The Circuit Of El Jarama, Madrid – An Iconic Circuit With A Wonderful Pedigree
The historic and famous circuit at Jarama is located at San Sebastian de los Reyes, not far from thje Spanish capital, Madrid and opened in 1967.
by the Dutch expert Hugenholtz and built by the Sandro Ricci, it was for a long time the number 1 racing circuit in Spain and was venue for a range of international races and events.
Ever since its redesign in 1990, the circuit has consisted of 3850 meters of track, with 13 curves, a straight of 900 meters, and several thrilling slopes and inclines, of the kind that are rarely seen on modern circuits.
The track is constructed from conventional concrete and in certain areas the road surface has worn away a touch, with the occasional small hole developing.
Although ‘el Jarama‘ no longer plays host to such glamorous competitions as Formula Uno or MotoGP, at 40 years of age it remains one of the most active and best loved of Spanish circuits.
You’ll discover some sort of motorsport taking place at the track on virtually every weekend of the year. This is mostly because the commercial entity that puts on events at the circuit – el Real Automovil Club de España – also allows its members the chance to use a small portion of the track.
Examples of the competitions that are currently hosted at el Jarama include the R1 and R6 cups, the RACE trophy, the Metrakit Cup and the Aprilla cups, as well as European truck and ‘turismo’ races.
Previously, during the el Jarama’s golden age, auto racing fans would have been honored to experience some wonderful races, featuring some of motorsport’s greatest names. Racing icons such as Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda and Giacomo Agostini all competed and won here.
The track’s glorious history is also evident in the names allocated to the different segments of the track, all inspired by truly iconic drivers – Fangio, Ascari, Bugatti, Farina. Who knows, perhaps their spirits still visit the circuit from time to time!
El Jarama’s greatest days are now long passed. It held its final F1 grand prix in 1981, when it was decided that the track was too limited for modern races. The winner of that race was one Gilles Villenueve, in the driver’s seat of a Ferrari.
Sadly there is also uncertainty concerning Jarama’s long-term future. The local climate, with its recurring frosts and snows, is making it almost impossible to conform to the standards necessary for holding high quality events.
A proposal to completely relocate the circuit to a new home near Barajas airport has been presented to the Madrid regulators, but no final decision has been made. Whether the circuit’s final destiny is to be preserved or demolished is a question that must be answered on another day.
Hector Díaz is a Formula One nerd, Ferrari fanatic and all round motorsports obsessive from Madrid Spain. He is a regular contributor to many F1 blogs, with his specialist subjects being Spanish racing drivers and circuits and also the history of the motorsport in his country. He also runs the online guide to driving a Ferrari at Jarama – Conducir Ferrari Jarama which provides tips and advice for getting the most out of your Ferrari driving experience at the circuit, as well as a growing collection of Jarama videos.
LICEO LUZZAGO BRESCIA, GIACOMO FERRARI
