Presenting Motorland Aragón

Motorsport dates back a long way in the Spanish town of Alcañiz, which has a long and rich tradition in both two and four-wheeled pursuits. Back in 1928 a street circuit was introduced, and in the 1960s and 70s this was the setting for a series of races which involved what were to become the mainstay figures in national motorsport for years to come. With such a strong passion the idea of a new circuit was later put forward, a proposition which gained widespread support and eventually resulted in the inauguration of Motorland Aragón on October 24th 2009.

The project began back in 2001 but the intention was not just to create a circuit which would gain international recognition, but a multifunctional centre which would serve as a centre for technological, sporting, leisure and cultural advancements.

To recognise this ambitious goal a development team was put together which included a number of high profile figures with extensive experience in the world of motorsport. Amongst them was Formula 1 driver Pedro de la Rosa, who acted as technical and sporting advisor. Hermann Tilke, renowned for his work in designing racing circuits, produced the track layout plans, whilst British architects Foster & Partners were placed in charge of designing the leisure and culture areas which will be built during a second phase of construction.

The circuit layout stands at 5.345km in length with a width that varies between 12 and 15 metres, and with a longest straight of 1,726m it has become a widely sought after venue for aerodynamic testing. The modifications for this weekend's MotoGP race will see the length of the track shortened slightly to 5.078km, with a longest straight of 1,326m. The start/finish straight is 630m and leads into a first turn which is a sharp 90º left hander.

Aragón has been praised by the selection of premier class riders who have ridden on it so far in private runs to prepare for this weekend, with the general consensus being that the variety of turns will allow for a great deal of overtaking. With an elevation difference of 52m between the highest and lowest points on the track there are also plenty of intriguing cambers.