Spanish Grand Prix

Template:Country flagicon Spanish Grand Prix

Circuit de Catalunya
File:Catalunya.png
Laps	66
Circuit length	4.655 km (2.892 miles)
Race length	307.104 km (190.825 miles)
Most wins by single driver	Template:Country flagicon Michael Schumacher (6)
Most wins by single constructor	Template:Country flagicon Ferrari (11)
Last race (2010):
Winner	Template:Country flagicon Mark Webber
Winning constructor	Red Bull-Renault
Winning time	1h 35m 44.101s (192.471 km/h)
Pole time	1:19.995
Pole driver	Template:Country flagicon Mark Webber
Pole constructor	Red Bull-Renault
Fastest lap	1:24.357
Fastest lap driver	Template:Country flagicon Lewis Hamilton
Fastest lap constructor	McLaren-Mercedes

The Spanish Grand Prix (Spanish: Gran Premio de España, Catalan: Gran Premi d'Espanya) is a Formula One race currently held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, as part of the annual Formula One championship season.

History

The first Spanish Grand Prix in 1913 was not actually run to the Grand Prix formula of the day, but to touring car rules, taking place on a 300-kilometre road circuit at Guadarrama, near Madrid, on the road to Valladolid.

Motor racing events had taken place in Spain prior to that - the most notable among them being the Catalan Cup of 1908 and 1909, on roads around Sitges, near Barcelona. Both of these events were won by Jules Goux, establishing a strong racing tradition in Catalonia, which has continued to this day. This enthusiasm for racing led to the plan to build a permanent track at Sitges - a 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) oval which became known as Sitges-Terramar, and was the site of the 1923 Spanish Grand Prix.

After this first race, the track fell into financial difficulties, and the organizers had to look for another venue. In 1926, the Spanish Grand Prix moved to Circuito Lasarte on the northern coast, home of the main race in Spain during the twenties - the San Sebastián Grand Prix. The 1927 Spanish Grand Prix was part of the AIACR World Manufacturers' Championship, but the race was still not established and in 1928 and 1929 was run to sports car regulations.

The 1930 Spanish Grand Prix for sports cars, scheduled for July 27, was cancelled due to the bad economic situation following the Wall Street crash in October 1929. The 1931 and 1932 Spanish Grands Prix were also announced, only to be cancelled due to political and economical difficulties. Finally, in 1933 the Spanish Grand Prix was revived at Lasarte with government backing.

Following the 1935 race, Spain descended into civil war and racing stopped. In 1946, racing returned to Spain in the form of the Penya Rhin Grand Prix at the Pedralbes Circuit in Barcelona.

Spain did not return to the international calendar until 1951, joining the list of races of the Formula One championship, on the Pedralbes Circuit. In 1955, a terrible accident at the 24 Hours of Le Mans resulted in regulations governing spectator safety, and the pedestrian-lined street track at Pedralbes was dropped from the racing calendar.

Comeback

In the 1960s, Spain made a bid to return to the world of international motor racing - the Royal Automobile Club of Spain commissioned a new circuit north of Madrid at Jarama, and Cataluña refurbished their circuit at Montjuïc circuit in Barcelona. A non-championship Grand Prix took place at Jarama in 1967, which was won by Jim Clark racing in a Lotus.

In 1968, Jarama hosted the Spanish Grand Prix, near the beginning of the F1 season. It was agreed, following this event, that the race would alternate between Jarama and Montjuich.

The 1975 Grand Prix at Montjuich was marked by tragedy. There had been concerns about track safety during practice races, and double-winner Emerson Fittipaldi retired in protest after a single lap. On the 26th lap of the race, Rolf Stommelen's car crashed when the rear wing broke off, killing four spectators. The race was stopped later and won by Jochen Mass, though only half the points were awarded.

The Spanish Grand Prix was confined to Jarama until 1981, after which it was dropped from the racing calendar. In 1985, the Mayor of Jerez commissioned a new racing circuit in his town to promote tourism and sherries. The track, the Circuito Permanente de Jerez, was finished in time for the 1986 championship, which saw a furious battle between Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell, with the two cars finishing side by side. The stewards awarded the win to Senna, by 0.014 seconds - one of F1's closest finishes.

The 1990 Spanish Grand Prix was the last in Jerez (although Jerez did stage the European Grand Prix in 1994 and 1997). During the practice, Martin Donnelly's car was destroyed in a high-speed collision, and Donnelly was severely injured.

Work on the Circuit de Catalunya was underway in Barcelona, and in 1991, the event moved to this new track, where it has remained since. The 1992 event was advertised as the Grand Prix of the Olympic Games. Since that race the race has been held in early season, usually in late April or early May.

The Williamses dominated the first outings there, taking all victories until 1994. Michael Schumacher has won a total of six times, including his 1996 victory in heavy rain, which was his first for Ferrari. Mika Häkkinen took three victories and was on road for fourth in 2001 before his car failed on the last lap.

Since 2003 the race has been well attended thanks to success of Fernando Alonso. Alonso finished second in 2003 and 2005 before taking victory in 2006.

