Spanish GP Facts & Figures

By Andrew Hooper
April 25 2003

 

 

  
Facts & Figures
 
* The city of Barcelona (population approx. 1.8 million) with its Mediterranean seaport lies in northeast Spain. It is the economic and cultural centre of Catalonia and boasts several universities and colleges, as well as numerous museums and cultural monuments. Among the city's most famous sons is Art Nouveau architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1924), whose legacy includes the uncompleted Sagrada Familia cathedral.

* Since the debut visit of Formula One in 1951, 32 Grands Prix have been held in Spain at venues including the Circuit de Catalunya (12 GPs), Jarama (9), Jerez (5), Montjuic (4) and Pedralbes (2). The first GP to be staged in Spain, at Pedralbes on 28th October 1951, was won by Argentinian driver Juan Manuel Fangio in an Alfa Romeo 59.

* The first race on a wet Circuit de Catalunya was on 29th September 1991. It was won by Nigel Mansell in a WilliamsF1-Renault. In pole position was the BMW Motorsport Director Gerhard Berger in a McLaren-Honda.

* WilliamsF1 have claimed a total of six victories at Spanish GPs. The first was secured by Mansell at Jerez in 1987, and the last to date by Jacques Villeneuve ten years later at the Circuit de Catalunya.

* The 2002 Spanish Grand Prix proved a turbulent one for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team. Following incidents involving both drivers, Juan Pablo Montoya (starting from fourth) crossed the finish line in second place. Ralf Schumacher drove the first third of the race in second place before coming off the track and dropping back to eleventh place, ultimately failing to finish the race due to an engine fault.

* The winner of last year's Spanish GP was Michael Schumacher for Ferrari. He also claimed pole position (1:16.364 min) and set up a lap record (1:20.355 min).

* The 2003 Spanish Grand Prix starts at 14:00 hrs local time on Sunday 4th May. The race will comprise 65 laps of 2.940 miles (4.730 km). The race distance is 307.324 kilometres(191.003 miles).
 
 
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