Circuit de Catalunya F1

[douglasgdmw]

Folks,

Booking up for the Spanish F1 race this year (& hoping the provisional calendar does not change).

Has anyone been to this circuit for F1 and recommend any particular area for seating?

Cheers
DMW

[DJ]

Was there about 8 years ago, before they put the final chicane in near the end of the lap.

We took seats at Banc de Sabadell and reckon it was as good a place as any. See 'G' on this link http://www.selectmotorracing.com/images ... alunya.jpg
Circuit de Catalunya is generally not the best to see a lot of action or overtaking, however with our vantage point you see the cars braking hard into La Caixa, round turn 11 then de Sabadell and along and round turn 13. Could tell the less brave/slower drivers as could hear they made a slight lift for turn 13. Seating was set quite high up on a natural bank yet the corner is close enough to the grandstand. Walked the perimiter of the whole circuit on qualifying day and didn't see anywhere I thought was better.

It was the year Hakkinen won, Coulthard 2nd and Schumacher drove over Nigel Stepney in the pits and broke his ankle. The two Stewart Fords came round those corners side by side fighting for position and Schumacher ran off in front of us into the gravel in practice. So considering not a lot often happens at the Spanish GP, a few events right in front of us.
I also remember a bunch of Spanish supporters in orange wigs in front of us going wild every time Pedro de la Rosa appeared in his Arrows and the commentator rhyming off the drivers as they appeared, giving it 'Price is Right' style for Peeeeeedroooooo deeeeee laaaaaaa Rooooooooosa !

[point n squirt]

yes i was there 3 years ago sat just before turn one, you can see the ripples in your pint as the cars backfire.Big screen just off to the right.Dont forget the sun screen and good luck getting a train home on Sunday.

[Neil72]

Agree with DJ. I was there in 1997 and also had seats in Banc de Sabadell.

Wasn't a spectacularly brilliant F1 experience but that was more down to the soulless track and lack of atmosphere than anything else. Certainly didn't see anywhere else that looked like a better vantage spot than Banc de Sabadell whilst I was there.

[douglasgdmw]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I knew there was little overtaking happening in Catalunya but with Alonso in a Ferrari I reckon the atmosphere will be pretty good, unless he gets punted off like the time I was at Valencia

Cheers
DMW

[Scotty C]

I was going to visit some friends in Kuala Lumpar in April and watch the GP.

I think the dates are going to clash with Lotus Cup Europe prize giving/ Spa trackday.

[douglasgdmw]

I was going to visit some friends in Kuala Lumpar in April and watch the GP.

I think the dates are going to clash with Lotus Cup Europe prize giving/ Spa trackday.

Scotty,

Try to go out when they do the MotoGp are there, that way you get to do the trackday but see some excellent motorbike racing

Cheers
DMW

[j2 lot]

Agree with Ian on best place to be is 1st corner and the train being a nightmare for trip back on Sunday - thousands of hot/ sweaty spectators packed into a train is not a good experience

I am checking the F1 calendar every couple of hours to get confirmation of dates for Canadian GP

FIA listed confirmation of dates as the 9th but I believe it is now tomorrow and they are discussing changes ( although I think just switching last 2 races so Dubai gets season closer again).

[douglasgdmw]

Cheers DJ.

Luckily not going to be on the train as there are 6 of us and managed to get a nice place in the mountains, so it will be a 6 seater hire car for us over the weekend.

Was thinking about the 1st turn as well, as that is where the majority of the overtaking occurs. For the rest of the track we will either watch the circuit tv or the Kangaroo sets.

Cheers
DMW

[douglasgdmw]

Folks,

Tickets were booked at the weekend and decided to go for Turn 1 (Seating for F) as the track is a bit of a precession. Was a bit of a tough decision but we will probably wander up to the stadium on the Friday (open seating).

For anyone going to Catalunya the following website was useful for trying to locate good seating positions:
http://www.f1grandprixtours.com/span-sp ... images.php

Cheers
DMW

[j2 lot]