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).

Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo

Layout of the Grand Prix Circuit
LocationCheste, Valencian Community, Spain
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
CEST (DST)
Coordinates39°29′9″N 0°37′41″W / 39.48583°N 0.62806°W / 39.48583; -0.62806
Capacity165,000 (125,000 seating)
FIA Grade2 (2 layouts)
Broke ground1998
Opened19 September 1999; 25 years ago (1999-09-19)
Major eventsCurrent:
FIA Motorsport Games (2024)
TCR Europe (2024)
Future:
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix (1999–2023, 2025)
European motorcycle Grand Prix (2020)
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)
Websitehttp://www.circuitricardotormo.com/
Grand Prix Circuit (1999–present)
Length4.005 km (2.488 miles)
Turns14
Race lap record1:21.244 (United Arab Emirates Andreas Zuber, Dallara GP2/05, 2006, GP2)
Formula E Circuit (2021)
Length3.376 km (2.098 miles)
Turns15
Race lap record1:30.081 (United Kingdom Alexander Sims, Mahindra M7Electro, 2021, F-E)
External Circuit (1999–present)
Length3.036 km (1.886 miles)
Turns11
School Circuit (1999–present)
Length1.300 km (0.808 miles)
Turns7

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

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The circuit has been used by Formula E as a pre-season testing venue since 2017 (with the exception of 2024). 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 October 2024, flooding in the area forced pre-season testing to be relocated to the Circuito del Jarama near Madrid on 5–8 November 2024.[3]

In other media

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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 from 2006 to 2013. The latest recreation of the track was in Assetto Corsa Competizione in 2023.

Layout configurations

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Events

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Current

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Future

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Former

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Lap records

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Anthony Davidson holds the unofficial lap record, set in 2006 while testing a Honda RA106, with a time of 1:08.540sec.[5] As of October 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 4.005 km (1999–present)
GP2 1:21.244 Andreas Zuber Dallara GP2/05 2006 Valencia GP2 Series round
Formula Renault 3.5 1:22.448[6] Éric Salignon Dallara T05 2005 Valencia Formula Renault 3.5 Series round
Formula Nissan 1:23.570[7] Ricardo Zonta Dallara SN01 2002 2nd Valencia World Series by Nissan round
GP3 1:24.487 Melville McKee Dallara GP3/13 2013 Valencia GP3 Series round
F3000 1:24.868[8] Marco Bonanomi Lola B05/52 2009 Valencia Euroseries 3000 round
LMP1 1:25.234[9] Stéphane Sarrazin Peugeot 908 HDi FAP 2007 1000 km of Valencia
Formula Three 1:26.378[10] Felix Rosenqvist Dallara F312 2012 Valencia Formula 3 round
DTM 1:27.116[11] Bruno Spengler BMW M3 DTM 2012 Valencia DTM round
F2 (2009–2012) 1:28.322 Kazim Vasiliauskas Williams JPH1 2009 Valencia Formula Two round
LMP2 1:28.406[9] Thomas Erdos MG-Lola EX264 2007 1000 km of Valencia
Formula Regional 1:28.456[12] Mari Boya Tatuus F3 T-318-EC3 2023 Valencia Eurocup-3 round
International Formula Master 1:28.700[13] Josef Král Tatuus N.T07 2009 Valencia International Formula Master round
LMP3 1:29.998[14] David Droux [de] Norma M30 2019 Valencia Ultimate Cup round
CN 1:30.059[15] Ander Vilariño Norma M20-FC 2019 Valencia Ultimate Cup round
MotoGP 1:30.145 Brad Binder KTM RC16 2023 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
GT3 1:30.974[16] Finn Wiebelhaus Mercedes-AMG GT3 2024 Valencia GT Winter Series round
GT1 (GTS) 1:32.241[17] Uwe Alzen Saleen S7-R 2004 FIA GT Valencia 500km
Formula 4 1:33.053[18] Valerio Rinicella Tatuus F4-T421 2023 Valencia F4 Spain round
Formula Renault 2.0 1:33.454[19] Albert Costa Tatuus FR2000 2009 Valencia Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup round
Moto2 1:33.665 Fermín Aldeguer Boscoscuro B-23 2023 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
SRO GT2 1:33.899[20] Anthony Beltoise Audi R8 LMS GT2 2023 Valencia GT2 European Series round
Superbike 1:34.231[21] Unai Orradre [de] Honda CBR1000RR 2024 Valencia ESBK round
Lamborghini Super Trofeo 1:34.557[22] Amaury Bonduel Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo2 2023 Valencia Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe round
World SBK 1:34.618 Noriyuki Haga Ducati 1098R 2009 Valencia World SBK round
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:33.949[23] Hugo Ellis Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2024 Valencia Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe round
Ferrari Challenge 1:34.621[24] Ivan Velasco Sanchez Ferrari 296 Challenge 2024 FIA Motorsport Games GT Single Make
250cc 1:35.659 Mika Kallio KTM 250 FRR 2007 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
Supersport 1:36.008[25] Unai Orradre Yamaha YZF-R6 2021 Valencia ESBK Supersport round
N-GT 1:36.024[17] Sascha Maassen Porsche 911 (996) GT3-RSR 2004 FIA GT Valencia 500km
500cc 1:36.085 Àlex Crivillé Honda NSR500 2000 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
GT2 (GTS) 1:36.280[26] Emmanuel Clérico Chrysler Viper GTS-R 1999 500 km of Valencia
GT2 1:36.469[27] Michele Maceratesi[28] Ferrari F430 GTC 2008 Valencia International GT Open round
World SSP 1:36.865 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha YZF-R6 2009 Valencia World SSP round
Moto3 1:38.438 David Alonso GasGas RC250GP 2023 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
GT4 1:38.502[29] Robert Cronin Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport 2024 Valencia Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe round
125cc 1:39.380 Héctor Faubel Aprilia RSA 125 2007 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
MotoE 1:40.234 Eric Granado Energica Ego 2019 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
Stock car racing 1:40.764[30] Alon Day Chevrolet Camaro NASCAR 2020 Valencia NASCAR Whelen Euro Series round
TCR Touring Car 1:41.098[31] Ignacio Montenegro Honda Civic Type R TCR (FL5) 2024 Valencia TCR Spain Winter Series round
Super 2000 1:42.438[32] Augusto Farfus Alfa Romeo 156 GTA Super 2000 2004 Valencia ETCC round
Supersport 300 1:45.370[33] Uriel Hidalgo Kawasaki Ninja 400 2024 Valencia ESBK Supersport 300 round
Renault Clio Cup 1:50.396[34] Nicolas Milan Renault Clio R.S. IV 2018 Valencia Renault Clio Cup France round
Toyota GR Cup 1:53.796[35] Adrian Benito Toyota GR86 2024 Valencia Toyota GR Cup Spain round
Formula E Circuit: 3.376 km (2021–present)
Formula E 1:30.081 Alexander Sims Mahindra M7Electro 2021 Valencia ePrix

