Formula One Reves Up In Valencia, Spain
Gentleman, start your engines! For the first time ever, this lovely city on Spain’s Mediterranean coast is hosting Formula One racing. The Grand Prix of Europe is set to begin practice rounds on August 22, with the main event coursing through the city’s streets on August 24. More than half a million are expected to watch – and some 500 million spectators from around the world will tune in – as the race cars of 11 international teams roar past the old river bed of the Turia and the city’s impressive new harbor at speeds up to 200 miles per hour.
An estimated $40 million (26 million euros) has been spent to transform Valencia’s city streets into a Formula One “track.” Famed motor racing course designer, Hermann Tilke, is the architect behind the 3.4-mile-long circuit’s design, which includes 25 curves snaking along the city’s new harbor. The route around Valencia’s new Juan Carlos 1 Marina – with moorings for some 400 yachts – is bound to draw comparisons to Monaco’s circuit and a newly-constructed, 459-foot-long Swing Bridge connects the two sides of the harbor.
There are ten European cities on the Formula One calendar including Barcelona (April 25-27), and eight other races throughout the world. Spain is the only country hosting two races on the circuit. Valencia is a natural choice for the Grand Prix, since it has successfully hosted a number of major sporting events including last year’s America’s Cup, the World Superbike Championship, the IAFF’s World Indoor Athletics Championship and the MotoGP World Championship.
With its charming old quarter full of Renaissance and Baroque monuments, the emblematic City of Arts of Sciences – with its aquarium, planetarium, science museum and performing arts center, the Museo de Bellas Arts and IVAM, the contemporary art museum, beautiful beaches and delicious cuisine – this is paella country, after all – Valencia has plenty to offer visitors before and after the competition.
Tickets for the three-day weekend event are on sale and range in price from around $393 to $755 (250 to 480 euros). Spectators can also choose to view the race from the water. Anchored in the harbor, seven grandstand boats will be equipped with multiple screens to monitor the entire race. These seats will cost an additional $355 to $433 (225 to 275 euros). To purchase tickets online, go to www.extratours.es/EN/index.jsp
For more information about the event, go to www.valenciastreetcircuit.com/index_eng.html and for further information about Spain, contact the Tourist Office of Spain in New York (212-265-8822); Miami (305-358-1992); Chicago (312-642-1992) or Los Angeles (323-658-7195) or go to www.spain.info
June 30, 2008
Posted in: Spain