Trip to watch the 2015 Spanish GP
Discussion
The Spanish race used to be a bit processional prior to DRS etc, this last couple of years though, it has been OK. For this reason I gave it a miss for many years, in spite of living just up the road in Girona (that is the Catalan version Gerona is the Spanish version to answer a previous Q someone posted)
The drive from Girona airport to the circuit is around 40min in light traffic (I.E for the F1 testing days) on race day it is another story. I normally park one station up the line from Montmelo at Granollers (the return train ticket & all day parking was only around €5 ) & take a five minute train ride/30min walk to avoid sitting in my car for hrs after the race.
Alternative is to stay in Barcelona & take the train/special bus to the circuit.
If I was doing just one race, I would make it Spa , which I haven't missed ( apart from the couple of occasions when it wasn't run) since 1993. As others have pointed out, it rains (a lot) & this cannot make camping a pleasure, but, what a circuit.
The drive to Spa is a bit of a yawn, but the drive to Barcelona will be just as much so unless you deliberately plan to come through the Pyrenees, the run through France is pretty much as boring as going to Spa.
If you are going to Barcelona you had better make your mind up, as the 20% discount on tickets is finished in the next day or two. . . . which reminds me, I had better buy my ticket too.
Monza, with proper route planning, would of course be "the daddy" as far as the drive over goes . . . . . decisions decisions , but you will enjoy whatever one you go for.
Edited to say, the discount ceases on the 28th & if you can make the booking on the Spanish/Catalan version of the site you can select your seat (which was not possible last year on the English version ! )
The drive from Girona airport to the circuit is around 40min in light traffic (I.E for the F1 testing days) on race day it is another story. I normally park one station up the line from Montmelo at Granollers (the return train ticket & all day parking was only around €5 ) & take a five minute train ride/30min walk to avoid sitting in my car for hrs after the race.
Alternative is to stay in Barcelona & take the train/special bus to the circuit.
If I was doing just one race, I would make it Spa , which I haven't missed ( apart from the couple of occasions when it wasn't run) since 1993. As others have pointed out, it rains (a lot) & this cannot make camping a pleasure, but, what a circuit.
The drive to Spa is a bit of a yawn, but the drive to Barcelona will be just as much so unless you deliberately plan to come through the Pyrenees, the run through France is pretty much as boring as going to Spa.
If you are going to Barcelona you had better make your mind up, as the 20% discount on tickets is finished in the next day or two. . . . which reminds me, I had better buy my ticket too.
Monza, with proper route planning, would of course be "the daddy" as far as the drive over goes . . . . . decisions decisions , but you will enjoy whatever one you go for.
Edited to say, the discount ceases on the 28th & if you can make the booking on the Spanish/Catalan version of the site you can select your seat (which was not possible last year on the English version ! )
Edited by the other me on Wednesday 26th November 12:25
the other me said:
The Spanish race used to be a bit processional prior to DRS etc, this last couple of years though, it has been OK. For this reason I gave it a miss for many years, in spite of living just up the road in Girona (that is the Catalan version Gerona is the Spanish version to answer a previous Q someone posted)
The drive from Girona airport to the circuit is around 40min in light traffic (I.E for the F1 testing days) on race day it is another story. I normally park one station up the line from Montmelo at Granollers (the return train ticket & all day parking was only around €5 ) & take a five minute train ride/30min walk to avoid sitting in my car for hrs after the race.
Alternative is to stay in Barcelona & take the train/special bus to the circuit.
If I was doing just one race, I would make it Spa , which I haven't missed ( apart from the couple of occasions when it wasn't run) since 1993. As others have pointed out, it rains (a lot) & this cannot make camping a pleasure, but, what a circuit.
The drive to Spa is a bit of a yawn, but the drive to Barcelona will be just as much so unless you deliberately plan to come through the Pyrenees, the run through France is pretty much as boring as going to Spa.
If you are going to Barcelona you had better make your mind up, as the 20% discount on tickets is finished in the next day or two. . . . which reminds me, I had better buy my ticket too.
Monza, with proper route planning, would of course be "the daddy" as far as the drive over goes . . . . . decisions decisions , but you will enjoy whatever one you go for.
Edited to say, the discount ceases on the 28th & if you can make the booking on the Spanish/Catalan version of the site you can select your seat (which was not possible last year on the English version ! )
Cheers for the reply and info. Just what I was looking for. The drive from Girona airport to the circuit is around 40min in light traffic (I.E for the F1 testing days) on race day it is another story. I normally park one station up the line from Montmelo at Granollers (the return train ticket & all day parking was only around €5 ) & take a five minute train ride/30min walk to avoid sitting in my car for hrs after the race.
