Montjuïc circuit
Encyclopedia
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. The last Formula One Grand Prix held there in 1975 is notable for both a fatal crash that led to Formula One quitting the venue and the only occasion to date that a female driver has scored World Championship points.
circuit was run near Barcelona. In 1932 a race was held on a street circuit with the start in the Montjuïc Park, wooded parkland on a hill above the city's harbour. The course of the 1933 east circuit of that race became the Montjuïc Circuit proper, holding the Penya Rhin Grand Prix
.
In 1968, Montjuïc was selected as the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix
, which had been held at the Jarama
circuit in Madrid
, with the inaugural Grand Prix being held there on May 4 1969. The variable character of the anticlockwise course (with one half slow and the other very fast) made setting the cars up correctly a challenge.
The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix
was marked by tragedy. Many drivers felt that the circuit was unsafe, and two time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi
withdrew in protest before the start of the race. On lap 26 the Embassy Hill-Lola car of Rolf Stommelen
left the track, killing five people. The race was subsequently stopped at half distance and half points awarded, with Jochen Mass
being recorded as the winner. Lella Lombardi
became the first female driver to score world championship points, taking 0.5 points for 6th place. Formula One never returned to the circuit after the accident.
The circuit of Montjuic was also the scene of the 24 hours of Montjuic, a motorcycle endurance race.
The area where the circuit was located is now part of Anella Olímpica
, where many Venues of the 1992 Summer Olympics
are now located.
Since 1991 the Spanish Grand Prix has been held at the Circuit de Catalunya
on the outskirts of Barcelona.
In 2004, the city council of Barcelona decided to mark the layout of the old circuit.
On October 13-14 2007 the circuit was used for the Martini Legends, to honour the 75th anniversary of the circuit. Signalling the return of Formula One cars to Montjuïc, Emerson Fittipaldi (re-)appeared in his Lotus 72
, and Marc Gené
drove a contemporary Ferrari
.
Street circuit
A street circuit is a racing circuit composed by temporarily closed-off public roads of a city, town or village, used in motor races. Facilities such as the paddock, pit boxes, fences and grandstands are usually placed temporarily and removed soon after the race is over but in modern times the...
located on the Montjuïc
Montjuïc
Montjuïc is a hill located in Barcelona, Catalonia.-Etymology:Montjuïc is translated as 'Jew Hill' in medieval Catalan, or is perhaps related to the Latin phrase Mons Jovicus . The name is found in several locations in the Catalan Countries: the Catalan cities of Girona and Barcelona both have a...
mountain in 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...
. It is considered among the best 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...
circuits of all time, with Autosport
Autosport
Autosport is a weekly magazine covering motorsport, published in the United Kingdom every Thursday by Haymarket Consumer Media. It was first published on 25 August 1950 by Gregor Grant, immediately prior to the Silverstone International Trophy meeting of that year...
rating it among its ten best for their 50th anniversary of Formula One issue. The last Formula One Grand Prix held there in 1975 is notable for both a fatal crash that led to Formula One quitting the venue and the only occasion to date that a female driver has scored World Championship points.
History
By 1908 international motorsport was conducted at the Circuit Baix Penedès with the Copa Catalunya. In 1923 the first Great automobile Prize of Spain in the permanent Sitges TerramarSitges Terramar
The Sitges Terramar is a former racing circuit located between Sant Pere de Ribes and Sitges near Barcelona, Catalonia. Although minor races were sporadically held on the circuit through the 1950s, it was largely abandoned after the inaugural season of 1923...
circuit was run near Barcelona. In 1932 a race was held on a street circuit with the start in the Montjuïc Park, wooded parkland on a hill above the city's harbour. The course of the 1933 east circuit of that race became the Montjuïc Circuit proper, holding the Penya Rhin Grand Prix
Penya Rhin Grand Prix
The Penya Rhin Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor racing event staged at the three different circuits in three different eras in Spain. The race was held intermittently over its history, sometimes for full-size Grand Prix cars, sometimes for sports cars. In the 1920s, it was held at a street circuit...
.
In 1968, Montjuïc was selected as the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix
Spanish 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:...
, which had been held at the Jarama
Circuito Permanente Del Jarama
The Circuito del Jarama , formerly known as Circuito Permanente del Jarama is a race course in Madrid, Spain which has hosted nine Formula One Spanish Grand Prix....
circuit in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, with the inaugural Grand Prix being held there on May 4 1969. The variable character of the anticlockwise course (with one half slow and the other very fast) made setting the cars up correctly a challenge.
The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix
1975 Spanish Grand Prix
The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Montjuïc circuit on April 27, 1975, remembered as one of the most controversial and tragic race weekends in the sport's history after the death of five spectators who were hit by the crashing Hill GH1 of Rolf Stommelen...
was marked by tragedy. Many drivers felt that the circuit was unsafe, and two time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi |São Paulo]], Brazil) is a Brazilian automobile racing driver who throughout a long and successful career won the Indianapolis 500 twice and championships in both Formula One and CART.-Early and personal life:...
withdrew in protest before the start of the race. On lap 26 the Embassy Hill-Lola car of Rolf Stommelen
Rolf Stommelen
Rolf Johann Stommelen was a racing driver from Siegen, Germany. He participated in 63 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, achieving one podium, and scored a total of 14 championship points...
left the track, killing five people. The race was subsequently stopped at half distance and half points awarded, with Jochen Mass
Jochen Mass
Jochen Richard Mass is a former race car driver from Germany.He participated in 114 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 14, 1973 at the British Grand Prix...
being recorded as the winner. Lella Lombardi
Lella Lombardi
Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi was a racing driver from Italy.Born in Frugarolo, she participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 20, 1974...
became the first female driver to score world championship points, taking 0.5 points for 6th place. Formula One never returned to the circuit after the accident.
The circuit of Montjuic was also the scene of the 24 hours of Montjuic, a motorcycle endurance race.
The area where the circuit was located is now part of Anella Olímpica
Anella Olímpica
The Anella Olímpica is an Olympic Park located in the hill of Montjuïc, Barcelona, that was the main site for the 1992 Summer Olympics. The major facilities consist of the Olympic Stadium, or Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, the Palau Sant Jordi sports hall, the telecommunications tower designed by...
, where many Venues of the 1992 Summer Olympics
Venues of the 1992 Summer Olympics
For the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, a total of forty-three sports venues were used.Barcelona first bid for the Summer Olympics was the 1924 Games, losing to Paris. The city tried again in 1936, losing to Berlin...
are now located.
Since 1991 the Spanish Grand Prix has been held at the Circuit de Catalunya
Circuit de Catalunya
The Circuit de Catalunya 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.-History:...
on the outskirts of Barcelona.
In 2004, the city council of Barcelona decided to mark the layout of the old circuit.
On October 13-14 2007 the circuit was used for the Martini Legends, to honour the 75th anniversary of the circuit. Signalling the return of Formula One cars to Montjuïc, Emerson Fittipaldi (re-)appeared in his Lotus 72
Lotus 72
The Lotus 72 was a Formula One car designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe of Lotus for the 1970 Formula One season.- Development :The 72 was yet another innovative design by Chapman featuring inboard brakes, side mounted radiators in sidepods, as opposed to the nose mounted radiators which...
, and Marc Gené
Marc Gené
Marc Gené i Guerrero is a motor racing driver, from Catalonia, Spain. He is best known as a tester for Williams and Ferrari in Formula One, Minardi Formula One driver and factory driver for Peugeot's Le Mans team, with which he won the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans...
drove a contemporary 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....
.