ESP - SPAIN
CALAFAT
Description Second permanent circuit built in Spain (the first one was Jarama); it was inaugurated on September 29th 1974 with race for Formula Seat 1800. On that day the track was still lacking in facilities and safery: i.e. run off areas were lower that track level. It’s a very windy circuit because its closeness to the sea and to the mountains laying behind. The circuit was closed in May 1982 because of bureaucratic problems; later it was reopened, probably in 1985.

Description (with a F.Seat 1800 in 1974)
Start is on the longest straight, where cars can reach 180 km/h - 110 mph. A slight left bend, that best drivers run flat out, leads to a challenghing right hairpin that went downhill. After that, there are a short stright, a very fast right bend, another straight and a left downhill bend, very difficult because of its gradient change. The track goes uphill: after two easy right bends there is a long ’S’ left - right - left to be run while accelerating. Another short straight downhill and there is a narrow and difficult right corner. After that, an uphill straight, a long right bend and a slight left bend (to be run flat out) that leads to main straight and finish line.
Location Ametlla de Mar
T - Tarragona - Catalunya / Cataluña
Location Calafat, Ametlla de Mar, Costa Dorada, 140 km South West of Barcelona
Latitude - Longitude + 40°55'59"     + 0°50'30"
40.933056     0.841667
UTM Coordinates X = 318291.19  -  Y = 4533568.592  -  Zone 31T
Aerial photo / Map (*) Aerial photo / Map (*) OpenStreetMap  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Google Maps  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Bing Maps  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Flash Earth  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Wikimapia  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Visor SIGPAC
Altitude AMSL 29 m - 95 ft
Inauguration September 29th 1974
Closing  
Designer Xiol
Jordi Xiol
Sources and links (Translation) (**)
(1) Italian English ForumForum --> Europe --> Spain and Portugal --> ESP - Calafat 1974 [ITA - ENG]
(2) German www.motorradonline.de/d/140404Motorrad
(3) English www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/calafat.htmlThe GEL Motorsport - Tracks Around The World
(4) Spanish www.todocircuito.com/index.php (...)
(5) Spanish Motos de Ayer 69
(6) Italian Autosprint 36/1974 (page 54)Aerial photo taken fwe weeks before opening
(7) Italian Autosprint 41/1974 (page 47)Opening (with map)
(8) Italian Autosprint 7/1983 (page 37)
(9) Spanish www.circuitcalafat.comOfficial website

(*) NOTE: a complete and detailed view of the circuit can be found (if available) on Street View by Google Maps and/or Bird's Eye and 3D views by Bing Maps for Enterprise (former Microsoft Virtual Earth): both can be reached using their own link in Aerial photo / Map cell.

(**) For on-line not-English speaking sources, click on each small flag and you open the corresponding Google Translator page with automatic translation.

Calafat
Description Usually length reported is 2496 m; I don’t know if some sources is wrong or if track layout was modified.
Years 1974÷1982
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration September 29th 1974
Closing 1982
Last update of this page May 20th 2007
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 2496  m 8189  ft 1.551  mi   (3)
length 2520  m 8268  ft 1.566  mi   (7)
length 2521  m 8271  ft 1.567  mi   (6)
Max. speed extimated 180  km/h      111.85  mph Formula Seat 1800 (7)

Calafat
Description In February 1983 it seemed that it could have been reopened within 2 months. According to The GEL Motorsport it was reopened only in 1985.
Note that according to Autosprint length was 2300 m, different from length usually reported (2496 m), so I think than circuit was modified when it was reopened.
Years 1983
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page May 20th 2007
Info last update February 1st 1983
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 2300  m 7546  ft 1.429  mi   (8)

Calafat
Description  
Years 1990÷...
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational  
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration 1990
Closing  
Last update of this page May 20th 2007
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 3250  m 10663  ft 2.02  mi   (9)
length 3500  m 11483  ft 2.175  mi   (3)
Width 10  m 33  ft      (9)
Straight length 600  m 1969  ft 0.373  mi Start finish straight (9)

Calafat 1974÷1982

Calafat 1974÷1982



Updates
Date Track layout Years Description by Map by Thanks to Note
May 31st 2011   1974÷1982 Guido de Carli   micap Update Description
April 8th 2008     Guido de Carli     Update Description
May 20th 2007     Guido de Carli     Update Description
January 18th 2006     Guido de Carli     New Description
August 12th 2005     Guido de Carli     Update Description
March 20th 2005   1974÷1982 Guido de Carli Guido de Carli   New Description with map
October 13th 2004   1983 Guido de Carli     New Description without map
Not all eventual updates issued in last years are already visible in this list
 
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