Layout of the Grand Prix Circuit | |
Location | Cheste, Valencian Community, Spain |
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Time zone | CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST) |
Coordinates | 39°29′9″N 0°37′41″W / 39.48583°N 0.62806°W |
Capacity | 165,000 (125,000 seating) |
FIA Grade | 1 (GP) 2 (External)[a] |
Broke ground | 1998 |
Opened | 19 September 1999 |
Major events | Current: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix (1999–present) European motorcycle Grand Prix (2020) FIA Motorsport Games (2024) TCR Europe (2024) Future: GTWC Europe (2021–2023, 2025) Former: Formula E Valencia ePrix (2021) WTCC Race of Spain (2005–2012) DTM (2010–2012) World SBK (2000–2010) Le Mans Series (2007) |
Website | http://www.circuitricardotormo.com/ |
Grand Prix Circuit (1999–present) | |
Length | 4.005 km (2.488 miles) |
Turns | 14 |
Race lap record | 1:21.244 ( Andreas Zuber, Dallara GP2/05, 2006, GP2) |
Formula E Circuit (2021) | |
Length | 3.376 km (2.098 miles) |
Turns | 15 |
Race lap record | 1:30.081 ( Alexander Sims, Mahindra M7Electro, 2021, Formula E) |
External Circuit (1999–present) | |
Length | 3.036 km (1.886 miles) |
Turns | 11 |
School Circuit (1999–present) | |
Length | 1.300 km (0.808 miles) |
Turns | 7 |
Circuit Ricardo Tormo, also known as Circuit de Valencia and officially named Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo, is a 4.005 km (2.489 mi) motorsport race track located in Cheste (Valencian Community, Spain) and built in 1999. The track is named after Spanish, two-time world champion Grand Prix motorcycle racer Ricardo Tormo (1952–1998), who died in 1998 of leukemia. It has a capacity of 165,000 and a main straight of 0.876 km (0.544 mi).
The track hosts the MotoGP Valencian Community Grand Prix. Also, the FIA GT Championship had a race there in 2000 and 2004, the World Touring Car Championship from 2005 to 2012, the European Le Mans Series in 2007, and the DTM from 2010 to 2012. It has also been Formula E's pre-season test venue since the 2017–18 season, having moved from Donington Park, with the circuit also considered a replacement venue for the 2019–20 season because of the COVID-19 crisis cancelling numerous rounds. It was also the GP3 Series (now FIA Formula 3 Championship) pre-season test venue until the 2017 season. The series also hosted a one-off event at the track in 2013. The GP2 Series (now FIA Formula 2 Championship) also held rounds at the track in 2006 and 2007. Valencia has also hosted the season-opening round of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series since 2014. The circuit will also host the third edition of FIA Motorsport Games in October 2024.[1]
The circuit has been used by Formula E as a pre-season testing venue since 2017. On 28 January 2021, it was announced that the circuit would host the Valencia ePrix as the 5th and 6th round of the 2020–21 Formula E World Championship, to be held on 24 April 2021, replacing the cancelled Paris ePrix. It was the first time an ePrix has been held on a permanent race circuit, albeit on a unique configuration.[2] One of the differences between the normal track for pre-season testing and the track used for the race was the installation of a temporary chicane in the start/finish straight. The track then turns right immediately after the exit of turn 8.
The track has been recreated in the videogames Tourist Trophy and Gran Turismo PSP. The track also appears in other video games like Alfa Romeo Racing Italiano, GTR Evolution and rFactor as well. As it is a MotoGP round host, the track has appeared in every MotoGP game since its début in 1999., and the SBK games during 2006–2013. The latest recreation of the track was in Assetto Corsa Competizione in 2023 .
Anthony Davidson holds the unofficial lap record, set in 2006 while testing a Honda RA106, with a time of 1:08.540sec.[4] As of June 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo are listed as: