Circuito de Jerez

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Circuito de Jerez
Location	4 miles north-east of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Active from	N/A - present
Major events	Formula One Spanish Grand Prix European Grand Prix
Surface	N/A
Length	2.751 mi (4.428 km)
Turns	13
Lap record	1:23.135 (Template:Country flagicon Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Williams, 1997, class)

Circuito de Jerez (Circuit of Jerez), formerly known as Circuito Permanente de Jerez, is a 4,428 m (2.752-mile) racing circuit located in the city of Jerez de la Frontera, deep within the sherry-producing south of Spain. The project was led by the Spanish engineer Manuel Medina Lara, based on a preliminary idea of Alessandro Rocci.

Circuit history

The circuit opened on 8 December 1985. During 1986 the circuit hosted the first international motorcycle event in Spain in March and the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix in April. The circuit's remote location hindered significant spectator turnout, although up to 125,000 can be accommodated. Because of this, F1 moved to Barcelona following the 1991 race.

Due to the hosting of the European Grand Prix in 1994, the circuit instituted safety changes from the 1990 configuration, including a new chicane (the Senna curve) at the corner where Martin Donnelly had an appalling accident during qualifying for the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix. Jerez also hosted the 1997 European Grand Prix, which was the championship decider between Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve, who collided during the race.

During the podium celebrations of the 1997 race, Jerez's Mayor Pedro Pacheco disrupted the podium celebrations by presenting a trophy that was supposed to be presented by a dignitary from Daimler-Benz. This incident resulted on the track being temporarily banned from hosting a Grand Prix<ref>{{#if: Chaves y Pacheco irrumpieron en el podio

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During 2005, the track was resurfaced. It was expected that the Champ Car World Series would race there in 2008 Champ Car World Series season<ref>{{#if: CHAMP CAR: 2008 Schedules Confirmed

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