Formula One showdown - will the Spanish Grand Prix remain in Catalonia?

This year marks the 74th edition of the world’s largest motor racing event, the Formula One World Championship. Since 1991, the Spanish Grand Prix has been held at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit in Montmeló, half an hour north of the Catalan capital. However, this year could be one of the last times the Spanish race is held in Catalonia, as Madrid has signed a new ten-year deal with Formula One. But with the future uncertain, the event could also be shared between the two cities, similar to the arrangements from 1969 to 1975 and later, from 2008 to 2012, when F1 races were held in both Barcelona and Valencia. Faced with the threat of losing the F1, the organizers brought the excitement to the heart of Barcelona, inviting fans to the Formula One Fan Village in the Plaza Catalunya Square and later, showcasing the horsepower of some of the race cars with a spectacular road show on the Catalan capital’s central Passeig de Gràcia boulevard. The event sparked excitement among fans, who gained exclusive access to an otherwise expensive event, as well as frustration among environmentalists, who argued that it was another part of the privatization of public spaces in Barcelona. Gerard Escaich Folch joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to chat about the history, present, and future of the Spanish Grand Prix. We capture the excitement of F1 fans and the noise of engines and tires during the roadshow and hear from protesting environmentalists.  We also talk to David Vàzquez, the president of the Vallès Oriental Hotels Guild, who explains the economic consequences of moving the Spanish Grand Prix from the Barcelona-Catalunya racetrack. The Catalan phrase of the week is the Formula One appropriate “Fer una parada a boxes”, which means to “make a pit stop.” Get in touch with the podcast team [email protected].