There’s A Ferocious Ex-F1 Street Track In Barcelona That Every Petrolhead Should Visit

There are ‘street circuits’ on the current Formula 1 calendar, but the Montjuïc circuit in Barcelona was a very different beast, set on public roads with the crowd just feet from the cars screaming past.

The former F1 venue hosted four Spanish Grands Prix in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with a mix of scary fast sweeping corners, long straights and slow hairpins. It was a tricky one to master and is regarded as one of F1’s greatest ever tracks.

Alongside the incredibly quick corners and high speeds that encouraged frenetic racing, the Montjuïc circuit also featured stunning scenery and views of Barcelona, beautiful parkland, as well as passing iconic landmarks like the former Olympic stadium.

It’s a truly special place, and I recently jumped in the passenger seat of a friend’s ride to take a tour of the circuit. It was mind-boggling to imagine what it must have been like to throw an F1 car around the streets of Montjuïc, with Armco barriers close by to punish even the smallest of errors.

These Armco barriers actually contributed to problems at the track’s final F1 race. When the circus showed up for the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, some drivers were unhappy with the temporary barriers, as they had been poorly installed – some were unbolted and others were tied together by thin wire.

Emerson Fittipaldi – who won the previous race at the track – refused to race, but he eventually completed one lap and retired, as he would have been banned from competing in the Monaco Grand Prix otherwise.

During the race, Rolf Stommelen suffered a rear wing failure and crashed over the barriers, sadly killing a photographer, fireman and three spectators. The race was stopped a few laps later, with little to celebrate, and F1 never returned.

Some of F1’s greatest ever drivers - like Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and John Surtees - previously raced around Montjuïc at insane speeds and with full commitment. There was no room for error and it really put both the drivers and cars through their paces. It was a surreal feeling to know that many years ago, F1 machinery was racing on the very streets we were driving along.

It also made me think what an incredible sight it would be to see modern F1 cars back lapping the track. Lots and lots of changes would be needed to hold a race, of course, but a demo event – like the one completed in 2007, for the Martini Legends event – would certainly be spectacular and undoubtedly draw in a big crowd.

The roads of the Montjuïc circuit are open and free for you to drive yourself. I’d definitely recommend a trip there if you are an F1 fan visiting Barcelona, as it’s a really special place.