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

@Ridz2

Жыл бұрын

Hi lando

@mattamys

Жыл бұрын

Easily the worse would be the old Caterham F1 factory, as that's actual building and structures whereas the Valencia Street Circuit didn't have many permanent buildings - a little like Monaco!

@BoxInThisLapVR46

Жыл бұрын

@@mattamys If I had the money I'd easily buy the Leafield Technical Centre

@Ridz2

Жыл бұрын

Oh I know I he just one of my favourite drivers

@R9naldo

Жыл бұрын

Ah Arrows. Some of the best looking F1 cars ever, especially the 1998 Arrows

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.

@jraybay

Жыл бұрын

Very cool. Not many people can say that 😆

@wackydriver

11 ай бұрын

are there any circuits near valencia that does not cost fortune to attend track day (why is Ricardo Tormo so closed to open events and expensive according to website?)

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

@legoferrari14

Жыл бұрын

Spain has a real penchant for abandoned tracks; around 50km southwest of the current Barcelona Circuit (as the crow flies) is the Autodromo de Sitges-Terramar, a 2KM concrete oval with the steepest banking of any permanent facility in Motorsports history at a 66° camber angle. It only held one major Grand Prix in 1923 and a few minor bike races before it was shut down

@SiVlog1989

Жыл бұрын

@@legoferrari14 out of curiosity, is it still extant?

@legoferrari14

Жыл бұрын

@@SiVlog1989 The concrete oval itself is still intact, though the infield buildings have been torn down and a chicken farm now resides within the grounds.

@luuduonghy659

Жыл бұрын

Today its hard for this track to had exciting race Because of how big 2022 F1 cars was…

@danigonzalez4299

Жыл бұрын

But Montjuïc Park WAS a great track. A Legendary one. And still in use, it's public roads

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.

@ENKTDeeColon_and_randomnumbers

Жыл бұрын

Plus there already was a grade A track in the Valencia area

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

@NightSmk

Жыл бұрын

Thats the first thing my mind crossed aswell 😄

@jpxs9121

Жыл бұрын

even the same music 💀😭

@mr.snurtleturtrle9977

Жыл бұрын

Yes

@MetalMike50

Жыл бұрын

Come up with some original music though

@hansmuds6018

Жыл бұрын

@@MetalMike50 yep

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

@mattamys

Жыл бұрын

Felt it fit well with this type of video, plus I love Gustav's music!

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

@mattamys

Жыл бұрын

Aww thank you!

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'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.

@mattamys

Жыл бұрын

Sounds awesome!

@TheProkonover

Жыл бұрын

Spain's politicians are the worst in Europe when it comes to corruption related matters. The current party on power (PSOE) just had 2 former presidents sentenced for stealing 600M of a messy operation with companies going bankrupt. And the opposition party (PP), although their corruption cases are not as big as this one, what they lack in (this is the wrong and at the same time the correct word for it) quality, they have in quantity. Their list of corruption cases, trials, weird deaths and stuff is endless. The Valencia fuck up came from the political party that right now is in the opposition (PP), while the Jerez fuck up that made us lose that race came from people within the political party that right now rules the country (PSOE)

@AAARREUUUGHHHH

Жыл бұрын

@@TheProkonover and I thought Boris Johnson and his cronies were corrupt. Jeez man. Hopefully they're not as ethically corrupt

@mariomenega

Жыл бұрын

Here in Brazil we have the same love for bandit parties and its politicians, we can see this at present moment... A few years ago, It was considered the building of a New circuit in Rio to put Interlagos apart for political disputes between the President and the local Governor. The First said It would be a 100% private investment, but like Valencia, it had no long expectations of comercial profits and the project was abandoned on its virtual vision yet...

@philtucker1224

Жыл бұрын

Worked out a lot cheaper for you than three days at the MonacoGP would have been!😊

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.

@simonkevnorris

Жыл бұрын

At least part of the track is used by the Supercar series. I made the trip to the GP in 1986/87/88 from Perth and 1993/1995 from the UK.

@mashy0001

Жыл бұрын

The 3.8km GP layout can't be used again as there have been too many changes to the streets around turns 7-10. The 3.2km National layout hasn't been used for a few years now, but has been resurfaced in the last few months ready for the return of the Adelaide 500 in December. The Sprint layout (turn hard right after Senna Chicane and rejoin at Turn 12 of the GP layout) is scheduled to be used again for the return of the Adelaide Festival of Speed in March next year. The cycling layout (pit straight and Senna Chicane plus purpose built loop) is used every week, and it was on this layout that Valtteri Bottas was the last F1 driver to compete at Victoria Park in any sporting event, riding in a summer criterium race organised by his pro cyclist girlfriend's cycling club.

