The Valencia Street Circuit is a semi-permanent Formula One race circuit in Valencia, Spain which will host the European Grand Prix for seven years. The first race on the circuit was held on 24 August 2008 with Felipe Massa winning after starting from pole position. The circuit utilizes the roads around the port city’s port area - including a section over a 140 metre long swing bridge, and also includes some roads designed exclusively for racing purposes. The track is 5.419 kilometres (3.367 mi) long and incorporates a total of 25 turns - 11 right-handers and 14 left-handers. It is estimated that the track has a top speed of around 323 kilometres per hour (201 mph)
Track Information
Track Name
VALENCIA URBAN CIRCUIT
Length
5.419KM
Race Length
57 LAPS (308.9KM)
LAP Record
1:38.683 - T Glock (2009)
Number Of Turns
25
Track Direction
CLOCKWISE
Downforce Level
MEDIUM
No Of Gear Changes Per Lap
66
Average Speed
199KPH
Highest Speed
316KPH
Throttle % Per Lap
59%
Brake Wear
HIGH
Tyre Wear
HIGH
Tyre Compounds Available
SUPERSOFT AND SOFT
2009 Winner
1. RUBENS BARRICHELLO, BRAWN-MERCEDES, 1:35:51.289
2. LEWIS HAMILTON, McLaren-Mercedes, +2.3 SECS
3. KIMI RAIKKONEN, FERRARI, +15.9 SECS
Although Spain is no stranger to motorsport, Valencia only hosted its first F1 race last year. The vibrant city, set on the shores of the Mediterranean, has long been undergoing regeneration and its addition to the FIA Formula One World Championship was the latest stage in its intensive programme. Although technically run on public roads, it’s not a typical street track. The 5.4km circuit runs on wide roads through the city’s marina area, skirting past the huge hangers created to house boats competing in the 2007 edition of the America’s Cup sailing competition. Average speeds are far higher than at Monaco or Singapore, touching almost 320kph with a minimum of 95kph. With a wide, long straights going into hairpins overtaking is also possible, in stark contrast to other tight road courses.
ADRIAN’S View
Valencia is not my favourite circuit as there’s not so much of a challenge for the driver. Even though it’s classed as a street circuit, it doesn’t really feel like it as there are no challenging corners: it’s just braking into hairpins, then flat out. It’s also very wide with a lot of run off areas so you’re not worried about touching a barrier. You just don’t get the thrill you have on a standard street circuit like Monaco or Singapore. The first turn is easy flat then into a hairpin where you slow to second gear, then go onto a short straight and one more chicane. That’s really it for S1 so not really special. Then we go to another straight and another hairpin. Crossing the bridge is quite good as there’s a big bump that upsets the balance of the car. We then go into a very slow corner onto a straight where you can sometimes take the slipstream and overtake. Turn 12 is another hairpin with a tricky exit, then after T13 we go into another straight, which, as usual, goes into a hairpin. The last complex is a little bit more challenging as there’s a left-right chicane taken at high speed followed by another right hander. Then it’s just flat out with a few corners into the last turn, which is actually one of the trickiest as we’re braking while turning in so it’s easy to overshoot the corner and lose it in the exit.
