Circuit Ricardo Tormo, also known as ''Circuit de Valencia'' and officially named ''Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo'', is a
motorsport race track
A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also use ...
located in
Cheste
Cheste (Valencian: Xest) is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Hoya de Buñol in the Valencian Community, Spain, located 26 km from the capital Valencia.
History
According to the Valencian historian Escolano, the first settlers of the ...
(
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community ( ca-valencia, Comunitat Valenciana, es, Comunidad Valenciana) is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the fourth most populous Spanish autonomous community after Andalusia, Catalonia and the Community of Madrid wi ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
) and built in 1999. The track is named after Spanish, two-time world champion
Grand Prix
Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour
Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to:
Arts and entertainment ...
motorcycle racer
Ricardo Tormo
Ricardo Tormo Blaya (September 7, 1952 – December 27, 1998) was a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.
Biography
Tormo was born in the Spanish province of Valencia, in Ayacor, which is a small village dependent on Canals. When he w ...
(1952–1998), who died in 1998 of leukemia. It has a capacity of 165,000 and a main straight of .
The track hosts the
MotoGP Valencian Community Grand Prix. Also, the
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO) at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout ...
had a race there in 2000 and 2004, the
World Touring Car Championship
The FIA World Touring Car Championship was an international touring car championship promoted by Eurosport Events and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). It has had several different incarnations, including a sin ...
from 2005 to 2012, the
European Le Mans Series
The European Le Mans Series (abbreviated as ELMS) is a European sports car racing endurance series inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The European Le Mans Series is similar to the ...
in
2007, and the
DTM from 2010 to 2012. It has also been
Formula E's pre-season test venue since the
2017–18 season, having moved from
Donington Park, with the circuit also considered a replacement venue for the
2019–20 season because of the
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...
crisis cancelling numerous rounds. It was also the
GP3 Series
The GP3 Series, or GP3 for short, was a single-seater motor racing series launched in 2010 as a feeder series for the GP2 Series, introduced by GP2 organiser Bruno Michel. GP3 followed the entire European leg of the Formula One series and th ...
(now
FIA Formula 3 Championship
The FIA Formula 3 Championship is a third-tier international single-seater racing championship and organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The championship launched in 2019 as a feeder series for the FIA Formula 1 W ...
) pre-season test venue until the
2017 season. The series also hosted a one-off event at the track in
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fa ...
. The
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series was a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The GP2 format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Eccles ...
(now
FIA Formula 2 Championship
The FIA Formula 2 Championship is a second-tier single-seater championship organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Held on racing circuits, the championship was introduced in 2017, following the rebranding of the l ...
) also held rounds at the track in
2006 and
2007. Valencia has also hosted the season-opening round of the
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (formerly known as Racecar Euro Series and Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series) is an official NASCAR stock-car racing series based in Europe. It is one of NASCAR's three international-sanctioned series, alongside the ...
since 2014.
Formula E
The circuit has been used by
Formula E as a pre-season testing venue since 2017. On 28 January 2021, it was announced that the circuit would host the
Valencia ePrix as the 5th and 6th round of the
2020–21 Formula E World Championship
The 2020–21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship was the seventh season of the FIA Formula E championship, a motor racing championship for battery-electric cars recognised by motorsport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale ...
, to be held on 24 April 2021, replacing the cancelled
Paris ePrix
The Paris ePrix is an annual race of the single-seater, electrically powered Formula E championship, held in Paris, France. It was first raced in the 2015-16 season.
Circuit Circuit des Invalides
The track is in length and features 14 turns ...
. It was the first time an ePrix has been held on a permanent race circuit, albeit on a unique configuration.
One of the differences between the normal track for pre-season testing and the track used for the race was the installation of a temporary chicane in the start/finish straight. The track then turns right immediately after the exit of turn 8.
