What's more Vandalised and destroyed the Valencia Street Circuit or the Leafield Technical Centre (former Arrows, Super Aguri and Caterham F1 Technical centre)

As a Valencian I did some of my driver's ed in what was part of sector 1 of the circuit. It felt kinda weird but also thrilling to think I was learning how to drive in the same place F1 raced all those years ago.

Another street circuit in Spain, which kind of gets forgotten about, is the Mont Juich Park circuit, near Barcelona. Host of 4 Spanish Grands Prix (1969, 1971, 1973 and 1975), it was one of the fastest and most challenging street circuits in F1 history. Unfortunately, this track met its end in messy circumstances. What would turn out to be the last Grand Prix staged there, in 1975, was a mix of politics, safety concerns with regards to the barriers and tragedy. Long story short, it was the first time a race was stopped and not restarted without 75% of the distance being covered, Jochen Mass took his first and only win in F1 and in 6th place was the first and so far only female driver to score points (well, half a point) in F1, Lella Lombardi

Valencia never hosted the Spanish Grand Prix, because that was already held at the Circuit De Catalunya near Barcelona, so the races at Valencia used the "European Grand Prix" moniker.

I'm loving this Tom Scott/Mark Rober approach to F1! Keep the content coming Matt :)

I feel Mark Rober vibes with that music, great job on video

Valencia is an amazing and more recent example of an abandoned track, but personally I think its beaten in awesomeness by the reims-gueux circuit in france. All of the pit lane buildings, grandstands and media tower still lies along the side of what is now a public road. I visited a few months ago and you can spend hours exploring, I'd thoroughly reccomend it. Great video anyway though!

I live across the road from the forner Australian GP track in Adelaide. I ride my pushbike up it most days. Prost, Berger, Senna, Mansell, Piquet, Rosberg etc etc. A great era.

Your production quality has massively improved since I first started watching you!

I've been to all but one of the races there. I have a close friend that lived on the top floor of the middle of the three apartment buildings between turn 1 and 2 Only had to pay for the trip to get there from the Netherlands. Watching the race with a nice cold cerveza and some quality food because my friend is a Chef and Dutch commentary from satellite tv. Imo opinion this was one of the best street circuits with a lot of overtaking possibilities, and I was gutted it was cancelled.

When you talked about the historian aspect - coming to a track as a fan and walk on it, i had the same feeling while i was at the nürburgring for my very first time. Thinking about all these races i watched on TV and then really walked on the same soil is really mindblowing for fans like us and i think that is the most beautiful thing about beeing a fan of our beloved sport.

1:09 Tiny nitpick: The race Fernando Alonso won then was the European Grand Prix, the Spanish GP was held at Barcelona as usual.

I’m glad the last race was in 2012. They went out on a high note. One of the best races in f1 history.

Sad backround story, however still quite a nostalgic track, especially for fans from the 00s and 10s. Hav been there in spring this year, back then the catchfences and kerbs were still intact, however the condition of sector 3 was absolutely atrocious. Holes, sharp edged kerbs and broken glases everywhere, but a great view towards the opera in the backround. A few homeless people were hanging around there, I'm surprised they didn't want you to leave. Rest of the track still looks quite in a good shape, especially the moveable bridge, which connects sector 1 and 2. Back in the pits you can still see the rubber marks on the ground, the old UPS sponsor paint ist still on the ground aswell. Even if It's totally unlikely due to financial concerns, a renewed track there should have potential in modern day f1. The surroundings with the bay area are way better than in Catalunya. Even thoe a lot of drivers did not enjoy the track at all, we had a couple of great race bangers there, 2010 with Webbers flip and in 2012 Alonsos great charge through the field and Schumis last Podium.

I literally live next to the Valencia Street Circuit. I still remember the roaring of the F1 cars. That was what made me fall in love with cars and motorsports. It's always sad to see it in the condition it is now.

Would be really interesting to see something similar on the Vietnam track (budget permitting!) I'm so intrigued how a whole track was built and then just....left, never raced on and the excuse was some really vague stuff about corruption but no news as to what corruption.

love your videos, Matt. you get into details about F1 that no one else does

Can't believe it's been abandoned, such a great track. The last third was insane to drive.

I've been to the abandoned track in Valencia, it's surreal to see all these people walk on these curbs

There is also the circuit of " Reims Gueux " in France which is not really a circuit but like older circuit was just based on open roads Also you can drive on the old parts of Spa when its length was over 14 km

The last race there was actually the European Grand Prix (not the Spanish GP) in 2012 and it had maybe the greatest podium in history: Fernando in 1st, Kimi 2nd and Michael 3rd (his last podium).

