| F1: 2009 - Rd. 11 Valencia (EU) - 23 August 2009 |
2009 European Grand Prix: 23 August 2009
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2008 DATA:
Length:
5.440 km |
No of Laps:
57 (310.080 km)
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Pole Position:
F. Massa - 1:38.989min (Ferrari) |
Lap Record :
F. Massa - 1:38.708min (Ferrari, 2008) |
2008 Fastest Lap:
F. Massa - 1:38.708min (Ferrari) |
2008 Top 8:
1. F. Massa (Ferrari)
2. L. Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes)
3. R. Kubica (BMW Sauber F1 Team)
4. H. Kovalainen (McLaren Mercedes)
5. J. Trulli (Toyota)
6. S. Vettel (Toro Rosso)
7. T. Glock (Toyota)
8. N. Rosberg (Williams)
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European GP Facts:
| Full throttle ratio |
59% |
| Top speed race |
306 km/h |
| Longest flat-out section |
13 sec / 930m |
| Right-/left-hand turns |
13/12 |
| Tyre wear |
medium |
| Brake wear |
medium |
| Downforce level |
high |
| Gearshifts per lap |
74 |
Circuit Preview: Valencia Street Circuit
A brand new addition to the FIA Formula One World Championship calendar in 2008, the port city of Valencia in Spain will play host to the 2008 European Grand Prix. Though the city of Valencia is already home to the Ricardo Tormo circuit, the actual F1 circuit will instead be featured as a street circuit, built around the harbour-side streets of the city.
The seven-year deal was inked in June 2007 between F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the Valmor Sport group, spearheaded by former motorcycle rider Jorge Martinez Aspar and Fernando Roig, president of the football club Villareal.
Unveiled in July 2007, the track is located at Valencia's newly renovated marina area, the track layout is 5.473km in length and features a total of 25 turns. The circuit will also join the Otodrom Istanbul (Turkey), Spa Francorchamps (Belgium) and Interlagos (Brazil) as a counterclockwise circuit with 11 right-handers and 14 left-handers. Though still incomplete (at time of this article), it has been estimated that the top speeds could be more than 300 km/h.
Circuit designers were especially keen to capitalise on the harbour-side streets, resulting in a circuit layout that features the scenic beauty of the water's edge throughout. There is even a point where the Formula One cars will cross a canal using a swing bridge that has been specially constructed between the northern and southern parts of the marina.
In the southern part of the marina, the cars will sweep pass the edge of the quay heading into the city's historic fish market area, the docks and shipyards as well as the new suburb of Grao. The course will also lead the drivers along the River Turia before progressing into the city's Avenida de Francia before heading back into the home straight located in the port area.
While the Valencia circuit enjoys all the thrills of a street race, it also boasts the same modern safety specifications of a permanent circuit, such as the width and run-off areas.
With the inclusion of the circuit on the 2008 calendar, Valencia will join Albert Park (Australia), Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Canada), Monaco and Singapore as another street circuit.
The BMW Sauber F1 Team on the European Grand Prix
Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
“Formula One celebrated a successful premiere at the Valencia portside complex last year. The atmosphere was fantastic and there was a great feeling around the place. Things also went well for us in terms of the race result, with Robert finishing on the podium in third place. BMW also has various ties to Valencia. The Formula BMW Racing Center there serves as a training facility for our junior drivers in the Formula BMW series around the world, and an incentive platform for BMW partners and customers The roll-out for our new F1 car also traditionally takes place in Valencia. We are looking forward to the very special atmosphere at this street circuit and will be looking to start the second half of the season with a positive result.”
Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering:
“The race in Valencia was a new addition to the calendar last year and represents a real gain for Formula One. The track is built into the port area of the city and has a unique character all of its own. It is a street circuit, but cannot really be compared with Monaco, for example. Indeed, the Valencia circuit is wider and allows a much higher average speed. Plus, there are generous run-off areas at practically all the potential trouble spots around the track, which guarantees a high level of safety.”
Robert Kubica:
“I’m a fan of street circuits, although Valencia is not a typical example. For one thing, there are a lot of run-off areas. The FIA has made great efforts to ensure safety and that’s good, of course. It is important to have a baseline set-up which makes the car easy to drive. You have to go about improvements gradually, and also optimise your line bit by bit. Last year a plastic bag got caught underneath my car and I couldn’t steer for two corners. That was extremely dangerous. Luckily, most of the bag flew off quickly, but I had no confidence for a sector and lost three seconds during this phase. In the end I finished third.”
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