Valencia GP-Practice, Quali & Race Thread

The Valencia Street Circuit will host the eighth round of the 2012 Formula One World Championship. Valencia has been home to the European Grand Prix since 2008. Following rounds in Monaco and Montreal, it is the third race in a row to be held on a ‘street’ circuit.

This track features four long straights but also more corners than any other current F1 venue, ten of which are taken in low gears. It requires teams to strike a difficult balance between high straight-line speed on the four 300kph-plus sections, and excellent low-speed grip and traction. It’s a circuit that rewards a good all-round car: every year the winning team in Valencia has gone on to lift the Constructors’ Championship.

As is often the case for street circuits, qualifying position will be at a premium: three times from the four races here the man qualifying in pole position has gone on to win the race. Pitstops have a role to play also. Pirelli are bringing Medium and Soft compound tyres, the same combination that featured last year. Unlike in Canada, where a one-stop strategy provided two podium finishes, the slippery surface in Valencia and the high-load corners tend to induce much greater tyre wear. Last year the strategy used exclusively by the front-runners was three equal-length stints on the soft tyre followed by a switch to the medium rubber at the end of the race. However, alternative strategies were successful lower down the order: Sergio Pérez managed a one-stop race that elevated him from 16th on the grid to 11th at the chequered flag, while Jaime Alguersuari was catapulted from 18th to eighth with a two-stopper.

The 2012 season has rewritten records so far, with the first seven races of the year producing seven different winners from five different teams and two very competitive championship tables. It is being hailed in some quarters as the most unpredictable season in the history of the sport.

Valencia Street Circuit

Length of lap:
5.419km
Lap record
1:38.683 (Timo GlockToyota, 2009)

Total number of race laps 57
Total race distance

CHANGES TO THE CIRCUIT SINCE 2011

European GP Fast Facts
1)The four European Grands Prix in Valencia have produced three winners: Felipe Massa won the inaugural race in 2008 for Ferrari, followed by Brawn’s Rubens Barrichello in 2009. The 2010 and 2011 events were won by Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing. Vettel is both the first driver to win this race and go on to become World Champion that season, and also the first reigning Champion to win here.

2) This race has been won from pole position three times. The only exception being Barrichello’s victory in 2009 in which the Brazilian triumphed from third on the grid.

3) Vettel and Lewis Hamilton are the only drivers to have been on the podium more than once. Vettel’s two victories are his only visits while Hamilton, never having won the race, finished in second place the first three times the race was run.

4) Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are the only two drivers to finish in the points every time F1 has raced in Valencia.

5) The Valencia Street Circuit has more corners than any other current F1 circuit, though some are corners only in name. However, the combination of long straights and ten turns taken in third gear or lower puts a heavy load on braking systems. Together with expected high ambient temperatures this creates issues for brake cooling.

6) Five circuits in three countries have held the modern incarnation of the European Grand Prix. The first of 21 runnings was held at Brands Hatch in 1983. Brands held the race again in 1985. The other British track to host the race is Donington Park (1993). The race was run 12 times at the Nürburgring between 1984-2007 before moving to Valencia for 2008. It also took place on Spanish soil in 1994 and 1997, when it was held at Jerez.

Race Stewards
Gary Connelly
Paolo Longoni
Mika Salo

Shamelessly plagiarised from F1.com.

So feel free to contribute, share and do everything else because it's going to be a dull boring race. No rain expected as well. So some mild wumming will be tolerated

Thread Rules
1) Calling anyone a Fanboy will not be tolerated
2) Excessive Button Bashing will not be tolerated
3) Excessive Hamilton Bashing will not be tolerated
4) Insulting comments about the finger are expected and will be appreciated
6) Alonso's eye brows can be discussed

Keep it clean folks