Circuit de Catalunya: Formula 1 test days and a Le Mans race

Circuit de Catalunya is in Montmelo, about a 30 minute trip by train from Barcelona. In this small town is the car track, used for events like Le Mans, Radical European Masters, CEM, and most importantly Formula 1. Though a seat during a Formula 1 race can sell for close to 600 Euros, there are plenty of other events that are cheap or even free.

We went to an F1 test day a few weeks ago. These aren't official races, but they are a chance for the teams to test their cars and drivers. Full speed, some famous names, free seating... lots of fun.

(click to enlarge, especially the Le Mans images)

The Grandstand and entrance

Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari F60

Heikki Kovalainen in the McLaren Mercedes MP4-24. I might make Spaniards mad... but this is definitely the most impressive car to me. :)

Pit crew for Robert Kubica (POL) BMW Sauber F1.09 (I think)

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1,000 Km of Catalunya: Le Mans Series

April 4th and 5th were two days of Le Mans events. Included was the first leg of the Le Mans series, a 6-hour race around the track. Other classes of cars were able to race or have other events as well. Overall winner was the Lola Aston Martin.
Tip: The tickets were supposed to be 15 Euros a piece, but on the site there was a downloadble ticket for free entry for two days.

Starting lineup

Here you can see a few classes of cars sharing the track during the race.

nice day for a race
We walked around the entire track to kill some time, even though we only came for the last 3 hours of the race. The landscape is really nice and during this time of year, the weather is great. Lots of trees and flowers to contrast the sound of jet-engine cars - fun for everyone right?

Ha! I don't think we were supposed to be up here, but a smile will get you far.
Here you can see the multiple classes of cars again - check out the little green guy in front of the others. I think the driver is just having a good time with the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, the Saleen, etc.. what is this car?

I will have that Aston Martin.

I cannot tell you what this car is... but here it is!

Access to the paddock was included in the ticket. Very cool to see all the people and equipment behind each race. Aston Martin's trailer was the most impressive. It expanded into a two-story restaurant/conference center. I will have that Aston Martin..

Winner!

What's a win without Champagne?

Lots of winners, lots of Champagne

For people travelling to Montmelo and the Circuit by train:
It's a long walk from the station to the track, don't let the maps provided by the track fool you. Just follow the sound of the cars..
Round trip from Passeig de Gracia's Renfe Cercanias is 3 Euros a person. There are plenty of trains, at least 1 every half hour that will go in your direction.
You are (usally?) allowed to bring in your own food and drink, as long as it's not in glass bottles. I saw people having beer out of cans so I think alcohol is OK too. Bring some bread with meats and cheeses and you can make a day out of it.

Barcelona after Spain wins the Euro2008

A little late coming, but here are some pictures and videos.
. . .
The UEFA Euro 2008 is a football (soccer) competition between European national teams. One team per country of the best players, and Spain won it for the first time since 1964. As you can imagine, the country is still exploding (literally...) with celebration.

Here are some really terrible night pictures. Sorry! Videos will show you better.

Spanish pride!

On Las Ramblas right after the game.

night videos!!

click play!


This is right after the game, when everyone spilled out onto Las Ramblas. People were climbing the light poles, waving flags, taking pictures...


And of course they had to sing!!

Here is a link to some professional photos of the team and Madrid after Spain won.
http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=729558.html#worlds+best+bring+madrid+standstill

FOOTBALL!

Many of you in the U.S. probably know that the majority of the world does not care about "American football." Soccer (football, in Europe) is the prime sport for this part of the world.
Barcelona is no exception. F.C. Barcelona is a successful team that has a few of the best players from around the world. Unfortunately, we missed the end of the regular season, but on Saturday we were able to catch a friendly game between Catalunya (the region in which Barcelona and surrounding cities are situated) and Argentina. Why there would be a match between an entire country with some of the best players in the world and a region in Spain is beyond me, but it still made for a good game.
One of the best players on F.C. Barcelona's team, Messi, is from Argentina, so he was playing against some of his teammates on the Catalunya team. The game was dominated by Argentina as was expected, and was a great time for everyone (except for the old dude behind us who decided to start a fight, but that was even more fun for the crowd).
"Football" here is so much fun because people get into it even more than Americans do for US football. The Argentinians brought big drums, the Catalunyans brought flares that they shot off during the anthem, and almost everyone had a flag to wave.

Here are some pictures (maybe some videos later, too):



haha :) carlos with our souvenir scarf. One half is for Argentina and the other for Catalunya (the side that you can see here). The sun was so bright we had to use this as a hat..

Carlos in front of Camp Nou, the stadium.

Before the game had started.

We were so close! #19 is Messi.

Also, I finally got enough international postcard stamps so I can send out my thank-yous! woo!