Added: ( May 2008)
Countdown to the European Grand Prix approaches 100 Days
The city of Valencia is all systems go and looking forward to the arrival of the "European Grand Prix" in the city in late August. The circuit will be finished as planned by the June 1st. deadline. A Formula G.P. 3 race will take place on the 27th of July so as to test the circuit before its big day on August 24. Bernie Ecclestone recently visited the city to inspect the ongoing preparatory works and announced himself very pleased with the progress being made while at the same time putting the organisers of the "Spanish Grand Prix" in Montmelo on notice that they would have to considerably improve facilities there if they are to keep the event which is good news for Valencia which would love to hold onto the "European Grand Prix" beyond 2014 the year when the race will finish coming to Spain's third largest city situated on the mediterranean seaboard and boasting up to 320 days of sunshine per year.
Needless to say accommodation in the city's hotels has long been booked out with Formula 1 fans paying on average €300 per room for the weekend of the grand prix. Valencia Property Hound will in the coming weeks be offering a selection of reasonably priced apartments both in the city and in dormitory towns close to the city for the week of the grand prix with prices ranging from €1,500 to €6,000. We will also be offering property search facilities for fans wishing to source apartments in the city. Accomodation will obviously be at a premium with up to 140,000 visitors expected to arrive in the city on the 4th weekend in August.
City authorities to date have spent €75 million preparing Valencia 's Street Circuit. All the monies spent on the circuit by the local authorities will be recovered from the property developers who will be building a whole new neighbourhood called "Barrio del Grao" within and around the circuit itself.
Significant infrastructural projects are taking place in the city so as to accommodate F 1 in the city. A tunnel has been built in the Alameda area thereby allowing the race cars to go under the overlying train tracks. The city's tallest structure at 125 metres namely a new bridge designed by non other than the city's very own, world renowned architectural son Santiago Calatrava will allow greater access to the F1 circuit through the "City of the Sciences" development and over the city's riverbed. An orange coloured glass pedestrian walkway is also being built over the Turia riverbed and will act as a viewing platform allowing striking views both of the city and the Med. The orange colour is to symbolise the city's historic association with the citric fruit sector, the Valencian region being the most fertile area for citric fruits in Spain especially oranges.
The circuit itself will be 2 metres wider than its equivalent in Monaco allowing for what should be heart stopping overtaking manoeuvres as well as enabling drivers to race side by side. The wider track should make for an exhilarating race with a certain amount of unpredictability as to the final race winner unlike Monaco which tends to be boring and predictable without taking from Monaco 's acclaimed history and spectacular setting.
The circuit in the "Barrio del Grao" area will be an eight lane avenue during the rest of the year allowing improved access to the marina / port area.
The pits and pit lane area as well as the emergency services which will be housed in the historical buildings "Tinglados 4 & 5" within the Juan Carlos 1st Marina will also accommodate dismountable metal platforms above the pits and emergency service areas allowing space for 4,000 "Super V.I.P.s".
Moorings for the week of the formula 1 are priced from €2,840 to €60,000 for the 100 metre mega yachts. The harbour will be divided into two distinct areas, the more exclusive of which will be within the circuit itself with capacity for 125 mega yachts : the area being called "Valencia Street Circuit".
The outer moorings which will be beyond the circuit thus alllowing owners the possibility of sailing during the weekend of the F 1. These moorings although they don't have views of the circuit are being sold with the option of buying tickets to the stand that is the closest one to the circuit within the marina namely T12. For those boat owners wishing to stay on their boats, huge tv screens will be mounted within the marina allowing them to follow the racing. A sizeable entertainment area will also be set up within the marina as well as a range of 24 hour services for boat owners from boat repairs and cleaning to catering, beauty treatments and tickets for a wide range of shows in the city.
The arrival of F1 in Valencia promises to be exhilarating therefore whether you are looking for "Valencia F1 Rental Apartments", "Valencia F1 Property" or "Valencia F1 Property Search" ; Valencia Property Hound should be your first port of call.
Article by Dermot Quinn, Valencia Property Hound Ltd
