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The
European Grand Prix has been a fixture on the Formula 1 calendar since
1983 but this weekend's race has a fresh twist, with a completely new
street circuit on the streets of Valencia in Spain playing host.
The
vibrant city of Valencia is already well known to Panasonic Toyota
Racing for its permanent circuit, which is often used for winter
testing, but the European Grand Prix will be a new experience on the
stunning 5.419km street circuit, which combines a glamorous location
and a technical challenge.
For
Panasonic Toyota Racing, adapting to the rigours of a new circuit is a
familiar challenge, with four tracks joining the schedule in the last
four years, not to mention the task faced by the team in starting its
Formula 1 life as recently as 2002.
But
the novelty of visiting a different track never loses its appeal, as
Jarno Trulli says: "A new circuit means that there is a new challenge:
something new to discover, new corners, new set-up, a new way of
driving, because every race is a different story. Valencia is a great
city with lots going on so I am looking forward to this Grand Prix."
The
Valencia track has captured the imagination for many reasons but one
stands out. As a street circuit around the America's Cup port,
comparisons have naturally been made to the most famous Grand Prix of
all, Monaco.
Panasonic
Toyota Racing Team Manager Richard Cregan says: "Valencia is a mix
because you've got a completely new approach. It's a new street circuit
and it's in the middle of a city but the nice part is that it's in the
harbour. It's great when you've got boats and F1 cars together like
that. Monaco gives us that kind of magic feeling and now it's good to
see Valencia coming in."
With
a glorious sandy beach, the dramatic America's Cup port and one of
Europe's liveliest cities as a backdrop, Valencia is already off to an
impressive start but take a closer look and you will find a circuit
which promises to be as spectacular as the surroundings.
From
the start-finish straight, a fast right-hander leads into right-angle
Grua Cabria which takes the cars within metres of the yachts in the
harbour before the technically-challenging Malvarossa complex, which
culminates in a 90km/h right hander. Next is a trip over the swing
bridge across the mouth of the harbour, which - when Formula 1 is not
in town - opens to allow ferries to and from the Balearic Islands to
dock.
Following
a tight right-hander directly after the bridge, it is full throttle all
the way through a left-hander and onto the back straight, where speeds
are expected to reach 320km/h before heavy braking to scrub off around
200km/h for the twisty right-left-right past the fish market.
Another
long blast of the throttle rockets the cars into a tight right-hand
hairpin and then the walls zip by through the exhilarating Grao section
before the final turn - another hairpin. The unique pit garages, housed
in former dockside warehouses, whizz by on the left as a lap is
completed in an anticipated 1min 37s.
"The
track looks amazing," says Jarno. "I've seen the lay-out and the
location but the best way to prepare for racing on a new track is to
get there as soon as possible to spot the small details on the track.
The best way to understand a circuit is to drive it and I can't wait!"
Panasonic
Toyota Racing has already had a sneak preview of the track in racing
conditions, with several technical and logistical personnel on hand to
witness the Spanish Formula 3 Championship races there on July 26-27.
Through
studying events that weekend, and simulating the lay-out back at the
team's headquarters in Cologne, Germany, Panasonic Toyota Racing is
well-prepared for the challenge facing it this weekend. Initial
predictions suggest a medium downforce package will be required while
grip at the start of the weekend will be low but is expected to
increase from Friday onwards.
There
are also other challenges, as Chief Engineer Race and Test Dieter Gass
explains: "We can expect Valencia to be a race which is going to be
very hard on the brakes, a little bit similar to Montreal. Also, we
will have to see how the surface is. Usually on a street circuit you
are faced with some bumpy areas which may lie in braking areas or in
the corners, so that's something we will have to deal with."
After
Timo Glock's superb second place in Hungary tightened Panasonic Toyota
Racing's grip on fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, the
team has high expectations for the European Grand Prix on and off the
track.
More
than 110,000 fans will be there to see Panasonic Toyota Racing once
again fighting for a result to celebrate - and to experience what
promises to be an impressive addition to the Formula 1 calendar.
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