The Best Formula 1 Race Circuits
Formula One (F1) is one of the most top ranked sports raking in billions of pounds every year and millions more for the destinations they tour. Every year, F1 drivers and their teams travel the globe, visiting the most eloquently designed racetracks in some of the most attractive cities in the world. It is no wonder that F1 racing began in 1906 and by 2010 had a viewership of over 500 million people worldwide.
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F1 Promotes Tourism
The F1 Circuit has been a major tourist attraction over the years. Each F1 race event, though lasting only a few days, creates a party mood amongst the locals, giving an opportunity to fans from other nations to embrace the different culture. Hotels and businesses receive a massive boost every time an F1 race is scheduled in a particular city. For all those speedsters watching from the stands, F1 racing is peerless, with the F1 cars hitting speeds of over 200 miles per hour. The sheer precision, adaptability and mastery of F1 racing by the drivers is a beauty to behold, and loyal fans gather in multiple cities on the F1 Circuit to pay tribute to those drivers, who hurtle around corners at mind boggling speeds.
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Race Circuits Grow in Popularity
The popularity of Formula 1 racing could not be fittingly known without the top symbol of F1 brilliance: the race circuits. For many years, the racetracks have drawn interest from fans and non-fans because they are all different. Each circuit brings something quit individual: from the complexity of the track to the beauty of the entire event and the culture of the people.
Some of the top circuits in the world include Silverstone in Britain, the Nurburgring in Germany, Albert Park circuit in Australia, Hungaroring in Hungary, the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Brazil, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and the Suzuka Circuit in Japan. However, there are three special circuits. They are some of the most impressive circuits in the world. The first, of course, has to be the self-proclaimed ‘Home of F1 Racing’, which is the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The second one is the Circuit de Monaco, which is also second on the list of ‘Number of Grand Prix’s held’. The third impressive racetrack is a relatively new track known as the Yas Marina Circuit.
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza can be found in Monza, Italy. It was built in 1922 and it holds the record for hosting the most Grand Prix races than all the other tracks in the F1 Circuit. It was originally built on 1.31 square miles of land but was later rebuilt in 1938 expanding the site to 3.91 sq. miles. After many years of necessary alterations to the track, it now stands at 3.6 sq. miles. The track consists of large gravel traps, the Curva Grande chicane and the Askari chicane, and high-speed ovals for banking. Many fans book their stay around Lake Como. The main draw for tourists in Monza is the special days set aside for them to race their cars on the track. Of course, just being in Italy is a great draw for any tourist and with all the historical sites available to enjoy.
The Circuit de Monaco
The Circuit de Monaco is another impressive track located on the streets of Monte Carlo, Monaco. The circuit is built in six weeks and dismantled after the F1 races. It is considered as one of the toughest tracks for any driver, with narrow roads and tight corners like the famous Fairmont Hairpin corner. This circuit leans more toward the mastery of the driver as opposed to the working mechanics of the F1 car. Simply put, it doesn’t matter which car you are driving because the best driver wins. The track was voted for as one of the ‘Sporting wonders of the world’ in 2009.
Until recently, one of its unique features was the iconic tunnel, which was later copied by the Yas Marina Circuit. As a destination, the main draw is the iconic tunnel with a view of the harbour and the fact that the race coincides with the Cannes Film Festival, which means there are many fun loving people around and many celebrities to catch a glimpse of.
The Yas Marina Circuit
The Yas Marina Circuit is on a manmade island in Abu Dhabi built in 2009. It was an attempt at an adaptation of the circuit in Monaco. Its main features are a marina, theme parks and hotels. The Circuit has a permanent lighting system and the track was constructed using Greywacke aggregate material from England. This circuit has multiple unique corners and a pit that exits under the track. Yas Marina Circuit is a great site to visit, as the races are held in the evenings when it is cool and the area offers plenty of accommodation with excellent hotels situated on the island. There is also an airport on the island and a harbour filled with yachts of the mega rich, which means that transport is never an issue. For the F1 fans and the tourists, the rock concerts held there later on only help to add to the beauty of the circuit. That is why all these three tracks are truly impressive places for fans to visit.
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About the author: Thank you to Adam B from Sixt for putting together this racing article; it is time to experience the fast life on these circuits…ready steady go!