2008 Spanish GP Preview
Formula 1 Visits Barcelona for Spanish Grand Prix
Ferrari have so far proved to be the class of the 2008 F1 field. Behind them BMW Sauber and McLaren are fighting to be best of the rest.
After a three week gap Formula 1 returns to Europe for the Spanish GP on April 27th, held at the Circuit De Catalunya, near Barcelona. Unlike the previous race in Bahrain the Spanish event has a long and colourful history.
Formula 1 first visited Spain in 1951 when the race was held on the daunting Pedralbes circuit. Following a second race in 1954 the country lost its World Chanmpionship round for over a decade.
1967 saw the return of Grand Prix cars, albeit in a non-championship race at the Jarama circuit. The event was successful enough to earn Spain a place on the championship calendar for 1968. Between then and 1975 the race alternated between Jarama and the challenging Montjuich Park street circuit.
The final race at Montjuich Park was highly controversial. Drivers were unhappy about poorly secured crash barriers but, after repairs were made, they took the start. In the race tragedy struck when Rolf Stommelen’s car suffered a wing failure, badly injuring the driver and killing four bystanders. The race was stopped and Formula 1 never returned.
The Grand Prix continued to be held at Jarama until 1981, the last race providing a memorable victory for the great Gilles Villeneuve. A five year absence followed before the 1986 event, staged at the new Jerez circuit. In an exciting race Ayrton Senna just held off Nigel Mansell for the win. The 1990 event was the scene of an amazing escape for Irish driver Martin Donnelly who survived a practice crash despite being ejected from his Lotus.
1991 brought another change of venue, this time to the Circuit de Catalunya. The track has retained its place on the Formula 1 calendar ever since. Qualifying has proved to be vital with overtaking being difficult. Races are often decided by pit-stop strategy.
After their dominant performance in Bahrain Ferrari enter the weekend as strong favourites. Meanwhile, an interesting battle is developing between McLaren and BMW Sauber. The potency of the BMW’s is reflected in the team’s position at the head of the Constructor’s Championship. They may well emerge as Ferrari’s closest challengers. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton will be desperate to make amends for his error last time out when he drove into Fernando Alonso’s Renault. His team-mate Heikki Kovaleinen will be keen to continue his strong start to the season.
- Race date: Sunday, 27th April
- Race distance: 65 laps
- Circuit length: 2.875 miles (4.655 km)
- Lap record: 1 min, 22.680 seconds (Felipe Massa, 2007)
- Weather forecast: Saturday and Sunday: Sunny with some cloud.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
- 1951 (Juan-Manuel Fangio, Alfa Romeo)
- 1954 (Mike Hawthorn, Ferrari)
- 1968 (Graham Hill, Lotus)
- 1969 (Jackie Stewart, Matra)
- 1970 (Jackie Stewart, March)
- 1971 (Jackie Stewart, Tyrrell)
- 1972 (Emerson Fittipaldi, Lotus)
- 1973 (Emerson Fittipaldi, Lotus)
- 1974 (Niki Lauda, Ferrari)
- 1975 (Jochen Mass, McLaren)
- 1976 (James Hunt, McLaren)
- 1977 (Mario Andretti, Lotus)
- 1978 (Mario Andretti, Lotus)
- 1979 (Patrick Depailler, Ligier)
- 1980 (Alan Jones, Williams)
- 1981 (Gilles Villeneuve, Ferrari)
- 1986 (Ayrton Senna, Lotus)
- 1987 (Nigel Mansell, Williams)
- 1988 (Alain Prost, McLaren)
- 1989 (Ayrton Senna, McLaren)
- 1990 (Alain Prost, Ferrari)
- 1991 (Nigel Mansell, Williams)
- 1992 (Nigel Mansell, Williams)
- 1993 (Alain Prost, Williams)
- 1994 (Damon Hill, Williams)
- 1995 (Michael Schumacher, Benetton)
- 1996 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari)
- 1997 (Jacques Villeneuve, Williams)
- 1998 (Mika Hakkinen, McLaren)
- 1999 (Mika Hakkinen, McLaren)
- 2000 (Mika Hakkinen, McLaren)
- 2001 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari)
- 2002 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari)
- 2003 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari)
- 2004 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari)
- 2005 (Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren)
- 2006 (Fernando Alonso, Renault)
- 2007 (Felipe Massa, Ferrari)
