Back To Page 1

Race Name: Grand Prix of Spain
Circuit Name: Barcelona
Circuit Length: 4.728km
Race Length: 65 laps
Lap Record: Rubens Barrichello 1m20.143s

Fernando Alonso's View

"We test at Barcelona all the time, but you only get to race there once a year. To see the grandstands full of 100,000 people and know that 95% of them are supporting Renault is a unique sight, and something it's hard to forget. It is a special feeling to be at my home race, in front of my people, and I am looking forward to that. The circuit will not be new for any of the drivers, but there is always something different about actually racing at Barcelona. I don't want to create expectations and then fail to deliver on our promises. We need to be careful talking about performance because, in their own way, each one of the first races has been a surprise for us, and we have had different levels of competitiveness at each track. We will be doing our maximum, both me and the team, and we think a strong result may be possible. But let's wait and see."

Kimi Raikkonen's View

"Despite my first points finish of the season at the San Marino Grand Prix, we still have some way to go as we want to be at the front of the grid. It will take time, but everybody is working hard towards this. The Barcelona track is probably the circuit where all the teams test the most during the year, this of course helps with set-up for the race during the free practice sessions. The circuit is quite challenging physically, as the fast corners mean your body is under pressure for most of the lap."

The Track's F1 History

As mentioned, the past races have normally been about as exciting as one of Tony Jardine's post race analyses! The first race at Barcelona was held in 1991 and Mansell had a fantastic passing move on Senna which was then added-to when the pair had a bit of fuss after the race. Since then the reliance of aerodynamics made subsequent races truly mind numbing until 1994 when Damon Hill managed to give the Williams team a great result after the death of Senna two races before. For much of the race Schumacher's Benetton was stuck in 5th gear yet he managed to adapt his driving to finish second (recording the fastest lap of the race in the process).

In 1995 Benetton finished with a 1-2 after a poor start to the season. This set the scene for a dominant rest of the season.

In 1996 Schumacher won the rain soaked race by a country mile.

In 1997 Hill won again in the dominant Williams and then Villeneuve won in the dominant Williams the next year (both truly dull races!). In 1998 and last 1999 Hakkinen won in the aerodynamically superior McLarens (anyone picking up a pattern here?!) in two more dull races.

In 2000 Hakkinen made it a hat trick at this circuit but the center of attention was David Coulthard who drove to a strong second place, just 10 days after he was involved in a plane crash in which his two pilots were killed.

In 2001 the race was where the electronics that had been banned since 1993 were reintroduced. Despite numerous rumors of teams running these in the intervening years it was clear that their reintroduction was far from smooth with several cars stuck on the grid as their traction control systems failed as the lights went out at the start. Mika Hakkinen looked set for a dominant victory until his clutch gave out with half a lap to go providing Michael Schumacher with an easy win while Montoya recorded his first finish with second place and Jacques Villeneuve scored BAR's first podium with third place.

2002 was a Ferrari walkover for Schumacher while poor Rubens Barrichello was upset not to even make the start. Renault showed good form but the main talking point over the race weekend was the way in which rear wings kept flying off cars throughout the various sessions leading to a major accident for Raikkonen and preventing Minardi from taking part.

In 2003 the weekend was all about Alonso. Renault had to pay Spanish TV to continue broadcasting Formula 1 before the season started but this changed completely in Barcelona. Alonso qualified second and there was a real hope that he would win his first race that day. With a new sporting hero to believe in the Spanish finally started to watch grand prix racing (a sport they had traditionally snubbed in favor of rallying and motor bike racing) and the grandstands were full of Alonso fans all waving their blue and yellow flags enthusiastically. In the end Alonso had to cede to Schumacher but he still drove out of his skin to claim second place while Rubens completed the podium ahead of the two Williamses.

The Track

Barcelona is the main winter testing track for most of the major teams. It is relatively warm, dry and predictable and the track tests aerodynamics more than most.

The main result of this is that races here have a habit of being incredibly boring as each car cannot get close enough to the car in front to allow it to pass. 1999's race was a prime example of the genre and resulted in the FIA having to address the problem of making overtaking easier.

The best way to watch this race (other than seeing the highlights!) is to go to the pub for a decent lunch first and then you can always doze off if the race turns into a snore-athon! That said it is possible to overtake here (Damon Hill managed it on Barrichello in 1999 and Schuey's stitching up of his brother in 2000 was a laugh — also the last couple of races have been a little closer!). One of the greatest overtaking moves ever was performed here in 1991 when Mansell diced with Senna on the main straight at over 190mph.

Last Year's Spanish Grand Prix Results

Circuit Name / Location:  Barcelona

Go To Page 3

Click here to go to top of this page.

Copyright 2008, SimHQ.com. All Rights Reserved. Contact the webmaster.