Valencia: new frontier for F1 on the Mediterranean coast

Two thirds of the way into the 2008 World championship season, and Formula One is entering the finishing straight. The programme sees seven races outstanding for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. First stop: Valencia.

This season, the Formula One circus travels to Valencia for the first time: a venue, which is destined to be one of the greats on the race calendar. Although there is already a racetrack on the outskirts of the Spanish city on the Mediterranean coast, the Grand Prix will be held in the city centre. Right on the doorstep of the BMW ORACLE Racing team's headquarters, Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica will be speeding through the same streets that are normally used by the general public. The concept for the circuit is reminiscent of the street circuit in Monte Carlo, but the organisers have gone their own way when designing the layout of the track - even if some sections appear influenced by the classic race in Monaco.

As in Monte Carlo, the cars will thunder past the harbour in Valencia before disappearing back into the street canyons of the city, which is home to 850,000 residents. The drivers can look forward to high top speeds and plenty of space because, unlike the city circuit in Monaco, the track in Valencia provides plenty of overtaking opportunities. The route takes the cars past the beach and over a bridge, which will provide many spectacular images against the backdrop of the impressive Mediterranean coast. Over 100,000 fans are expected when Nick and Robert appear here.

Valencia is no longer an unknown entity for the two BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers. For the last few years, the new BMW Sauber F1 Team cars have been rolled out here. The circuit is also a popular test venue for the team from Munich and Hinwil. Furthermore, the "Circuit de la Comunitat" is also the home of the Formula BMW Racing Center. It is here that the Formula BMW World Final, in which talented young drivers compete for the chance to drive a BMW Sauber F1 Team car, was held in 2006 and 2007.