 |
| |
Valencia, Spain this summer will be home to Formula One racing when it hosts the Grand Prix of Europe. The event starts with practice rounds on August 22, with the main event occupying the city’s streets on August 24. More than half a million people are expected to turn out for the event, as the race cars of 11 international teams drive around at 200 miles per hour.
We hear that an estimated $40 million has been spent to transform Valencia’s city streets into a 3.4-mile Formula One “track,” which also curves around the city’s new harbor and new Juan Carlos 1 Marina.
Spain is the only country hosting two races on the circuit; Barcelona took its turn in April. Valencia has already hosted a number of major sporting events, including last year’s America’s Cup, the World Superbike Championship, the IAFF’s World Indoor Athletics Championship and the MotoGP World Championship.
Tickets for the three-day weekend event are on sale and range in price from around $393 to $755. Spectators can also choose to view the race from the water, aboard seven grandstand boats equipped with multiple screens to monitor the entire race. These seats will cost an additional $355 to $433. To purchase tickets online, go to www.extratours.es/en/index.jsp. For more information about the event, go to www.valenciastreetcircuit.com/index_eng.html.