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Montjuïc circuit
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| Montjuïc circuit | |
| Location | Montjuïc, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
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| Active from | N/A - present |
| Major events | Formula One Spanish Grand Prix Penya Rhin Grand Prix |
| Surface | N/A |
| Length | 2.35 mi (3.79 km) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Lap record | 1:23.8 (Ronnie Peterson, Lotus-Ford, 1973, class) |
The Montjuïc circuit is a former street circuit located on the Montjuïc mountain in Barcelona, Catalonia. It is considered among the best Formula One circuits of all time, with Autosport rating it among its ten best for their 50th anniversary of Formula One issue.
History
By 1908 international motorsport was conducted at the Circuit Baix Penedès with the Copa Catalunya. In 1923 the first Great automobile Prize of Spain in the permanent Sitges Terramar circuit was run near Barcelona. In 1932 a race was held on a street circuit with the start in the Montjuïc Park, wooded parkland on a hill above the city's harbour. The course of the 1933 east circuit of that race became the Montjuïc Circuit proper, holding the Penya Rhin Grand Prix.
In 1968, Montjuïc was selected as the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix, which had been held at the Jarama circuit in Madrid, with the inaugural Grand Prix being held there on May 4 1969. The variable character of the anticlockwise course (with one half slow and the other very fast) made setting the cars up correctly a challenge.
The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix was marked by tragedy. Many drivers felt the circuit was unsafe, and twice world champion Emerson Fittipaldi withdrew in protest before the start of the race. On lap 26 the vehicle of Rolf Stommelen left the track, killing five people. The race was stopped at half way and half of the points were given, with Jochen Mass recorded as the winner. Lella Lombardi became the first female driver to score world chmpionship points, taking 0.5 points for 6th place. Formula One never returned to the circuit after the accident.
The circuit of Montjuic was also the scene of the 24 hours of Montjuic, a motorcycle endurance race.
Since 1991 the Spanish Grand Prix has been held at the Circuit de Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona.
In 2004, the city council of Barcelona decided to mark the layout of the old circuit.
On October 13-14 2007 the circuit was used for the Martini Legends, to honour the 75th anniversary of the circuit. Signalling the return of Formula One cars to Montjuïc, Emerson Fittipaldi (re-)appeared in his Lotus 72, and Marc Gené drove a present-day Ferrari.
External links
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