Sponsors

Gran Premio Talbot de España 1981
Gran Premio Tio Pepe de España 1986-1992
Gran Premio Marlboro de España 1993-2005
Gran Premio de España Telefónica 2006-

Winners of the Spanish Grand Prix

Multiple winners (drivers)

Embolded drivers are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

# Wins	Driver	Years Won
6	Template:Country flagicon Michael Schumacher	1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
3	Template:Country flagicon Louis Chiron	1928, 1929, 1933
	Template:Country flagicon Jackie Stewart	1969, 1970, 1971
	Template:Country flagicon Nigel Mansell	1987, 1991, 1992
	Template:Country flagicon Alain Prost	1988, 1990, 1993
	Template:Country flagicon Mika Häkkinen	1998, 1999, 2000
2	Template:Country flagicon Emerson Fittipaldi	1972, 1973
	Template:Country flagicon Mario Andretti	1977, 1978
	Template:Country flagicon Ayrton Senna	1986, 1989
	Template:Country flagicon Kimi Räikkönen	2005, 2008

Multiple winners (constructors)

A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
A cream background indicates an event which was part of the pre-war European Championship.
Embolded teams are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season

# Wins	Constructor	Years Won<ref name=F1>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref>
11	Template:Country flagicon Ferrari	1954, 1974, 1981, 1990, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
8	Template:Country flagicon McLaren	1975, 1976, 1988, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005
7	Template:Country flagicon Lotus	1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1986
	Template:Country flagicon Williams	1980, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997
3	Template:Country flagicon Bugatti	1926, 1928, 1929
2	Template:Country flagicon Mercedes-Benz	1934, 1935

By year

Events which were not part of the Formula One World Championship are indicated by a pink background.
A cream background indicates an event which was part of the pre-war European Championship.

Year	Driver	Constructor	Location	Report
2010	Template:Country flagicon Template:Sortname	Red Bull-Renault	Catalunya	Report
2009	Template:Country flagicon Template:Sortname	Brawn-Mercedes	Catalunya	Report
2008	Template:Country flagicon Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	Catalunya	Report
2007	Template:Country flagicon Felipe Massa	Ferrari	Catalunya	Report
2006	Template:Country flagicon Fernando Alonso	Renault	Catalunya	Report
2005	Template:Country flagicon Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren-Mercedes	Catalunya	Report
2004	Template:Country flagicon Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Catalunya	Report
2003	Template:Country flagicon Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Catalunya	Report
2002	Template:Country flagicon Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Catalunya	Report
2001	Template:Country flagicon Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Catalunya	Report
2000	Template:Country flagicon Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Catalunya	Report
1999	Template:Country flagicon Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Catalunya	Report
1998	Template:Country flagicon Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Catalunya	Report
1997	Template:Country flagicon Jacques Villeneuve	Williams-Renault	Catalunya	Report
1996	Template:Country flagicon Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Catalunya	Report
1995	Template:Country flagicon Michael Schumacher	Benetton-Renault	Catalunya	Report
1994	Template:Country flagicon Damon Hill	Williams-Renault	Catalunya	Report
1993	Template:Country flagicon Alain Prost	Williams-Renault	Catalunya	Report
1992	Template:Country flagicon Nigel Mansell	Williams-Renault	Catalunya	Report
1991	Template:Country flagicon Nigel Mansell	Williams-Renault	Catalunya	Report
1990	Template:Country flagicon Alain Prost	Ferrari	Jerez	Report
1989	Template:Country flagicon Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda	Jerez	Report
1988	Template:Country flagicon Alain Prost	McLaren-Honda	Jerez	Report
1987	Template:Country flagicon Nigel Mansell	Williams-Honda	Jerez	Report
1986	Template:Country flagicon Ayrton Senna	Lotus-Renault	Jerez	Report
1985 - 1982	Not held
1981	Template:Country flagicon Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari	Jarama	Report
1980	Template:Country flagicon Alan Jones	Williams-Ford	Jarama	Report
1979	Template:Country flagicon Patrick Depailler	Ligier-Ford	Jarama	Report
1978	Template:Country flagicon Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Jarama	Report
1977	Template:Country flagicon Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Jarama	Report
1976	Template:Country flagicon James Hunt	McLaren-Ford	Jarama	Report
1975	Template:Country flagicon Jochen Mass	McLaren-Ford	Montjuïc circuit	Report
1974	Template:Country flagicon Niki Lauda	Ferrari	Jarama	Report
1973	Template:Country flagicon Émerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Montjuïc circuit	Report
1972	Template:Country flagicon Émerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Jarama	Report
1971	Template:Country flagicon Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	Montjuïc circuit	Report
1970	Template:Country flagicon Jackie Stewart	March-Ford	Jarama	Report
1969	Template:Country flagicon Jackie Stewart	Matra-Ford	Montjuïc circuit	Report
1968	Template:Country flagicon Graham Hill	Lotus-Ford	Jarama	Report
1967	Template:Country flagicon Jim Clark	Lotus-Cosworth	Jarama	Report
1966 - 1955	Not held
1954	Template:Country flagicon Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	Pedralbes	Report
1953 - 1952	Not held
1951	Template:Country flagicon Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	Pedralbes	Report
1950 - 1936	Not held
1935	Template:Country flagicon Rudolf Caracciola	Mercedes-Benz	Lasarte	Report
1934	Template:Country flagicon Luigi Fagioli	Mercedes-Benz	Lasarte	Report
1933	Template:Country flagicon Louis Chiron	Alfa Romeo	Lasarte	Report
1932 - 1931	Not held
1930	Template:Country flagicon Achille Varzi	Maserati	Lasarte	Report
1929	Template:Country flagicon Louis Chiron	Bugatti	Lasarte	Report *
1928	Template:Country flagicon Louis Chiron	Bugatti	Lasarte	Report *
1927	Template:Country flagicon Robert Benoist	Delage	Lasarte	Report
1926	Template:Country flagicon Bartolomeo Costantini	Bugatti	Lasarte	Report
1925 - 1924	Not held
1923	Template:Country flagicon Albert Divo	Sunbeam	Sitges-Terramar	Report
1922 - 1914	Not held
1913	Template:Country flagicon Carlos de Salamanca	Rolls-Royce	Guadarrama	Report *

* Sports car race

See also

• San Sebastián Grand Prix

References

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External links

• Circuit de Catalunya official website
• Spanish Grand Prix Statistics
• Catalunya F1 statistics