragon historical region...
, 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...
.
The circuit has been designed by well-known German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Hermann Tilke
Hermann Tilke
Hermann Tilke is a German engineer and auto racer, who has designed numerous Formula One motor racing circuits.-Racing:...
in conjunction with the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
architectural firm Foster + Partners
Foster and Partners
Foster + Partners is an architectural firm based in London. The practice is led by its founder and Chairman, Norman Foster, and has constructed many high-profile glass-and-steel buildings....
. Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
driver and McLaren
McLaren
McLaren Racing Limited, trading as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, is a British Formula One team based in Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom. McLaren is best known as a Formula One constructor but has also competed and won in the Indianapolis 500 and Canadian-American Challenge Cup...
test driver
Test driver
In motor sports it is common to have one or more test drivers that work with the mechanics to help develop the vehicle by testing new systems on the track.-NASCAR:...
Pedro de la Rosa
Pedro de la Rosa
Pedro Martínez de la Rosa is a Formula One driver who has participated in 87 Grands Prix for the Arrows, Jaguar, McLaren and Sauber teams, debuting on 7 March 1999, becoming one of very few drivers to score a point at his first race...
is a technical and sporting consultant on the project.
The facility has been designed to incorporate three main zones – a technology park, a sports area and a leisure
Leisure
Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education....
and culture area. The technology park will feature research and educational institutes based around the motor industry
Automotive industry
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
, the sports area will include the racing circuit (with multiple layouts), a karting track and various gravel circuits, whilst the leisure and culture section will feature a hotel, business centre and shopping facilities.
It was announced on May 26, 2008 that the circuit will host a round of the World Series by Renault
World Series by Renault
The World Series by Renault, formerly the World Series by Nissan from 1998 to 2004, is a motor racing series. The series consists of the flagship Formula Renault 3.5 Series , the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the Eurocup Mégane Trophy...
in both 2009
2009 World Series by Renault season
The 2009 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season began on April 18 at the Circuit de Catalunya and finished on October 25 at the brand-new Ciudad del Motor de Aragón in Alcañiz. It was the fifth season of the Renault-backed single-seater category. International DracoRacing driver Bertrand Baguette won...
and 2010
2010 World Series by Renault season
The 2010 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season was the sixth season of the single–seater category. It began at the Ciudad del Motor de Aragón in Spain on April 17, and ended at Circuit de Catalunya, also in Spain, on October 10....
, the first international championship to race at the venue. Renault Sport Technologies
Renault Sport
Renault Sport Technologies is the France motorsport division of Renault. Renault Sport was responsible for Renault's sports car racing entries during the 1970s, including their win at the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans race with the Renault Alpine A442.Actual Renault's Formula One team, Renault F1 in...
will also have access to the circuit for thirty days per year for testing and promotional events.
On 18 March 2010, Motorland Aragón was announced as a replacement for the Balatonring
Balatonring
Balatonring will be a 4.650 km long motor racing circuit, located in Sávoly, Hungary near Central and South Europe's biggest lake Balaton. The circuit is located about 180 km away from Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. Spain's Balatonring Zrt will operate the racing circuit with 70%...
on the 2010 MotoGP
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
calendar. Aragón was already in place as a reserve event and replaces the Hungarian race which was postponed because of overrunning construction work. This made the Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix
Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix
The Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix will be a motorcycling event that will be part of the 2010 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, held to replace the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Grand Prix will be a reserve event for from 2011 to 2016....
the fourth Spanish race on the calendar. In March 2011 Dorna Sports
Dorna Sports
Dorna Sports, S.L. is the commercial rights holder for the motorcycling sport of MotoGP.Established in 1988 as an international sports management and marketing company, it is headquartered in Madrid, with offices in Barcelona, London and Tokyo...
signed a contract with the circuit to make it a permanent entry on the main calendar until at least 2016. On 19 May 2010, it was announced that the circuit will hold a round of the Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
from 2011, with a three-year deal being agreed.