The Spanish F1 GP soon to be replaced by the Barcelona GP?
The Circuit de Barcelona, which recently changed its name to "Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya," might soon host the "Barcelona Grand Prix" instead of the "Spanish Grand Prix" in Formula 1. The argument put forward is the marketing value of the Catalan capital. It could also be a political choice from Catalan autonomists.
The Spanish circuit, actually located in Montmeló, 25 km from Barcelona, has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991 without interruption. Built in that same year, in anticipation of the 1992 Summer Olympics in the Catalan capital, this 4.655 km track is composed of a long straight and various corners; from hairpins to fast curves. Combined with its sunny location, it is one of the preferred playgrounds for private testing (which will take place this season right after the Grand Prix). Over the years, the circuit has become an iconic venue in the Formula One Circus.
Towards a name change?
The circuit’s leaders want to call the 2017 Formula One Grand Prix “Gran Premio de Barcelona” instead of “Gran Premio de España” (the Spanish GP contract ends in 2016). The city of Barcelona is globally known for its impressive basilica, the Sagrada Família, and its football team, FC Barcelona. The director, Salvador Servià, believes it makes more sense to promote this rather than the country’s identity. He justified this choice on “Radio Catalunya” for marketing reasons: « Obviously, the “Barcelona” brand sells better than the “Spain” brand. »
The 2013 Spanish Grand Prix welcomed 94,000 spectators, with a capacity of 131,000 seats, including 60% foreigners, of which 6,500 were French. The economic impact was 135 million euros in 2013. Servià believes that this new communication strategy would bring more people: « If we have people on Sunday, it’s because we sell worldwide and the Barcelona brand brings us a lot. »
Autonomists at the Helm
The director of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Salvador Servià, is a former rally driver and former senator. He is the father of Oriol Servià, an IndyCar driver.
The wish for a name change is certainly not far from a political initiative. The financial support from the city of Barcelona and the autonomous community of Catalonia is likely not unrelated, as is Salvador Servià’s closeness with the Catalan independence party Convergència i Unió, to which both the current mayor of Barcelona and the president of Catalonia belong.
