Montjuïc circuit facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Montjuïc circuit

Temporary Street Circuit (1933–1950, 1953–1986)
Location	Montjuïc, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Time zone	UTC+01:00
Coordinates	41°21′59″N 2°09′06″E / 41.36639°N 2.15167°E / 41.36639; 2.15167
Opened	1933
Closed	1986
Major events	FIM EWC (1960–1982) Grand Prix motorcycle racing Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix (1951–1955, 1961–1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976) Formula One Spanish Grand Prix (1969, 1971, 1973, 1975) European Formula Two Championship (1970, 1974) Sidecar World Championship (1951–1952, 1955, 1961–1967) Grand Prix motor racing Penya Rhin Grand Prix (1933–1936) Formula 750 (1973)
Temporary Street Circuit (1933–1950, 1953–1986)
Length	3.791 km (2.356 mi)
Turns	12
Race lap record	1:23.800 ( Ronnie Peterson, Lotus 72E, 1973, Formula One)
Temporary Street Circuit (1952)
Length	4.205 km (2.613 mi)
Race lap record	2:33.570 ( Umberto Masetti, Gilera 500 Saturno "Piuma", 1952, 500cc)
Temporary Street Circuit (1951)
Length	6.033 km (3.749 mi)
Race lap record	3:45.000 ( Enrico Lorenzetti, Moto Guzzi 500 Four, 1951, 500cc)

The Montjuïc circuit was a famous street circuit (a race track made from regular city streets) located on the Montjuïc mountain in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was a very important place for car and motorcycle races for many years. The circuit hosted big events like the Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix and the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix.

History of the Montjuïc Circuit

Early Races and Grand Prix Beginnings

Motor racing started in the Barcelona area as early as 1908. In 1932, a race was held on a street circuit in Montjuïc Park. This park is a wooded area on a hill above Barcelona's harbor. The track used for the 1933 race became the official Montjuïc Circuit. It first hosted the Penya Rhin Grand Prix.

In 1968, the Montjuïc circuit was chosen to host the Spanish Grand Prix for Formula One cars. Before this, the race was held at the Jarama circuit in Madrid. The first Formula One Grand Prix at Montjuïc took place on May 4, 1969. The track was tricky because one half was slow and the other was very fast. This made it hard for teams to set up their cars perfectly.

The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix and Safety Concerns

The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix was a very sad event. Many drivers felt that the circuit was not safe enough. Because of these safety worries, two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi decided not to race.

During the race, on lap 26, the car of Rolf Stommelen crashed. This terrible accident led to the deaths of four people. The race was stopped before it reached half distance. Because of this, only half points were given to the drivers. Jochen Mass was recorded as the winner.

This race is also famous because Lella Lombardi became the first and only female driver to score points in a Formula One World Championship race. She earned 0.5 points for finishing in 6th place. After this tragic accident, Formula One races never returned to the Montjuïc circuit.

Motorcycle Endurance Racing

Besides Formula One, the Montjuïc circuit was also famous for motorcycle racing. It hosted the 24 Hours of Montjuïc, a challenging motorcycle endurance race. This event took place every year from 1960 to 1982.

The Circuit Today

The area where the Montjuïc circuit once ran is now part of the Anella Olímpica. This is a special area that was built for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Many Olympic venues are located there today.

In 2004, the city council of Barcelona decided to mark the layout of the old circuit. This helps people remember where the famous races took place.

In 2007, a special event called "Martini Legends" was held at the circuit. This celebrated the circuit's 75th anniversary. It was exciting because Formula One cars returned to Montjuïc for this event. Emerson Fittipaldi, who had raced there before, drove his Lotus 72. Marc Gené also drove a modern Ferrari car.

Lap Records

The fastest official race laps recorded at the Montjuïc circuit are listed below:

See also

In Spanish: Circuito de Montjuïc para niños