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Dates and 26 categories already confirmed for 2024 FIA Motorsport Games". FIA Motorsport Games. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Second set of 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship races announced". Formula E. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Formula E statement following devastating floods in Valencia". Formula E. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
  4. ^ "Valencia Testing 16-19 October 2018 Circuit Map V1". Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  5. ^ "THE AUTOSPORT.COM F1 TESTING CENTRE". www.autosport.com. n.d. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  6. ^ "2005 Formula Renault 3.5 Valencia Race 1 Statistics". 5 June 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  7. ^ "2002 Formula Nissan Valencia 2 (Race 2)". 20 October 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  8. ^ "2009 Valencia Euro F3000 - Round 8". Motor Sport Magazine. 13 September 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b "2007 Le Mans Series 1000kms Valencia". 6 May 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  10. ^ "2012 FIA Formula 3 European Championship Valencia Race 2 Statistics". 30 September 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  11. ^ "DTM 2012 » Circuit Ricardo Tormo Round 9 Results". 30 September 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  12. ^ "2023 Eurocup-3 - Racing Weekend Valencia - Carrera 2 (30 Minutes +1 Lap) - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  13. ^ "2009 Valencia Formula Master". Motor Sport Magazine. 31 May 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  14. ^ "2019 Ultimate Cup Series Valencia - Challenge Proto - 4H Endurance - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 28 September 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  15. ^ "2019 Ultimate Cup Series Valencia - Challenge Proto - 3H Endurance - Final Classification" (PDF). 29 September 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Winter Series Valencia 2024 - Result GT Winter Series - Race 1" (PDF). 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  17. ^ a b "FIA GT Championship Valencia 2004". 18 April 2004. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  18. ^ "2023 Formula 4 Spain - Racing Weekend Valencia - Carrera 1 (30 Minutes +1 Lap) - Classification" (PDF). 14 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  19. ^ "2009 WEC Formula Renault Valencia (Race 1)". 12 September 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  20. ^ "2023 GT2 European Series Valencia Race 1 Result" (PDF). 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Campeonato de España de Superbike - 1–2 June 2024 - SBK - Result Carrera 2" (PDF). 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  22. ^ "2023 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Valencia Race 2 Result" (PDF). 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Round 3 - PSCSE - Valencia Provisional Result Race 1" (PDF). 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  24. ^ "FIA Games 2024 - 2024 FIA Motorsport Games GT Single Make - Race - Final Classification" (PDF). 27 October 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Campeonato de España de Superbike - 23-24 Octobre 2021 - Carrera 2 Supersport" (PDF). 24 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  26. ^ "500 km Valencia 1999". 31 October 1999. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  27. ^ "GT Open Valencia 2008". 18 May 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  28. ^ "Michele Maceratesi - Driver Database". Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  29. ^ "Round 3 - PSCSE - Valencia Club Division Final Result Race 2" (PDF). 24 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  30. ^ "2020 Valencia Super Speedweek – NASCAR GP Spain - Race 2 EuroNASCAR PRO Results" (PDF). 5 December 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Winter Series Valencia 2024 - Result TCR Winter Series - Race 2" (PDF). 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  32. ^ "2004 Valencia ETCC - Round 4". Motor Sport Magazine. 18 April 2004. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  33. ^ "Campeonato de España de Superbike - 1–2 June 2024 - SS300 - Revision 1 - Result Carrera 2" (PDF). 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  34. ^ "2018 Valencia Renault Clio Cup France Course 2 Résultats". Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  35. ^ "2024 Toyota GR Cup Spain - Round 2 - Valencia - Race 1 (25 Minutes +1 Lap) - Final Classification" (PDF). 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
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