BARCELONA: CIRCUIT DE CATALUNYA

Thanks to my profession I have visited several times the Circuit de Catalunya for work. Here are some pictures of this fantastic sports facility I took in some of these visits.

The first stone of the Circuit de Catalunya was laid on February 24, 1989, through the impetus of the Consortium formed by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Royal Automobile Club of Catalunya (RACC) and the city of Montmeló.

Five days after its official opening on September 10, 1991, the Circuit de Catalunya hosted the first official race, the Touring Championship Spain, with the victory of the former pilot of F-1, Luis Pérez Sala. The September 29, 1991 was held the 35th Grand Prix of Spain in F-1 after 16 years of absence in Catalunya.

The Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (now MotoGP) would come a year later with the celebration of the Grand Prix of Europe, a name change for Grand Prix of Catalunya since 1995.

2013

View of the tribune from the Stadium area in Circuit de Catalunya

Tribune and pitlane in Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona

Pitlane and Control Tower in Circuit de Catalunya, located near Barcelona

Tribune of Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona from the Control Tower

2008

Paddock in Circuit de Catalunya

2007

Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló

Paddock entrance in Circuit de Catalunya

Stadium area in Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló

Another view of the Tribune and pitlane in Circuit de Catalunya

Overview of Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló

Control Tower in Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló

Control Tower and pitlane of Circuit de Catalunya from the tribune

And, finally, an aerial view of the Circuit de Catalunya obtained from google earth:

Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló

Below you can see the winners of the Formula 1 Grand Prix held at the  Circuit de Catalunya from 1991:

1991 Nigel Mansell (Williams-Renault)

1992 Nigel Mansell (Williams-Renault)

1993 Alain Prost  (Williams-Renault)

1994 Damon Hill (Williams-Renault)

1995 Michael Schumacher (Benetton-Renault)

1996 Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)

1997 Jacques Villeneuve (Williams-Renault)

1998 Mika Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes)

1999 Mika Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes)

2000 Mika Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes)

2001 Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)

2002 Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)

2003 Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)

2004 Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)

2005 Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren-Mercedes)

2006 Fernando Alonso (Renault)

2007 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)

2008 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)

2009 Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes)

2010 Mark Webber (Red Bull-Renault)

2011 Sebastian Vettel  (Red Bull-Renault)

2012 Pastor Maldonado (Williams-Renault)

2013 Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)

2014  Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2015  Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

2016  Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Renault)

More one day interesting visits near Barcelona would be:

• Castelldefels
• Sitges
• Montserrat Monastery
• La Colònia Güell
• Sant Miquel del Fai
• Girona
• Teatre-Museu Dalí

Finally if you want to visit other nice places of Catalonia as well as Barcelona, clicking on the next link you will find links to some of the most beautiful places of Catalonia.