Montjuïc circuit

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**Montjuïc circuit**
Location	Montjuïc, Barcelona Spain

Time Zone	{{{Time}}}
Major events	Formula One
Circuit length	3.79 kilometres (2.35 miles)
Turns	-
Lap record	1'23.8 (Ronnie Peterson, Lotus-Ford, 1973)

The Montjuïc circuit is a former racing circuit located on the Montjuïc in Barcelona, Spain. It is considered among the best Formula One circuits of all time, with Autosport rating it among its ten best for their 50th anniversary of Formula One issue.

[edit] History

By 1908 international motorsport was conducted at the Circuit Baix Penedes. In 1923 the first Great automobile Prize of Spain in the permanent Sitges Terramar circuit was run near Barcelona. In 1932 a race was held on a street circuit with the start in the Montjuïc Park, wooded parkland on a hill above the city's harbour. The course of the 1933 east circuit of that race became the Montjuïc Circuit proper.

In 1968, Montjuïc was selected as the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix, which had been held at the Jarama circuit in Madrid, with the inaugural Grand Prix being held there on May 4 1969. The variable character of the anticlockwise course (with one half slow and the other very fast) made setting the cars up correctly a challenge.

The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix was marked by tragedy. Many drivers felt the circuit was unsafe, and twice world champion Emerson Fittipaldi withdrew in protest at the first turn of the race. On lap 26 the vehicle of Rolf Stommelen left the track, killing five people. The race was stopped at half way and half of the points were given, with Jochen Mass recorded as the winner. Formula one never returned to the circuit after the accident.

The circuit of Montjuic was also the scene of the 24 hours of Montjuic, a motorcycle endurance race.

Since 1991 the Spanish Grand Prix has been held at the Circuit de Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona.

In 2004, the city council of Barcelona decided to mark the layout of the old circuit.

[edit] Formula One History

Season	Date	Winning Driver	Winning Team	Report
1975	April 27	Jochen Mass	McLaren-Ford	Report
1973	April 29	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Report
1971	April 18	Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	Report
1969	May 4	Jackie Stewart	Matra-Ford	Report