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.

@therealf.b.i9468

Жыл бұрын

Waiting for someone to "🤓"

@thatguyaccent3225

Жыл бұрын

🤓

@namenamename390

Жыл бұрын

@@therealf.b.i9468 your wish came true

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.

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

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.

I lived in the building right beside Turn 17 from 2006-2009. Top two floors, I believe it was the 4th or 5th balcony from the end. From the front (and biggest) balcony, we were able to see 17 perfectly, and the smaller back balcony we were able to see 20 and a large grandstand. It was a fun time of the year every time we had race weekend. During qualifiers or during cup car races it got so loud that even closing the doors and windows wouldn't help one bit - it was awesome. We would always have friends (both local and international) over for race weekends, and it was some of the best times we had living there. When either the 2008 or 2009 weekend came to an end, they opened the track to the public to allow people on it to run and bike for a day, and it was a great way to get up close and personal to an active race track. After one of those weekends my father and I also ran down in the middle of the night and cut off part of the fence covering, which was a thick perforated vinyl that was used to stop onlookers from peering in and not paying for the race. Its still folded up neatly in my attic, and has been there ever since we moved back from Spain in 2009. Great memories from this area, and I'm happy to have been randomly recommended a video about the old track!

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 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.

@jemimallah2591

Жыл бұрын

counterpoint: its actually good when shitty modern tracks that look like parking lots are left to rot as what they are

@davidjoelstern6450

Жыл бұрын

@@jemimallah2591 counter point: the Valencian street Circuit race would be more entertaining than Monaco right now. Plus a lot of streetcircuits are pretty fun.

@flareboy_1117

Жыл бұрын

​@@jemimallah2591 and the old tracks aren't big enough to race there 🙃

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

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

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!

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

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

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

@jemimallah2591

Жыл бұрын

it is absolutely not a great track in any way shape or form

@brunoo026

Жыл бұрын

Just because the last race held there was a banger it doesn't mean that this track was brilliant

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

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

@blsm-burminilaicalseparati6214

Жыл бұрын

I live near the autodromo and I'm glad some international tourists come to visit even when no one races. Unfortunately you can't walk on the race track (as is the case everywhere, I think) but as you've seen most of the oval track is accessible including the two banked curves. The park is wonderful and you can see many squirrels walking around. If you're lucky you can even spot car manufacturers testing their vehicles there while the track isn't used for racing.

@Cynderfan35

8 ай бұрын

i went to Monza once and walked on that old oval section, was amazing to imagine once upon a time, f1 cars drove on it

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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. 👍

Intresting video i remember the corruption story so crazy

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

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

I loved that circuit.

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

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

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

Best vid yet, keep it up.

@mattamys

Жыл бұрын

Appreciate it!

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

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

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

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

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

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.

actually love this circuit as compared to Barcelona

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

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

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

@mattamys

Жыл бұрын

Fingers crossed!

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

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.

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

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…

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.

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.

@RJSRdg

Жыл бұрын

And come to think of it, Caesar's Palace, Detroit and Phoenix in the USA can be visited, and Adelaide in Australia.

Nice content

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

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

Looks like a dope place to rollerblade

So sad to see this.

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

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!

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

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.

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

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

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 .

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

@ilbonvicin

Жыл бұрын

Good circuit, lol

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

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?

@Speedworx

Жыл бұрын

BSB and WSBK, yes

@winstongordon9694

Жыл бұрын

You maybe talking brands hatch

@DoMw94

Жыл бұрын

Donington (you spelt it right 😉) is still used for bike and car racing. The failed redevelopment never really got far enough along to massively affect the venue

@sofiablack9081

Жыл бұрын

@@winstongordon9694 could be I remember there being a big thing about silverstone losing the British GP

Wish they still races here

Legendary track

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

Broken glass …. Everywhere 🎵

How are we going to be taking anyone serious that says that Tokio Drift is the best Fast and the Furious movie... Just kidding! Love the vids! Keep up the good work!

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

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.

I live there, is amazing!

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

Cool...Now get your bike, and gear, and blitz it! FEEL THE SPEED!! @_@

Valencia was a cool track

I live in Adelaide... 2012 is nothing 😭