I'm enough of an F1 fan to have travelled to the Monza when I visited Milan to go and have a look at the race track complex without a race being held. The whole park is extremely beautiful, but the whole track is fenced off effectively so i couldn't walk on the track. I managed to get onto the iconic oval track because there is a hole in the fence.

Sad to see the Valencia circuit like this but at least it’s still there to see

Corruption… nothing better to describe how things are done in Spain

Ouch, I went there two weeks ago and didn't find that corner where you filmed 😅 But I took a good walk around the pit lane and the corners around it!

Never heard of this guy before, but this type of content gets an instant sub. In it’s day that was such a cool street course!

If ever in Texas, COTA is open to the public for "bike night" were anyone can ride your bicycle on the track, local HPDE clubs host track days, and club races are held several times a year.

Very interesting, I had no idea what happened. Just remember that this track was pretty fun in F1 2012 once you survived the first lap!

Interesting... Of course, NOBODY misses the Valencia track. And thank you for putting your sponsor at the end.

This is really cool to now know what actually happened to the circuit but it’s also so sad. I love the Valencia races for MotoGP and loved the old ones for F1.

I’m sure high school and college students in Spain would do parties or late night competition, Even for a new Fast and Furious movie

the same race where fernando kimi & michael shared the podium for the very last time.

Such a cool video, Matt!! KEEP IT COMING!!

I went there in 2016 when most of that part of the circuit was still enclosed and not accessible to the public but the rest of it could clearly be seen on public roads including grid hatching still marked out on what was the start/finish straight. I love abandoned circuits but I wish they were maintained and still in use.

I went there in 2018 and couldn't believe I could just walk in. Loved it.

Thanks for this!! Great job!! The hair on my neck always stands up when I think about the history of these abandoned tracks!!

It's good to see that at least some of the track is being put to good use.

Valencia is a great city, the food there is so good and the people of Valencia are great! We kept out boat there for four years.

Down in Sevilla the Expo 92 infrastructure is also pretty much abandoned.

Nice video! I visited the circuit last month and cycled around it. I was pretty fortunate not to get a puncture with all that glass.

Funnily enough, you can also freely enter the old monza bankings, if you are ever in the area, monza Park is beautiful, and walking (and climbing if you are feeling adventurous) the bankings is an incredible experience, it was beautiful

I actually liked this Valencia circuit. Shame it's gone, and I also liked Korea a lot! Wish they could've remained on the calendar somehow

This is a beautiful place for skateboarding, skating, technologic parks, greenhouses, street fairs, families. Make a nice use of it.

Would be nice to visit an abandoned circuit, though I Regularly drive the Albert Park Street circuit, at least once a week, Except obviously the few days before and after the Grand prix Weekend, It is still public road even when all the amenities, walls, fencing and grandstands are being put up, and pulled down. and though the speed limit is only 40 (It is a public park) one has to resist putting the foot down when the road is in track mode

Race fan heartbreak: Hopelessly watching a former race track decay before your very eyes

I was so excited when they announced this race back then, what a shame.

This guy is literally the Mark Rober of F1… AND I LOVE IT KEEP IT UP🔥

The first time a felt a formula 1 kurb was on this track with my bike 😂😂 so sad that it's abandoned

Really cool people can just go there and chill at an old f1 circuit

Its depressing when any racetrack, regardless of location is left to be abandoned and left to rot 😢

Make it a drift circuit that headpins looks awesome to slid round the 👌🤙✌

From the same city that started building a new stadium 15 years ago, then stopped two years later. At least they now have plans to finally finish Nou Mestalla off, so that's cool.

I think it's kind of funny that Hamilton didn't forget about Valencia. When Grill the Grid tested every drivers' Turn 1 knowledge, Hamilton was the only one to get Silverstone wrong, saying "that could be Valencia" before correcting himself and saying Silverstone. Which is funny to me because he DNF'd in that course because of Pastor Maldonado.

Valencia Street circuit isn't abandoned as I understand Formula E will use it for pre-season tests in mid-December this year.

Uma pena Valência sair do calendário. Lá foi o palco da penúltima vitória de Rubens Barrichello na F1.

Though I never really liked this circuit, it's sad to see the state it's been left in...

