Grand Prix of Europe »
Circuito Urbano Valencia
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The name 'street circuit' conjures up images of a 'tight', 'twisty', 'slow' circuit with 'minimal overtaking'. However, whilst the Valencia Street Circuit partially rewrites the book on three of those counts, overtaking remains minimal. Winding through the city's harbour and docklands, Spain's second race on the calendar is fast, sweeping and wide with drivers reaching top speeds in excess of 300kph (186 mph) at the end of the main straight. There are also relatively few run-off areas leaving little margin for error and perhaps discouraging aggressive moves.
As a street circuit, the roads are used by the public for the rest of the year and so initially grip will be minimal. However, like any temporary circuit, the track will gradually evolve, becoming faster with each lap as it rubbers-in.
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The lack of high-speed corners means that the teams will run with relatively low levels of downforce as good straight-line speed is important down the long back straight. The lack of downforce will be balanced by a supple enough suspension to give good mechanical grip in the low-speed corners.
The circuit is particularly demanding on the brakes with several heavy braking zones. Brake cooling will also need special attention with teams likely to use relatively large cooling ducts due to the close combination of turns in some sectors of the track.
The mix of straights, low speed chicanes and hairpins means that the engine will be used in a very stop-start fashion. Therefore, the key to a good lap time is good torque to help launch the car out of the slow corners and onto the straights.
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Overview
| Circuit Length: |
5.440 km (3.380 miles) |
| Race Length: |
57 laps (310.1 km, 192.6 miles) |
| Circuit Type: |
Street circuit |
| Direction: |
Clockwise |
| Corners: |
25 (11 right-hand and
14 left-hand corners) |
| Elevation Change: |
Minimal |
| Run-off Area: |
Large |
| Maximum G-Force: |
3.0 G |
| Joined Calendar: |
2008 |
| Lap Record: |
1:38.683 (Timo Glock, Toyota, 2009) |
| Av. Temperature: |
26°C |
| Typical Weather: |
Warm, sunny |
| Altitude: |
0 m AMSL |
| Official Website: |
External link |
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High
59%
0.075 s/5km
16%
Medium / 
Soft
12.7 s