Formula One European Grand Prix
Valencia
- Date: 23/08/09
- Circuit Length: 4.381km
- Race Distance: 306.458km (70laps)
- Winner 2008: Felipe Massa – Ferrari
Circuit Guide
BMW on Valencia:
Technical Insight – Willy Rampf
“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.”
Drivers eye – Nick Heidfeld
“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.”