This would be a great place to host a drift event/competition.

I remember Mark Webber literally getting his Red Bull wings here, thanks to a broken brake pedal and a Lotus

Funny seeing this I visited the Valencia street circuit 2 weeks ago

Finally someone said it I thought I was alone in thinking that Tokyo Drift was the best film out the FF franchise. 😅 Great informative video. 👍

Best vid yet, keep it up.

Damn I never knew it was that easy to get onto what is left. I go to Spain a lot to see family. Nearest airport to them is Valencia so I see the remnants everytime the plane comes in to land

They should plant a load of trees and turn it into a park with a sick one way cycle track. In fantasy-land, it would ideally be maintained as a track. Free state owned track days for all!

Might have to fly to Spain from Italy to check this out before it’s gone

Intresting video i remember the corruption story so crazy

thank you George, good luck with the Singapore Grand Prix!

0:29 "But here in sector 3, as you can kinda see behind me..." Was that rhyme intentional?

Valencia didn't really feel a street race because it's not like they were used for everyday traffic in the city. Sochi was kind of same thing and Jeddah is too. You can see it that there is hardly any road markings on the track itself.

This is a better circuit than the Catalunya circuit.

I loved that circuit.

Not the only abandoned F1 circuit you can visit. The Nurburgring is an obvious one, but in the UK, both Aintree and Crystal Palace have hosted F1 races.

actually love this circuit as compared to Barcelona

1:09 That was the European Grand Prix, Maldonado won the Spanish Grand Prix that year

Il never forget the last time that F1 came here which was 2012 and Pastor Maldonado crashed into Lewis Hamilton on the last lap. When Lewis had been winning. I quite like this street circuit!

In order to try to get the money back i would turn it into a museum of cars and f1 especially. I would allow people to take tours on the track sometimes drive it and even put on shows and such for the public. It shouldn’t be used like a parking space for cars…

I discovered that the Canadian GP circuit in Montreal is used as a recreational path.

Even though the races weren't great, I really didn't mind the track itself. Shame to see the state it's in

If i was near these type abandoned tracks may have to takes some laps on my bike hehe

wait is this Mark Rober's estranged brother? The music, the tone of voice and sentence structure all sound so similar its kinda funny. Still very interesting look into what happened to the circuit.

1:12 European GP* the Spanish GP was in Barcelona just like today.

When Indy and Monzas curbs are so dangerous, even an abandoned track removes them.

You know, I’ve never thought of abandoned F1 tracks. I suppose I’ve just assumed they’d be used for other races. Is in Donington park (sorry for my spelling) was going to be the British F1 till F1 pulled out. That’s still used for motorcycle racing isn’t it?

Back in the day you could drive on these sections between the concrete barriers

similar to World Cups and Olympics the length cities go through to host events is a bit unfortunate. It rarely pays off in the long run. Add corrupt governments and it's worse

I've been wondering since Valencia was used for European Go when it would be brought back obviously it's not going to happen again .

Legendary track

Hold up, it was given the title of the European GP. As the Nurburgring would rotate now and then. It was never the Spanish GP. Barcelona, Catalunya has had that race on lock down for ages.

Wish they still races here

I miss this damn Track so hard ! Better than Miami today !

It should have never have hosted a race anyway when Valencia already has a Grade 1 circuit available. Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Ridiculous decision.

So sad to see this.

It hurts to see it in this way. I literally felt bad that such a good circuit and and race site has been destroyed :(

I remember we hated this track a lot until the banger in 2012

Funny it is much more a street circuit now than it was back then. Back then it was the first of many awful "forget where you are" concrete-labyrinths like Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, US/Miami etc. The only one which looks similar but seems outstanding is Singapore because of the "first ever" night-race atmosphere and because people acutally remember the track. I wouldn't mind seeing the current Valencia Track reused as lower spec FIA-grade GT-Racing Circuit once or twice a year.

Looks like a dope place to rollerblade

You can easily access the abandoned F1 circuit in Adelaide Australia

Would love to see this track in its beginning. One of the sad sides of Formula 1 is it’s abandoned tracks. You’d think they would be able to multipurpose these tracks for other forms of racing to keep the revenue coming in. But of course greedy con artist like the ones who put this together would still find a way to ruin it.

Formula drift should visit this track. Drifting motorsport should be easy to use.

Ghetto Valencia Circuit has more character than the original circuit.

I suspect maybe the Eurozone crisis of 2011 had something to do with it as well...