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).
_track_map.svg) Layout of the Grand Prix Circuit | |
| Location | Cheste, Valencian Community, Spain |
|---|---|
| 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) Former: Formula E Valencia ePrix (2021) WTCC Race of Spain (2005–2012) GTWC Europe (2021–2023) 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 |
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]
Formula E
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.
In other media
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 .
Layout configurations
Grand Prix Circuit (1999–present)
Grand Prix Circuit Proposal (2006)![Formula E Pre-Season Testing Circuit (2018–2019)[3]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Ricardo_Tormo.jpg/120px-Ricardo_Tormo.jpg)
Formula E Pre-Season Testing Circuit (2018–2019)[3]
Formula E Circuit (2021–present)
_track_map.svg)
![Formula E Pre-Season Testing Circuit (2018–2019)[3]](https://www.search.com.vn/wiki/en/File:Ricardo_Tormo.jpg)
Events
Current
- January 13: Extrim Race
- February 17–18: Formula Winter Series, GT Winter Series
- March 2–3: Racing Legends
- March 9–10: Spanish Truck Racing Championship
- April 13–14: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
- April 20–21: Spanish Motorcycle Cup
- June 1–2: Spanish Superbike Championship
- June 8–9: Lamera Cup
- September 13–15: Formula 4 Spanish Championship
- September 27–29: TCR Europe Touring Car Series, Iberian SuperCars
- October 5–6: GT-CER, TCR Spain
- October 23–27: FIA Motorsport Games
- November 15–17: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
- November 22–24: FIM JuniorGP World Championship, FIM Moto2 European Championship, European Talent Cup
Former
- Auto GP (2001, 2008–2009, 2011–2012)
- British Talent Cup (2018)
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2010–2012)
- European F3 Open Championship (2001–2011)
- European Touring Car Championship (2004)
- European Truck Racing Championship (2000–2001, 2015)
- Eurocup-3 (2023)
- Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2000, 2004–2005)
- F1 Academy (2023)
- Ferrari Challenge Europe (2006, 2009–2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)
- Ferrari Challenge Finali Mondiali (2009–2010, 2012)
- FFSA GT Championship (1999)
- FIA Formula Two Championship (2009–2010)
- FIA GT Championship (2000, 2004)
- FIM eRoad Racing World Cup (2013)
- Formula 3 Euro Series (2010–2012)
- Formula Abarth (2011–2012)
- Formula BMW Talent Cup (2012)
- Formula BMW World Final (2006–2007)
- Formula E
- Valencia ePrix (2021)
- Formula Regional European Championship (2021)
- Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup (2000, 2008–2009)
- Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2005)
- Formula Renault V6 Eurocup (2004)
- French F4 Championship (2009, 2022)
- GP2 Series (2006–2007)
- GP3 Series (2013)
- Grand Prix motorcycle racing
- GT World Challenge Europe (2021–2023)
- GT2 European Series (2022–2023)
- International Formula Master (2007–2009)
- International GT Open (2006–2008, 2010)
- International GTSprint Series (2011)
- Italian Formula Renault Championship (2000, 2007)
- Italian Formula Three Championship (2012)
- Italian GT Championship (2008)
- Italian Superturismo Championship (2008)
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe (2016, 2023)
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final (2016)
- Le Mans Series
- 1000 km Valencia (2007)
- MotoE World Cup
- Valencia eRace (2019)
- Porsche Carrera Cup France (2008, 2022)
- Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (2010)
- Porsche Carrera Cup Italia (2008)
- Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (2007, 2020, 2022)
- SEAT León Eurocup (2008–2010)
- Sidecar World Championship (2000–2003)
- Superbike World Championship (2000–2010)
- Supersport World Championship (2000–2010)
- Superstars Series (2008, 2011)
- TCR International Series (2015)
- Ultimate Cup Series (2019)
- World Series by Nissan (1999–2004)
- World Touring Car Championship
- FIA WTCC Race of Spain (2005–2012)
Lap records
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:
