Circuito de Jerez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto

Configuration for FIM sanctioned events
Configuration for FIA sanctioned events
Location	Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain
Time zone	CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST)
Coordinates	36°42′30″N 6°2′3″W / 36.70833°N 6.03417°W / 36.70833; -6.03417
Capacity	125,000
FIA Grade	1
Broke ground	1984
Opened	8 December 1985; 39 years ago (1985-12-08)
Former names	Circuito de Jerez (December 1985–May 2018)
Major events	Current: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix (1987, 1989–present) Expo 92 motorcycle Grand Prix (1988) Andalusian motorcycle Grand Prix (2020) Lamborghini Super Trofeo (2024–present) World SBK (1990, 2013–2017, 2019–2021, 2023–present) Former: Formula One Spanish Grand Prix (1986–1990) European Grand Prix (1994, 1997) Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final (2019, 2024) Ferrari Challenge Europe (2016, 2024) FIM Intercontinental Games (2024) FIM EWC (1986–1987) FIA F2 (2017) Superleague Formula (2008) World Sportscar Championship (1986–1988)
Grand Prix Circuit (1994–present)
Length	4.428 km (2.751 mi)
Turns	15
Race lap record	1:23.135 ( Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Williams FW19, 1997, F1)
Motorcycle Circuit (1992–present) & Grand Prix Circuit (1992–1993)
Length	4.423 km (2.748 mi)
Turns	13
Race lap record	1:37.349 ( Álex Márquez, Ducati Desmosedici GP24, 2025, MotoGP)
Grand Prix Circuit (1985–1991)
Length	4.218 km (2.621 mi)
Turns	16
Race lap record	1:24.513 ( Riccardo Patrese, Williams FW13B, 1990, F1)

The Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto is a famous race track in southern Spain. It's about 4.4 kilometers (2.75 miles) long. The circuit is near the city of Jerez de la Frontera, which is known for its sherry wine. This track hosts exciting races for both cars and motorcycles.

It was designed by Spanish engineer Manuel Medina Lara. The track is a popular spot for major racing events.

History of the Jerez Race Track

Sebastian Vettel driving a Red Bull RB6 during testing in 2010.

The Circuito de Jerez opened its doors on December 8, 1985. It quickly became a big deal in the racing world. In 1986, it hosted Spain's first international motorcycle event. Soon after, it welcomed the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix.

Even though the track could hold up to 125,000 fans, its location was a bit far for many people. Because of this, Formula One races moved to Barcelona after the 1990 season.

Changes to the Track Layout

In 1992, the track was changed to make a long right-hand turn called Curva Sito Pons. Later, in 1994, a new chicane (a tricky set of turns) was added. This part is known as the Senna curve.

Jerez also hosted the European Grand Prix in 1994 and 1997. The 1997 race was very important. It decided who would win the championship between Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve.

After an incident during the 1997 race's award ceremony, the track stopped hosting Grand Prix events. However, it continued to be used for winter testing for Formula One cars until 2015.

In 2005, the track got a new surface to make it smoother and faster.

Renaming Corners and the Track

The track during Formula One pre-season testing in 2010.

On May 2, 2013, the final corner of the track was renamed. It was named after Spanish motorcycle champion Jorge Lorenzo. He won many world titles in 250cc and MotoGP races.

In 2017, the FIA Formula 2 Championship held a special event at the circuit.

On May 3, 2018, the entire circuit was renamed. It became the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto. This was to honor Ángel Nieto, a legendary Spanish motorcyclist who passed away in 2017.

Marc Márquez at the 2016 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix.

Another corner, Curva Dry Sac, was renamed on May 3, 2019. It is now called the Dani Pedrosa corner. Dani Pedrosa is another famous Spanish motorcycle racer. He won three world championships before he retired.

Track Layout Over Time

The Circuito de Jerez has had a few different layouts since it opened. These changes help keep the track exciting and safe for different types of racing.

Exciting Races and Events

The Circuito de Jerez hosts many different racing events throughout the year. These include both car and motorcycle races.

Current Events at Jerez

• Motorcycle Grand Prix: The Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix is a major event held every April.
• World Superbike: The Superbike World Championship also races here in October.
• JuniorGP and Moto2: Young riders compete in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship and FIM Moto2 European Championship in June.
• Car Championships: Events like Eurocup-3 and F4 Spanish Championship take place in February and September.

Past Events at Jerez

Many famous races have been held at Jerez over the years.

• Formula One: The track hosted the Spanish Grand Prix and European Grand Prix in the past.
• World Sportscar Championship: This exciting car series raced here from 1986 to 1988.
• International Formula 3000: A stepping stone for future F1 drivers, this series visited Jerez several times.
• MotoE World Cup: Electric motorcycles raced here for the Spanish eRace from 2020 to 2022.

Fastest Lap Records

A lap record is the fastest time a driver or rider has completed one full lap of the circuit during a race. The overall fastest lap ever recorded at Jerez was 1:15.651. This was set by Pedro de la Rosa in a McLaren MP4-20 during Formula One testing in April 2005.

Here are some of the fastest official race lap records at the Circuito de Jerez:

Weather and Climate at Jerez

The Jerez racetrack is in an area with a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Because of this, all major races like Formula One and MotoGP are held during spring or autumn. These seasons have more comfortable temperatures.

The MotoGP event is now held in early May. This helps reduce the chance of rain compared to its older April date. It also means slightly warmer average temperatures. Formula One races used to be held in the autumn but stopped after 1997.

Jerez is a popular place for winter testing for many racing teams. This is because the mild winter temperatures are similar to what teams might experience during race season in other parts of Europe.

See also

In Spanish: Circuito de Jerez para niños