15 May 2008
Bernie Ecclestone’s dream will become a reality on 27 July: On this day a fleet of cars will be screaming around Valencia's urban circuit at full speed. Although these won’t be Formula 1 cars – we’ll have to wait another month for that – the cars will be from one of the lower racing categories, Formula 3. The race will debut the track, testing it in preparation for Alonso and Raikkonen, who will race round it at over 300 km per hour if everything goes according to plan.
It’s necessary to organise a race prior to the European Grand Prix "in order to test the surface, the safety points, the boxes and the pit lane." On several occasions, former world motorbike champion Aspar stated that both a GT or Formula 3 race would serve as perfect preparatory events for the circuit. Eventually the latter option was the one finally decided upon. Though official confirmation has still not been given, as that depends upon whether the construction is completed on time, it appears likely to come soon, as the work is now in its final stage. The asphalt is finally becoming visible against the blue backdrop of the sea.
LAS PROVINCIAS - April 2008
