The Circuit de Catalunya is one of the most modern tracks primed to facilitate the highest regarded motor racing competitions. Inaugurated in 1991, the Circuit was developed thanks to the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Catalan government, and the RACC impetus.
The Circuit de Catalunya is one of the most modern tracks primed to facilitate the highest regarded motor racing competitions. Inaugurated in 1991, the Circuit was developed thanks to the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Catalan government, and the RACC impetus.
History
The first stone of the Circuit de Catalunya was laid on the 24th February 1989, thanks to the drive of the Consortium formed by the Generalitat de Catalunya (The Catalan Government), the Reial Automòbil Club de Catalunya and the Montmeló Town Council.
Prior to this, on the 3rd October 1986, the Catalan Parliament unanimously approved a green paper requesting the Executive Council to "co-ordinate the relevant bodies in order to conduct a study and join forces to create a new permanent racing circuit".
On the 24th February 1989 the Circuit Consortium was established among the Generalitat, the Town Council of Montmeló and the RACC. That very day the first stone was laid at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Five days after the official opening on the 10th September 1991, the Circuit de Catalunya hosted its first official race, the Spanish Touring Car Championship won by an ex-F1 driver, Luis Pérez Sala. On the 29th September 1991, the 35th F1Spanish Grand Prix took place, 16 years after it was held in Catalonia for the last time. The World Motorcycling Championship was to arrive a year later with the European Grand Prix, which was to change its name to the Catalan Grand Prix in 1995.
Facilities
FIA Grand Prix Track: 4.655 meters
FIM Grand Prix Track: 4.727 meters
Car National Track: 2.977 meters
Motorbike National Track: 3.049 meters
School Track: 1.703 meters
Global surface of the area: 120 ha
Circuit's surface (inner enclosure): 79,5 ha
48.000 m2 of paddock surface
Car park spaces:32.000
36 cameras of closed TV circuit
Two transformer stations with 3000 kw in all 48 boxes