Alternative is to stay in Barcelona & take the train/special bus to the circuit.
If I was doing just one race, I would make it Spa , which I haven't missed ( apart from the couple of occasions when it wasn't run) since 1993. As others have pointed out, it rains (a lot) & this cannot make camping a pleasure, but, what a circuit.
The drive to Spa is a bit of a yawn, but the drive to Barcelona will be just as much so unless you deliberately plan to come through the Pyrenees, the run through France is pretty much as boring as going to Spa.
If you are going to Barcelona you had better make your mind up, as the 20% discount on tickets is finished in the next day or two. . . . which reminds me, I had better buy my ticket too.
Monza, with proper route planning, would of course be "the daddy" as far as the drive over goes . . . . . decisions decisions , but you will enjoy whatever one you go for.
Edited to say, the discount ceases on the 28th & if you can make the booking on the Spanish/Catalan version of the site you can select your seat (which was not possible last year on the English version ! )
Edited by the other me on Wednesday 26th November 12:25
http://www.circuitdebarcelonacatalunya.com/en/
Go to F1GP , general admission unnumbered is at the top of the table, €104 for 3 day general admission. If you are only going on race day it "may" be cheaper to buy on entry they would ( I would guess ? ) be available, but doubt the price would be significantly less.
Go to F1GP , general admission unnumbered is at the top of the table, €104 for 3 day general admission. If you are only going on race day it "may" be cheaper to buy on entry they would ( I would guess ? ) be available, but doubt the price would be significantly less.
Edited by the other me on Wednesday 26th November 12:36
I typed up a lengthy response y'day but it failed to post. If you go to Catalunya, do find the time to walk the old circuit at Montjuic Park.
My report: http://www.motorcardiaries.co.uk/2012/montjuic-par...
My report: http://www.motorcardiaries.co.uk/2012/montjuic-par...
OK another dumb question out of Spa, Spanish F1 and Monza which ones cam you came by. IE walking distance. I can see this for Spa (more chance of getting wet), Monza seem to have a close place to camp. But can't find anywhere for the Spanish Gp.
Just thinking something like Le mans i'm used to.
Walk to see races, close to it all. beers on a night. No traffic or having to drive to the circuit
just thought I would ask
Just thinking something like Le mans i'm used to.
Walk to see races, close to it all. beers on a night. No traffic or having to drive to the circuit
just thought I would ask
Just a couple of points from my visit to Barcelona for the race his year:
1. The beer is 11 Euros for a decent size glass (well, plastic cup) but they will not take a debit card!
2. There are only two cash points, and they are mobile ones and very slow. To get the cash necessary to buy the aforementioned beer we had to queue for over an hour.
3. The circuit is really not a very impressive one. Spa is in a totally different league, as is Monza and indeed Silverstone, for that matter.
4. You can take alcohol into the circuit on Friday and Saturday. No glass or cans. On Sunday, without warning, you can't and you will lose everything in your cool box. VERY annoying.
5.If you have not been to a race in 2014, but have been in previous years, prepare to be very underwhelmed by the current cars 'live'.
Hope some of that helps, and all the best whichever trip you decide to do.
1. The beer is 11 Euros for a decent size glass (well, plastic cup) but they will not take a debit card!
2. There are only two cash points, and they are mobile ones and very slow. To get the cash necessary to buy the aforementioned beer we had to queue for over an hour.
3. The circuit is really not a very impressive one. Spa is in a totally different league, as is Monza and indeed Silverstone, for that matter.
4. You can take alcohol into the circuit on Friday and Saturday. No glass or cans. On Sunday, without warning, you can't and you will lose everything in your cool box. VERY annoying.
5.If you have not been to a race in 2014, but have been in previous years, prepare to be very underwhelmed by the current cars 'live'.
Hope some of that helps, and all the best whichever trip you decide to do.
cheers for the . Seems If I want a good race I need to get wet and bored on he Mtway possibly.
I've never been before and as I have had a weeks grace from the wife to do a trip and F1 race i'm still looking at what I can do.
Personal experiences like others have posted are always welcome. Yes I know everyone does it different but I am just looking into what do to before I book anything up
I've never been before and as I have had a weeks grace from the wife to do a trip and F1 race i'm still looking at what I can do.
Personal experiences like others have posted are always welcome. Yes I know everyone does it different but I am just looking into what do to before I book anything up
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