Spanish Grand Prix
Barcelona is packed towards the end of April when the Spanish Grand Prix
comes to town. All of Spain seems to have converged in Barcelona to cheer on
doted son Fernando Alonso, and there's still plenty of room for fans from all
over the world.
Gran Premio de España, or the Spanish Grand Prix as it is more internationally
known, can boast of a tradition that's almost a century old, from when legends
such as Jules Goux won the Catalan Cup on a track in Sitges in 1908. Of course,
the Spanish Grand Prix first resembled a race fit for the Formula 1 championship
series in 1913, which was won by Carlos de Salamanca for Rolls Royce, and then
again in 1923, where the racing returned to Sitges.
The racing was on and off in Spain, changing tracks all over the country and
having to cease during the civil war. There was even a time when the Grand Prix
would alternate between two circuits, at Montjuïc and Jarama for seven years,
and then in Jerez for four years after five years that Spain didn't participate
in the Formula 1 championship. Then, finally, a bid for permanence was made when
the Circuit de Catalunya was built in time for the 1991 Spanish Grand Prix.
The Circuit de Catalunya is made up of lengthy straights and just about any size
and shape of corner you can find, demanding high-speed turning one corner, then
low-speed on the next. For this reason, as well as the region's beautiful
year-round weather, drivers often use the circuit as a test track during the off
season, in winter. Despite all the testing done on this circuit, it remains a
challenging track. Drivers find it is really difficult to overtake other cars
for most of the track. They also have a hard time setting up due to the sudden
shifting in wind direction and easy tyre wear.
Michael Schumacher, who currently holds the record in Barcelona for the most
wins, has had immense difficulty with this circuit; in 1994, he had to spend
half the race in fifth gear, but managed to place second, then won his first of
six Spanish Grand Prix trophies during a freak thunderstorm. Other tales of
track difficulty abound, some with fatal results.
Still, the prestige that comes with winning at Catalunya is great, especially
with the knowledge that only world champions were successful at the Spanish
Grand Prix in the Circuit de Catalunya – that is, until Kimi Raikkonen won in
2005.
On the Circuit de Catalunya, Mika Häkkinen won the Spanish Grand Prix three
times, while Nigel Mansell of the UK won the first two years of the circuit.
Before then, Mansell won in 1987 in Jerez, Alain Prost won twice on that same
track, Mario Andretti won twice in Jarama, Emerson Fittipaldi won two
consecutive years on the alternate Montjuïc and Jarama tracks, while Jackie
Stewart won three on the same alternating tracks.
Despite the many grand prix held in Spain in the last century, Fernando Alonso
was the first of his countrymen to win the Spanish Grand Prix in 2006. In 2007,
the race was won by Felipe Massa of Brazil.
Drivers fondly call the Circuit de Catalunya the "Barcelona," even though it
isn't technically in Barcelona, but rather to the north of the city in Montmeló.
Still, because of the city's attractions, managing to be both cosmopolitan yet
traditionally gothic at once, more Spanish Grand Prix attendees prefer to stay
in Barcelona, not minding the thirty minute drive to the circuit, nor the
shorter drive to the beach. Others also opt to take the train to Montmeló to
afford better Spanish Grand Prix tickets. While in Barcelona, accommodations
vary per budget, from 5-star hotels in L'Eixample and more affordable lodgings
in the nearby districts.
There are so many spectators in Spain that grandstand capacity was extended to
accommodate the huge crowds for the Spanish Grand Prix, offering better views
for all spectators. The Elf corner is popular among spectators because this is
one of the very few corners where drivers are able to overtake each other at
all, and
Spanish Grand Prix tickets for this area are often sold out early.
Tickets were divided into four price ranges due to the 2008 grandstand
expansion.
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