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Since the first Spanish Grand Prix took place in 1991, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has hosted some spectacular races. Here is everything you need to know about the track.
Circuit: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Circuit length: 4.655 km
Number of corners: 16 (7 left, 9 right)
DRS zones: 2
Race laps: 66
Race distance: 307.104 km
2014 tyre compounds: Hard, Medium
Circuit lap record: 1m 21.670s – Kimi Raikonen (2008), Ferrari
About the Circuit
Situated in Montmelo, a small town in north-eastern Barcelona, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has played host to every Spanish Grand Prix since 1991. Located just 32 kilometres from the city centre of Barcelona, the track is easily accessible by all means of transport.
With its massive pit straight and high-speed corners, it is no wonder this circuit is renowned as a true test of a car’s aerodynamic efficiency. The vast array of fast and medium speed corners, coupled with the unpredictable weather, makes it a circuit that is highly demanding on the driver.
Trivia
- The circuit played host to the cycling time trial event during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.- Of the 23 races held at the Circuit de Catalunya, 17 have been won from pole position.- The only driver to have won after not qualifying from the front row is Fernando Alonso, when he won it last year.- 20 of the 23 races held on this circuit have been won by world champions.- Felipe Massa (2008), Mark Webber (2010) and Pastor Maldonado (2012) are the only non-champions to have won in Barcelona.- In the current field, Jenson Button (13) has made the most appearances on this track, whilst Alonso is second with 12 appearances; both Raikonnen and Massa have started 11 times.- Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most wins all-time on this track with 6, including four-straight wins from 2001 to 2004.- Amongst active drivers, Ferrari drivers Alonso and Raikonnen are the only two drivers to have won at this track twice.- Ferrari has the most pole positions on this track (13) and it is Michael Schumacher who leads the drivers, with 7 pole positions.- Ferrari also have the most wins with 12, converting all but one of their pole positions.- The lowest grid position from which a driver has won the race is 5th. It was Alonso who started from there last year on his way to his second victory at the track.- Amongst the current field, Alonso has led the most laps on this track with 149, with Raikonnen a close second with 134.- Alonso has the most podium finishes in the current field, 7, and it is his team-mate Kimi who is second again, with 4.- Four of the last 14 races have had at least a single safety car appearance.- Although Lewis Hamilton comes into this race with three-straight wins, he has never won at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.- The inaugural Grand Prix here was won by Nigel Mansell of Williams in 1991- A total of 11 Spaniards have started at least a single Grand Prix, and it is Alonso who has the most victories by a Spaniard, with 2.- Ferrari have now gone 71 consecutive races in the points, whilst Nico Rosberg has 13 consecutive races in the points.- With 23 consecutive classified finishes since his debut in 2013, Max Chilton will be looking to continue his record.- Should a Renault-powered car win the race, it will be the first Renault turbo victory since the 1986 Detroit Grand Prix. Similarly, if a Ferrari-powered car wins the race it’ll be the first Ferrari turbo win since the 1988 Italian Grand Prix.- This is also the first European race of the season.
