Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

Circuit guide by Chris Pollitt · dates updated 2 November 2026

Barcelona-Catalunya opened in 1991, just in time for the Spanish Grand Prix, and was built ahead of the 1992 Olympics. It sits on a hillside at Montmeló, about 20 km north of the city, and it's been F1's testing base for so long that most teams know every bump. The main layout is 4.657 km with 14 corners and a main straight just over a kilometre long. Car track days at the circuit's own events use the 4.675 km version with the slow chicane before the final corner.

It's a proper all-rounder: hard braking at the end of the straight, long fast corners, a couple of slow hairpins and some real elevation. That's why race teams test here, and it's why it'll show up any weakness in your car or riding. The circuit runs its own cheap track days for cars and bikes, and UK bike organisers run multi-day trips. It's good for intermediates. The run-off is huge, so it's forgiving for novices too, as long as they're not on a busy day.

A lap of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

Layout: Grand Prix (no chicane, F1 and MotoGP), 4.657 km (2.89 miles)

The main straight drops slightly into Turn 1, Elf, a right where you're braking hard from top speed. It's the main overtaking spot and the place people outbrake themselves on the first lap of a session. Keep tight on the exit for the short left at Turn 2, then Turn 3 (Renault) is a long, fast right with a blind exit. It goes on longer than you think. Turn in too early and you'll understeer all the way round, scrubbing the front tyres as you go.

Turn 4 (Repsol) is another long right that needs patience before you get on the power. Then it's downhill to Turn 5 (Seat), a tight left hairpin with very few braking references. It's easy to go in too fast, so pick a marker on your first laps. The exit drops through the Turn 6 kink before you brake again for Turns 7 and 8, an uphill left-right where the gradient helps you slow down.

Turn 9, Campsa, is the corner everyone talks about. It's a fast right over a crest, blind on the way in, and in a quick car or on a bike it's a big commitment. Roll off, turn in near the end of the kerb on the left and keep it smooth. Then you're down the back straight to Turn 10, La Caixa, a tight left hairpin and a good place to pass. Don't square it off too much, and keep the car settled over the kerb on exit.

Turn 11 is a quick left kink, then Turn 12 (Banc Sabadell) is a long right that goes on and on. On the main layout, Turns 13 and 14 are two fast right-handers that take you onto the straight, and carrying speed through them is what gives you a quick lap. On the chicane version used for car track days, you brake for a slow left-right before the final corner instead, and the trick is getting the power down cleanly out of it.

Track day tips

• The circuit runs its own track days for cars and bikes, at under €60 a day, plus a booking fee. Buy tickets online in advance, though places can sometimes be bought at the Control Tower on the day.
• Car track days at the circuit use the 4.675 km chicane layout, so don't be caught out at the end of the lap if you've learned it on a game.
• Bikes need to be at least 125cc. Full leathers, boots and leather gloves are required, and tyres and chains are checked.
• Campsa (Turn 9) is fast and blind. Build up to it over a few sessions and don't follow someone faster into it.
• The long right-handers wear the left-hand tyres hard. Check pressures and wear between sessions, especially on hot summer days.
• Drifting isn't allowed on car days, and SUVs, pick-ups and minivans are banned.

Getting there

The circuit is at Montmeló, about 20 km north of Barcelona, just off the AP-7 and C-17 roads. Barcelona El Prat airport is around 35 km away, with direct flights from most UK airports, and Girona has flights too. Several UK bike organisers run trips here with van transport, so you can drop your bike off in the UK and fly out. Driving from the UK is around 1,300 km from Calais through France. Granollers, right next to the circuit, has hotels, and Barcelona is an easy drive away.