Spanish Grand Prix Tickets

Spanish Grand Prix
The Spanish Grand Prix, which in Spanish is called Gran Premio de Espa?a, is a Formula One race, which is held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona of Spain.

The history of the Spanish Grand Prix dates back to 1913, but it was not actually run to the Grand Prix formula of present days. It was followed by the touring car rules, and it took place on a 300-kilometre road circuit at Guadarrama, a town near Madrid.

Even the motor racing events had been in Spain, even before that. The most famous among them was the Catalan Cup of 1908 and 1909; it was set on the roads around the town of Sitges, near Barcelona.

Jules Goux, was the person, who had won both of the events and established a strong racing tradition in Catalonia, which is still going on to the present times. The enthusiasm of the Spanish people had led to the plan to build a permanent track at Sitges, where the 1923 Spanish Grand Prix, was held.

Although there were financial difficulties arose after the event. It formed as a root cause for the movement of the main race to the Circuito Lasarte track on the northern coast of Spain. After the 1936 race, Spain went into civil war and racing was thoroughly stopped.

The racing tradition had returned to Spain in the year of 1946, it was in the form of the Penya Rhin Grand Prix at the Pedralbes Circuit in Barcelona.

There were no international competitions, being held in Spain, till the year of 1951. it was the time, when the country had joined in the list of races of the Formula One championship, on the Pedralbes Circuit.

There was a very serious accident happened in the year of 1955, it had happened at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it had resulted in regulations governing the safety of the spectators, and the pedestrian-lined street track at Pedralbes was dropped from the racing calendar.

Spain made a bid to return to the world of international motor racing in the 1960s. It was the time, when the Royal Automobile Club of Spain.

There was a non-championship Grand Prix, which took place at Jarama in 1967 and it was won by Jim Clark racing in a Lotus. Next year in 1968, Jarama had hosted the Spanish Grand Prix; it was near the beginning of the F1 season.

There was an agreement that the race would alternate between Jarama and Montjuich. The Grand Prix at Montjuich in 1975 was shadowed by a tragedy. There were already concerns, related to the track safety during practice races, and double-winner Emerson Fittipaldi retired in protest after a single lap.

It was on the 26th lap of the race, when Rolf Stommelen's car crashed, while breaking rear wing. The accident took away the lives of four spectators. The race was stopped later and won by Jochen Mass, though only half the points were awarded.

The Spanish Grand Prix was only held at Jarama till 1981, at later, it was dropped from the racing calendar. The Mayor of Jerez commissioned a new racing circuit in 1985, as to promote tourism and Sherries.

The new track, named Circuito Permanente de Jerez, was finished in time for the 1986 championship. The event had a wonderful end by watching a furious battle between Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell, with the two cars finishing side by side.