On September the 17th 1922 the First purpose built
race track of Spain was opened in the Catalonian sea resort of
Sitges Terramar, about 40 km (25 Miles) south of Barcelona. It was a
private initiative from millionaire and local race hero Frik
Armangue. For the price of 4 million Pesetas and with 3.5 million
kilo of cement, they created in a time of 300 days the two km (1.25
Mile) long Autòdrom Nacional Sitges Terramar.
The oval circuit contained two concrete high banked corners with an
angle of more than 60 degrees. One corner was exactly a half circle
while the other one had a parabolic shape. Depending on the event,
the track was driven clockwise or anticlockwise! A strange detail
was that the back straight had a kink to the opposite direction.
That made the circuit not a real oval although it had the character
of an oval. Furthermore there was a small airfield at the infield of
the track.
Racing at the banking of Sitges Terramar should
have been a tremendous sensation. Although it was not very
technical, a lot of courage was needed to go to the limit. At the
inside of the banked corners there was a rock formation, while on
the outside the deep precipice was waiting. All honour to the heroes
of the past!
Click here for an
impression of a lap at the banked circuit.
In 1923 the Autòdrom was the scene of the Grand
Prix of Spain. The race was won by Albert Divo in his Sunbeam after
a stunning wheel to wheel fight wit Louis Zborowoski in his Miller.
His average speed was 156 km/h (97.5 mph).
Since the beginning there where financial troubles
for the circuit and soon the bills stayed unpaid. As a result of
that international races where banned at the circuit. In 1925 the
site was bought by racing driver Edgar Morawitz and in 1932 the
National Spanish Championship for motorcycles was held at Sitges.
Unfortunately this was a short recovery. When in 1936 the Spanish
Civil War broke out the circuit closed and never opened again.
Nowadays the circuit is neglected but still there.
The site is now an agriculture area and private property. To prevent
illegal visitors to do some laps at the track, they closed the
access to the banking with fences and chains.
