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New circuit heightens anticipation

The first of two hotly anticipated new street circuits, in Valencia, Spain, makes its debut on the F1 calendar this weekend when it hosts the European grand prix for the first time.

The harbour side track, almost 3.4 miles long and with spectacular high speed sections, is one of two new ‘city’ tracks – Singapore, where the circus goes in a months time being the other – to be introduced this season, and the mood is one of heightened anticipation at racing on a brand new layout without prior knowledge.

Drivers have resorted to computer simulations and, perhaps more importantly, footage of the recent F3 and GT races that took place on the circuit to learn the layout, but will be relying on instinct and the two 90 minute Friday practice sessions, plus the final single hour Saturday morning run, to get to know the place before the all-important qualifying hour on Saturday afternoon.

As usual, UpdateF1.com will be providing full live commentary on all sessions – at (local time) 10am and 2pm Friday, and 11am and 2pm (for qualifying) on Saturday, plus our unique full race live commentary on Sunday afternoon. All sessions will feature UpdateF1’s ‘interactive’ commentary format, allowing you – the fan – to pose questions, queries and comments to our commentators to be discussed during coverage.

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Written: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:53:20