For the 32nd year in a row, the Formula 1 Grand Prix will return to Circuit de Barcelona–Catalunya from June 02 to June 04. After an exciting race in Monaco preceding the Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona is ready for an eventful weekend. With some drivers securing season bests in recent races, the podium is shifting, leaving room for some upsets on the track. From avid F1 fans to people new to F1 looking for some thrilling competition, the Spanish Grand Prix will have something for everyone.
spanish grand prix: the track
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which is located near Montmeló, opened on September 10, 1991. The Catalan Government, the Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia, and the Montmeló Town Council spearheaded the project.
Only five days after its debut, the track held its inaugural race. It was the inaugural round of the Spanish Touring Car Championship, with the first Formula Grand Prix following a few weeks later on September 29. The MotoGP Grand Prix was added to the Circuit’s sports program the following season. Since then, the Circuit has hosted the Spanish F1 Grand Prix and the Catalan MotoGP Grand Prix every year without fail, two of the most prestigious motorsport championships, which are currently joined by the FIA Rallycross World Championship.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has established itself as one of the top permanent racetracks in the world, as well as a one-of-a-kind location for any type of event or experience, thanks to the high quality of its services and the diversity of its amenities. It also provides various highly appealing tourism choices due to its excellent position in Montmeló, just a few kilometres from Barcelona.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya also offers a variety of racetrack experiences, including track days, Ferrari driving, guided tours, BiCircuit cycling laps, and many other activities in Montmeló.
FORMULA 1 AWS GRAND PRIX OF SPAIN 2023
Formula 1 will take place in early June. The start of the race in Barcelona is on 2 June. The final will take place on 4 June at 15:00. Below you can see an overview of the days and times:
june 2 practice 1
13:30 – 14:30
june 2 practice 2
17:00 – 18:00
june 3 practice 3
12:30 – 13:30
june 3 Qualifying
17:00 – 18:00
june 4 Race
15:00
Race schedule Spanish grand prix
HISTORY OF F1 IN BARCELONA
The first F1 races that took place in Barcelona date back to the 1951 races and the 1954 races. The first races took place in the circuit of Pedralbes. The races were not held in Barcelona again until 1969. This time around, the races were held throughout Montjuïc. The Montjuïc track was a very fast and challenging racetrack that drivers preferred.
The races continued at Montjuic for a few more consecutive years until German driver Rolf Stommelen got into a serious accident due to the high speeds of the race cars on Montjuich. Because of this, the races in Barcelona did not continue until 1991. In the 1991 race, the race was switched to its current arena, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The F1 races have been proudly held there ever since then.
How it all started
The Formula 1 races first came about in the 1930s, during the interwar years in Europe. But, the race was put on hold due to World War II and was rekindled in 1946. The FIA established a set of rules in hopes of creating a championship for race car drivers which eventually became what we know today, the Formula 1 races. Eventually, in 1950 the first F1 race was held in Silverstone, England.
Although the first F1 race was held in England, F1 cannot be traced back to one singular European country, as countries from all over Europe participated in the race. Racing in Europe has been popular since the early 1800s and still maintains its popularity to this day. Over time, many other countries outside of Europe have joined the F1 races, making it a worldwide event.
Since 1950, the F1 races have continued to grow and evolve, incorporating more safety rules and technological advancements. Some of the technological advancements include increased speeds of cars and updated motors. In addition, race cars have been updated and redesigned to allow racers to be able to escape the car during fatal crashes. This has significantly lowered the amount of deaths and accidents from F1 races.
how to get there
In fact, the circuit is 32 km away from Barcelona city. Circuit- Catalunya can be reached by car, bus, train and even the express train AVE.
Travel by car
By car, you can take the C-17 road (exit Montmeló), or the AP-7 highway (exits 13, 14 and 15. The exits 14 and 15 connect to the C-17 road).
Travel by bus
For the bus you can take line Line 416 Montornès - Montmeló - Granollers - La Garriga, Line 375 Montmeló - Parets del Vallès - Montornès - Montmeló our Line 370 Parets del Vallès - Montmeló - Montornès - Parets del Vallès.
RENFE CERCANÍAS-Commuter trains
Line R2 Castelledefels - Granollers Centre Line R2 Nord Aeroport - Maçanet Massanes. The train stop at the Montmeló station.
AVE
With an AVE ticket you get a free ticket for the commuter train (Cercanías) on departure and on arrival, including the connection service to the El Prat T2 and Barajas T4 airport stations. The train goes from Figueres Vilafant - Girona - Barcelona Sants.
This year's activities
To honour Barcelona hosting its 32nd consecutive Formula 1 race, an F1 village has been created in Port Vell that offers free admission to the public. Along with beautiful scenery and a waterfront view, Port Vell is offering many amenities and activities to add to the celebration.
The venue contains an eSports area, an F1 blast lane, a replica of the podium, and a Williams 2018 FW41 car. Some activities include, a pit-stop challenge, a 360 degree photo booth, a Scalextric competition, a driver reflex-light panel, and a beat gear box. Port Vell has even made the F1 races kid friendly by offering a children’s area that includes a play zone, a cardboard helmet workshop, and a pedal circuit. In addition, the venue has a stage that holds micro-concerts, DJ performances, rappers and freestylers, marching bands, and more.
ECONOMICAL IMPACT OF F1 IN SPAIN
The F1 races have brought in a revenue of about 163 million euros and created about 2700 jobs within the tourism, transport, automotive, and leisure industries in Spain. But, the races have also allowed the regions of Spain to go into debt of about 35 billion euros. This has resulted in Spain raising its taxes. Catalunya has collected one of the highest amounts of F1 related debt among all of the regions of Spain, with a debt of about 65 billion euros.
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