With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Catalunya is seen as an “all-rounder” circuit ideally suited to testing, and because the drivers do more testing here than anywhere else, many are said to be able to drive around it blindfolded.
The lap starts with a straight, dipping down to Turns 1 and 2 – an “S” bend which often sees cars overshoot at the start, as they get squeezed by the pack. From here they race through the Turn 3 right-hander foot to the floor, and that really tests the driver’s neck muscles. Standing here can also afford the spectator a view of Turn 6, which runs back behind it.
Turn 5 is tricky, because the left-front wheel wants to lock under braking, resulting in mid-corner understeer. Then the corner falls away and the car will oversteer. The track rises sharply from Turn 7 to Campsa, the highest point of the circuit, which has a blind entry at high speed. The corner at the bottom end of the back straight is tight and it’s very important to judge the car’s braking carefully. The exit is slow and uphill, often resulting in some wheel spin. The final corner has had a chicane installed, ridding us of a previously sweeping double right-hander.
Because the circuit’s layout is so varied, the right aero balance is critical for a good lap time.
2013 SPANISH GRAND PRIX
KEY TRACK STATISTICS
Local start time: 14h00
Number of laps: 66
Circuit length: 4.655km
Race distance: 307.104km
Grand Prix debut: 1991
Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari, 2008), 1:21.6702012 QUALIFYING
1) Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2) Pastor Maldonado (Williams)
3) Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
7) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
11) Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)2012 RACE RESULTS
1) Pastor Maldonado (Williams)
2) Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
3) Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
6) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
11) Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