In other media
The track has been recreated in the videogames ''
Tourist Trophy'' and ''
Gran Turismo PSP''. The track also appears in other video games like ''
Alfa Romeo Racing Italiano'', ''
GTR Evolution
''GTR Evolution'' is an expansion pack to '' Race 07'' developed by SimBin Studios (later Sector3 Studios), published by Atari in Europe and Viva Media in the United States. It was released worldwide for digital download on Steam on September 1, ...
'' and ''
rFactor
''rFactor'' is a computer racing simulator designed with the ability to run any type of four-wheeled vehicle from street cars to open wheel cars of any era. ''rFactor'' aimed to be the most accurate race simulator of its time. Released in Nove ...
'' as well. As it is a MotoGP round host, the track has appeared in every MotoGP game since its début in 1999. The latest recreation of the track was in ''
MotoGP 20'', and the SBK games during 2006–2013.
Layout configurations
Lap records
Anthony Davidson
Anthony Denis Davidson (born 18 April 1979) is a British former racing driver, currently working as an analyst for the Sky Sports F1 television channel, as part of the commentary team for WEC TV, as colour commentator for the F1 series of vide ...
holds the unofficial lap record, set in 2006 while testing a
Honda RA106, with a time of 1:08.540sec.
The official race lap records at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo are listed as:
Events
; Current
* March: Campeonato de España de Resistencia
* April: Campeonato de España de Superbike
* May:
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (formerly known as Racecar Euro Series and Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series) is an official NASCAR stock-car racing series based in Europe. It is one of NASCAR's three international-sanctioned series, alongside the ...
''NASCAR GP Spain – Valencia NASCAR Fest'',
FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship
* June:
F4 Spanish Championship
The F4 Spanish Championship ( es, Campeonato de España de Fórmula 4) is an FIA Formula 4 racing series. The championship was planned to launch in 2015, though the inaugural season was cancelled and delayed until 2016. Koiranen GP was the promot ...
* September:
GT World Challenge Europe
GT World Challenge Europe (known as the Blancpain GT Series between 2014 and 2019) is a sports car racing series organised by SRO Motorsports Group. It features grand tourer racing cars modified from production road cars complying with the FIA's GT ...
,
GT2 European Series
The GT2 European Series (formerly the GT Sports Club and Blancpain GT Sports Club), organized by SRO Motorsports Group, is an auto racing series for the SRO GT2 class of grand tourer cars, designed for amateur pay drivers in the FIA Bronze catego ...
,
French F4 Championship
French F4 Championship, formerly known as Formula Renault Campus France, Formula Campus, Formul'Academy Euro Series, F4 Eurocup 1.6 is a form of open wheel racing founded in 1993 by Louis Drouet. It is based in France and aims at karting graduate ...
,
Porsche Carrera Cup France
Porsche Carrera Cup France is a one make motor racing championship held in France. The cars are Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 991.2) with 4.0 liters, flat-6 naturally aspirated engines that produce and 480 N·m.
Champions
References
External ...
* October:
FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship
* November:
Grand Prix motorcycle racing ''
Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
The Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event held in Spain that is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. The event takes place at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo (also known as Circuit de Valencia). Between 2022 an ...
''
; Former
*
Auto GP
Auto GP, sometimes referred to as the Auto GP World Series and formerly known as both Euro Formula 3000 and the Euroseries 3000, was a European formula racing series.
The series' roots can be traced back to 1999 and the Italian Formula 3000 serie ...
(2001, 2008–2009, 2011–2012)
*
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM, German Touring Car Masters) is a grand touring car series sanctioned by ITR e.V. who have been affiliated to the DMSB- FIA since 1984. The series is based in Germany, with rounds elsewhere in Europe. The s ...
(2010–2012)
*
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004. In 2005 it was superseded by the World ...
(2004)
*
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO) at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout ...
(2000, 2004)
*
Formula 3 Euro Series
The Formula 3 Euro Series was a European-based junior single seater formula for Formula Three chassis that was launched (in its current form) in 2003 as a merger of the French Formula Three Championship and German Formula Three Championship. The ...
