Testing - Barcelona
Discussion
Afternoon All,
We're planning a road-trip to Barcelona in March to watch the F1 testing that is on from 6th to 9th.
The driving / accommodation bit should be pretty straight forward but having never attended an F1 race before, let alone any test sessions, does anyone have any tips / pointers to make the most of the time available?
I can see that tickets are only 20E per day and assume (seeing nothing to the contrary) that we can just rock up on the day and pay the entry fee for grand stand / general admission.
Is there a usual order to these things i.e. start or end of the week / day being the better time to go to see as many cars / laps as possible?
Any and all advice gratefully received.
We're planning a road-trip to Barcelona in March to watch the F1 testing that is on from 6th to 9th.
The driving / accommodation bit should be pretty straight forward but having never attended an F1 race before, let alone any test sessions, does anyone have any tips / pointers to make the most of the time available?
I can see that tickets are only 20E per day and assume (seeing nothing to the contrary) that we can just rock up on the day and pay the entry fee for grand stand / general admission.
Is there a usual order to these things i.e. start or end of the week / day being the better time to go to see as many cars / laps as possible?
Any and all advice gratefully received.
Based on my experience of Jerez tests, you are right to assume that you can just turn up on the day.
There are spells when there is not a lot to see. Each team only has one car there and there can be long spells of inactivity if the floor, or PU is being replaced.
There is no commentary or lap time display, so you need an app to keep track of relative gaps. The thing I found really annoying is that the garages are blocked off when the guys are working on the cars so you can see nothing. Annoying if you have paid for a pitstraight grandstand.
The final day is usually when everyone has a go at a quick time, but in reality it can mean nothing as the cars are not scrutineered and so may be underweight - sponsors have to be impressed.
Having said that it makes for a great day, particularly bearing the cost in mind.
There are spells when there is not a lot to see. Each team only has one car there and there can be long spells of inactivity if the floor, or PU is being replaced.
There is no commentary or lap time display, so you need an app to keep track of relative gaps. The thing I found really annoying is that the garages are blocked off when the guys are working on the cars so you can see nothing. Annoying if you have paid for a pitstraight grandstand.
The final day is usually when everyone has a go at a quick time, but in reality it can mean nothing as the cars are not scrutineered and so may be underweight - sponsors have to be impressed.
Having said that it makes for a great day, particularly bearing the cost in mind.
I Have been a few times to Barca, its enjoyable to watch, its not racing no, but as of the last couple of years there running 100+ laps each day.
Its great if you want to take photos as there is a lot of opportunity to.
It is as simple as rock up pay and in, there are a few grandstands open, if you look at the circuit de Catalonia web site it tells you.
There is food to buy inside, and odds and ends.
If you want the ultimate experience buy a team hospitality day, as to being in the paddock is just out of this world.
You can do a piso box its a lot cheaper, this gets you access to the pit building, but not the paddock its self.
I am going on those dates too. hopefully the sun will shine.
If you need anything else let me know, I don't know it all but know some.
At the end of the day it all depends what you want to do and watch.!
Its great if you want to take photos as there is a lot of opportunity to.
It is as simple as rock up pay and in, there are a few grandstands open, if you look at the circuit de Catalonia web site it tells you.
There is food to buy inside, and odds and ends.
If you want the ultimate experience buy a team hospitality day, as to being in the paddock is just out of this world.
You can do a piso box its a lot cheaper, this gets you access to the pit building, but not the paddock its self.
I am going on those dates too. hopefully the sun will shine.
If you need anything else let me know, I don't know it all but know some.
At the end of the day it all depends what you want to do and watch.!
[quote=roboxm3]Thanks Johno.
To be honest I think we'll be happy just to turn up and have a watch from a few different areas over a couple of days and play it by ear.
Are you daft enough to be driving down?
Any pointers re. the route may come in handy...[/quote.
Fly, its by far the easiest way,
To be honest I think we'll be happy just to turn up and have a watch from a few different areas over a couple of days and play it by ear.
Are you daft enough to be driving down?
Any pointers re. the route may come in handy...[/quote.
Fly, its by far the easiest way,
The driving bit is half the reason for doing it and my brother's already been out and bought the car for the job! 
There'll be three of us to share the driving and the fuel / toll costs, so it shouldn't be too painful, I just wondered if there was a better route to take or roads to avoid / aim for?
There'll be three of us to share the driving and the fuel / toll costs, so it shouldn't be too painful, I just wondered if there was a better route to take or roads to avoid / aim for?
roboxm3 said:
The driving bit is half the reason for doing it and my brother's already been out and bought the car for the job!
There'll be three of us to share the driving and the fuel / toll costs, so it shouldn't be too painful, I just wondered if there was a better route to take or roads to avoid / aim for?
I did the drive back in 2012 non stop in about 30 hours.There'll be three of us to share the driving and the fuel / toll costs, so it shouldn't be too painful, I just wondered if there was a better route to take or roads to avoid / aim for?
Stick to 80mph! I passed loads of coppers with speed guns.
Expect to get pulled in for dog sniffing drugs searches. I got pulled twice - had to empty car and let sniffer dog on my nice cream leather.
Avoid Paris!
Going over the Pyrenees is lovely - but I really suffered with altitude sickness on the way back. Sat nav said I was up at 15000ft. I had a bad headache, puked up and was hearing things.
Yes, you rock up to a car park next to the circuit, pay 20 euros and walk straight in. It’s not busy.
Oh and I’d fly next time
Edited by schueymcfee on Sunday 14th January 00:36
It’s my 30th birthday that week so we’ve booked to be in Barcelona for the week.
Staying at the W on the coast. Would it be easiest for us to get a cab to the circuit, or hire a car for the day?
At Catalunya is it possible to walk around the circuit? I wouldn’t mind moving around and getting a few view points of the cars in different corners.
I think most likely we’ll end up going on the 8th. Mega excited
Staying at the W on the coast. Would it be easiest for us to get a cab to the circuit, or hire a car for the day?
At Catalunya is it possible to walk around the circuit? I wouldn’t mind moving around and getting a few view points of the cars in different corners.
I think most likely we’ll end up going on the 8th. Mega excited
topless360 said:
It’s my 30th birthday that week so we’ve booked to be in Barcelona for the week.
Staying at the W on the coast. Would it be easiest for us to get a cab to the circuit, or hire a car for the day?
At Catalunya is it possible to walk around the circuit? I wouldn’t mind moving around and getting a few view points of the cars in different corners.
I think most likely we’ll end up going on the 8th. Mega excited
Cab would probably be quickest/least hassle (though not done it so not sure about traffic) but also worth looking into the train if you're not in a hurry - there's a service that runs out of the centre of Barcelona (was a few years ago for me now so can't remember exact details) and then short walk into the circuit.Staying at the W on the coast. Would it be easiest for us to get a cab to the circuit, or hire a car for the day?
At Catalunya is it possible to walk around the circuit? I wouldn’t mind moving around and getting a few view points of the cars in different corners.
I think most likely we’ll end up going on the 8th. Mega excited
And yes, was certainly possible to walk a good portion of the circuit in GA areas when I went, even on the GP weekend. I imagine testing would be at least as relaxed.
The W is good too, just check your bill carefully when you leave - we had a few extra drinks on our bill from the Eclipse Bar
Booked myself a return flight from Gatwick for £45 last week. Very much looking forward to a chilled out day and finally being able to judge "the noise" for myself! I havn't decided which day I will visit during the 2nd test, just going to wing it and see how it looks with weather etc.
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