Sitges Terramar
Encyclopedia
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. Owing to the excellence of its construction, the track remains intact even after 80 years of disuse.
oval for auto and motorcycle racing. The architects were Jaume Mestres (track) and Josep Maria Martino (facilities). It was completed in 300 days at a cost of 4 million pesetas. The track had a length of 2 kilometers and banking in the corners of 60 degrees. The opening meeting was held on 28 October 1923. The event was for 2-litre GP cars and was won by Albert Divo
in a Sunbeam defeating Count Louis Zborowski
in a Miller, with a winning speed of 96.91 mph. No prize money was awarded. Unpaid construction overruns caused the builders to seize the gate receipts, leaving the organizers with no money to pay the drivers. As a result, the track was forbidden to host international races again. Drivers also complained about the entry and exit from the bankings claiming the transition from straight to banking and back again was poorly designed. Catalunyan Automobile Club and the Penya Rhin continued to hold races in 1925 with little success. It was sold to Edgard de Morawitz in the 1930s. The last known race held on the oval was in the 1950s. The track and surrounding land is currently an operating chicken farm. Because of the high quality of construction, the track and buildings still stand more than 80 years later and are in excellent condition.
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
located between Sant Pere de Ribes
Sant Pere de Ribes
Sant Pere de Ribes is a town in the center of the Garraf comarca , in Barcelona province, Catalonia, Spain. It boasts the remains of a 12th century castle once ruled by the troubadour Guillem de Ribes.-Culture:Main holidays include:...
and Sitges
Sitges
*Church of Sant Bartolomeu i Santa Tecla . It houses two Gothic sepulchres , belonging to the an older church located on the same site...
near 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...
. Although minor races were sporadically held on the circuit through the 1950s, it was largely abandoned after the inaugural season of 1923. Owing to the excellence of its construction, the track remains intact even after 80 years of disuse.
History
In 1922 Frick Amangue founded Autodromo Nacional, S.A to oversee the construction of a new concreteConcrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
oval for auto and motorcycle racing. The architects were Jaume Mestres (track) and Josep Maria Martino (facilities). It was completed in 300 days at a cost of 4 million pesetas. The track had a length of 2 kilometers and banking in the corners of 60 degrees. The opening meeting was held on 28 October 1923. The event was for 2-litre GP cars and was won by Albert Divo
Albert Divo
Albert Divo was a Grand Prix motor racing driver. He was born in Paris, France. In 1922, Divo competed in the International Tourist Trophy endurance race on the Isle of Man...
in a Sunbeam defeating Count Louis Zborowski
Louis Zborowski
Count Louis Zborowski was a racing driver and automobile engineer.-Biography:His father, Count William Eliot Morris Zborowski was also a racing driver, and died in a racing crash, in 1903 at La Turbie Hillclimb in France near Nice...
in a Miller, with a winning speed of 96.91 mph. No prize money was awarded. Unpaid construction overruns caused the builders to seize the gate receipts, leaving the organizers with no money to pay the drivers. As a result, the track was forbidden to host international races again. Drivers also complained about the entry and exit from the bankings claiming the transition from straight to banking and back again was poorly designed. Catalunyan Automobile Club and the Penya Rhin continued to hold races in 1925 with little success. It was sold to Edgard de Morawitz in the 1930s. The last known race held on the oval was in the 1950s. The track and surrounding land is currently an operating chicken farm. Because of the high quality of construction, the track and buildings still stand more than 80 years later and are in excellent condition.
Gran Premio de España
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Winning Team | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 1923 Grand Prix season The 1923 Grand Prix season saw Grand Prix motor racing in Europe. For the first time, the Indianapolis 500 was also designated a Grand Épreuve by the International Sporting Commission of the AIACR. The French Grand Prix was held in Tours. The Italian Grand Prix was held at Monza... |
October 28 |  Albert DivoAlbert Divo Albert Divo was a Grand Prix motor racing driver. He was born in Paris, France. In 1922, Divo competed in the International Tourist Trophy endurance race on the Isle of Man... |
Sunbeam | Report |