Catalunya replaced Jerez as the F1 venue for the Spanish GP in 1991 and although is not as old as some of the other European circuits, it is a venue most drivers and technicians know very well thanks to the large amounts of testing done here. The fact that a whole lot of testing takes place here has drawn criticism from many corners that the on-track action has been reduced due to familiarity.

With its many twists and turns, a long straight, Catalunya offers drivers ample opportunity to gather speed and showcase their skills. The last corner before the straight is considered one of the most challenging since overtaking is not easy thanks to the turbulence caused by the car ahead. The fact that this is the only obvious overtaking point on the circuit makes it all the more interesting. But the track is not the only challenge to drivers. Wind direction is also known to change suddenly during a race causing problems and the dependence on aerodynamics of most cars makes it doubly tough.

Thanks to the challenges the track offers, there have been many memorable races at the venue. The battle between Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna in 1991 remains one of the best when the two drivers drove side-by-side along the straight until eventually Mansell took the lead and the race. Over the years, Michael Schumacher has been the most successful at Catalunya winning six races in all. In 2006, Fernando Alonso became the first Spaniard to win the Spanish GP since 1913 (in 1913, the Spanish GP was not part of the World Championship).

Recent Results:

2010: Mark Webber (Red Bull)
2009: Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes)
2008: Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2007: Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
2006: Fernando Alonso (Renault)