2011 European Grand Prix

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May 21, 2012

Circuit Guide: Monaco | Motor Sports May 21, 2012

Juan Pablo Montoya, Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher on the podium in 2004

We've everything you need to know about the most glamorous race on the F1 calendar as the 2012 World Championship heads to Monaco...

May 21, 2012

Mark Webber off the track and on the record | Formula One May 21, 2012

Mark Webber at Hangar 7 Austria

We catch up with Mark Webber switch during his recent trip to Red Bull's Hangar 7 at Salzburg Airport, Austria. We ask how the Aussie relaxes away from racing, his thoughts on the season ahead and...

May 21, 2012

Sebastian Vettel off the track and on the record | Formula One May 21, 2012

Sebastian Vettel at hangar 7 Salzburg

We catch up with Sebastian switch during his recent trip to Red Bull's Hangar 7 at Salzburg Airport, Austria. We find out how a two-time world champion relaxes away from the race track and get his...

May 20, 2012

When Red Bull Racing Met Kiev May 20, 2012

SV_SHOWRUN_KIEV_19052012_0368.jpg

The Red Bull Racing Running Showcar team rolled into the Ukrainian capital of Kiev this weekend to demonstrate the thrill of Formula One in a fun and fast display along the city's streets.

May 17, 2012

F1 Blog: Overtaking has become a bit of a drag | Spanish F1 Grand Prix May 17, 2012

Vettel closes on Hamilton Catalunya

Is the huge increase in passing too much of a good thing? Possibly not, according to Formula One journalist Justin Hynes in his latest blog…

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Event Details

Location
Valencia, Spain (Map this address )
Start
JUN 22, 2012 at 12:00 AM
End
JUN 24, 2012 at 12:00 AM
About
The European Grand Prix has had a long and complex journey. It was originally created as an honorific title by the AIACR, the FIA's predecessor in the organisation of motor racing events. The first race to receive the title was the Italian Grand Prix, in 1923, it fell away during the war and was revived in 1947. In 1977 the British Grand Prix became the last race to receive the honorific title.

In 1983, the Formula One schedule originally featured a race near Flushing Meadows Park in New York. When the race was cancelled three months before the event, track organisers at Brands Hatch moved quickly to replace it with a European Grand Prix. The success of the event led to it returning on the schedule the following year. In 1990, a wealthy Japanese businessman built an extravagant race track called Nippon Autopolis with the idea of hosting a Formula One race. In 1992, plans were made to have an Asian Grand Prix added to the schedule. However, these plans failed to materialise and Bernie Ecclestone added a race at Donington Park, which brought back the European Grand Prix moniker. Several countries hosted the European Grand Prix until in 2008 when it took place in Valencia, the following year they signed a 5 year deal which puts them on the calendar until at least 2014.

The Valencia Street Circuit is a semi-permanent street circuit which utilises roads around the city's port area, including a section over a 140 metre long swing bridge. The track is 5.419km (3.367m) long and incorporates a total of 25 turns – 11 right-handers and 14 left-handers. It's estimated that the track has a top speed of around 323kph (201mph), with a lap record of 1:38.683, held by Timo Glock and set during the 2009 European Grand Prix.