(2010–2012)
*
Formula E ''
Valencia ePrix'' (2021)
*
Formula Regional European Championship
The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) is a FIA-certified regional European Formula 3 racing series. On 12 October 2018 it was announced that the Italian autosport regulator Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) and karting prom ...
(2021)
*
Formula Renault Eurocup
Formula Renault Eurocup was a Formula Renault motor racing championship. Eurocup raced only on European circuits.
It served as a support series to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series as part of the World Series by Renault from 2005 to 2015. Renault ...
(2004-2005)
*
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series was a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The GP2 format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Eccles ...
(2006–2007)
*
GP3 Series
The GP3 Series, or GP3 for short, was a single-seater motor racing series launched in 2010 as a feeder series for the GP2 Series, introduced by GP2 organiser Bruno Michel. GP3 followed the entire European leg of the Formula One series and th ...
(2013)
*
Grand Prix motorcycle racing ''
European motorcycle Grand Prix'' (2020)
*
International GT Open
The International GT Open is a grand tourer-style sports car racing series founded in 2006 by the Spanish GT Sport Organización. It was a spin-off of the now-defunct Spanish GT Championship, but is now a distinct series featuring FIA GT3-spec ca ...
(2006–2008, 2010)
*
Le Mans Series
The European Le Mans Series (abbreviated as ELMS) is a European sports car racing endurance series inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The European Le Mans Series is similar to the fo ...
''
1000 km Valencia'' (2007)
*
MotoE (2019)
*
Sidecar World Championship
FIM Sidecar World Championship is the international sidecar racing championship. It is the only remaining original FIM road racing championship class that started in 1949.
It was formerly named Superside when the sidecars moved from being part o ...
(2000–2003)
*
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship (also known as WorldSBK, SBK, World Superbike, WSB, or WSBK) is a silhouette-class road racing series based on heavily modified production motorcycles, also known as superbike racing.
The championship was founded i ...
(2000–2010)
*
TCR International Series (2015)
*
World Touring Car Championship
The FIA World Touring Car Championship was an international touring car championship promoted by Eurosport Events and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). It has had several different incarnations, including a sin ...
''
FIA WTCC Race of Spain'' (2005–2012)
Notes
References
External links
*
*{{{official, http://www.circuitvalencia.com/
Official Page tickets MotoGp Circuit Comunidad ValencianaTrackpedia's guide to driving the Circuit de Valencia
{{Navboxes
, list1 =
{{MotoGP circuits
{{GT World Challenge Europe circuits
{{NASCAR Whelen Euro Series racetracks
{{Formula E circuits
{{WTCC circuits
{{SBK circuits
{{Sidecar World Championship circuits
{{Le Mans Series circuits
{{DTM circuits
{{European Truck Racing Championship circuits
{{FREC circuits
{{International GT Open circuits
{{Euroformula Open circuits
{{Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe circuits
{{Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America circuits
{{Italian Superturismo Championship circuits
{{FIA GT circuits
{{GP2 Series circuits
{{GP3 Series circuits
{{World Series by Renault circuits
{{Auto GP World Series circuits
{{FIA Formula Two Championship circuits
{{TCR International Series circuits
{{F3 Euroseries circuits
{{Superstars Series circuits
{{FIA F3 European Championship circuits
{{ETCC circuits
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricardo Tormo
Superbike World Championship circuits
Motorsport venues in the Valencian Community
Sports venues in the Valencian Community
Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
Valencia
Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is also the capital of the province of the same name. The wider urban area al ...
Valencia
Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is also the capital of the province of the same name. The wider urban area al ...
Valencia
Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is also the capital of the province of the same name. The wider urban area al ...
{{Autoracing-venue-stub
{{Motorcycle-racing-stub
{{Spain-sports-venue-stub