RACES
Hungaroring
The Hungaroring is a motor-racing circuit in Mogyoród, Hungary where the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix is held. In 1986, it became the location of the first Formula One Grand Prix behind the Iron Curtain. Bernie Ecclestone wanted a race in the USSR, but a Hungarian friend recommended Budapest. They wanted a street circuit similar to the Circuit de Monaco to be built in the Népliget – Budapest's largest park – but the government decided to build a new circuit just outside the city near a major highway. Construction works started on 1 October 1985. It was built in eight months, less time than any other Formula One circuit.
Paul Ricard
Located near Marseilles in the South of France, Circuit Paul Ricard was constructed in 1969 and featured the impressive 1.8km Mistral Straight. Having hosted Formula 1 until the late 1980s, the circuit became a bespoke test facility. More recent years has seen racing increasingly return to the modified venue and it now host multiple categories including the Blancpain GT Series.
Red Bull Ring
The race circuit was founded as Österreichring and hosted the Austrian Grand Prix for 18
consecutive years, from 1970 to 1987. It was later shortened, rebuilt and renamed the A1-
Ring (A Eins-Ring), and it hosted the Austrian Grand Prix again from 1997 to 2003. When
Formula One outgrew the circuit, a plan was drawn up to extend the layout. Parts of the circuit,
including the pits and main grandstand, were demolished, but construction work was stopped
and the circuit remained unusable for several years before it was purchased by Red
Bull's Dietrich Mateschitz and rebuilt. Renamed the Red Bull Ring the track was reopened on 15
May 2011 and subsequently hosted a round of the 2011 DTM season and a round of the 2011 F2
championship. Formula One returned to the circuit in the 2014 season.
Monza
Frequently simply referred to as 'Monza' Autodromo Nazionale Monza was built in 1922 as a high-speed banked oval. Major renovations in the 1930s resulted in a layout that is more familiar today in what is it's ninth reconfiguration, but the circuit retains its high-speed nature, despite the addition of chicanes.
Spa-Francorchamps
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race.
It is considered to be one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its fast, hilly and twisty nature.
Since the early 1920s, the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps has resounded with a thousand and one fabulous tales of those heroic times in which they drove on earth roads at the wheel of awesome machines.
Conceived by Liège aristocrats within a magic triangle between Francorchamps, Malmédy and Stavelot, its route through the magnificent scenery of the Ardennes has taken on a force of character that has stood the test of time.
In 1939 human imagination gave birth to a unique bend. Raidillon - Eau Rouge was to become famous throughout the world, the cynosure of every driver. As motor sport has evolved, the circuit has always been kept up to FIA requirements in terms of safety over the most prestigious competitions such as Formula 1 and Endurance Sportscar Racing. It has gone back to its roots with the Sports Prototypes. It is looking boldly toward the future and new formulae. At the crossroads of Europe, it is the driving force behind an entire economy and a perfect host site for any promotional activity.
Barcelona
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a motorsport race track in Montmeló, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit. The track has stands with a capacity of 140,700. The circuit has FIA Grade 1 license.
Until 2013 the track was known only as the Circuit de Catalunya, before a sponsorship deal with Barcelona City Council added Barcelona to the track's title.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was built in 1991 and began hosting the Spanish Grand Prix that same year. Construction also coincided with the Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Barcelona the next year, where the circuit acted as the start and finish line for the road team time trial cycling event. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya should not be confused with the Montjuïc circuit, which hosted the Spanish Grand Prix four times between 1969 and 1975 and, unlike the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, is actually located within the city of Barcelona.
Because so much testing is done at this circuit, Formula One drivers and mechanics are extremely familiar with it. This has led to criticism that drivers and mechanics are too familiar with Catalunya, reducing the amount of on-track action.