Abandoned F1 track left covered in rubbish and vandalised years after last race

For five years, the Valencia Street Circuit was the host of the European Grand Prix. Now, it lies in ruin with rubbish piling up on the circuit and fans able to enter the premises, witnessing the destruction firsthand. For new fans, the European GP might be an unusual concept, but it was a staple of the calendar for over 30 years.

It rotated between a number of circuits, including Brands Hatch, Jerez, and the Nürburgring GP-Strecke, before landing in Valencia in 2008. Designed by F1 circuit veteran Hermann Tilke, the Valencia Street Circuit was immediately unpopular with fans. With a plethora of 90-degree corners and only one sufficiently long straight, overtaking opportunities were at a premium.

Changes were made in 2011, but they did little to improve the on-track action, although the 2012 edition did provide plenty of drama. In the end, Fernando Alonso eventually crossed the line six seconds ahead of Kimi Raikkonnen with Michael Schumacher on the podium in a Mercedes. It was, however, to be the final F1 race in Valencia.

Bernie Ecclestone clamped down on his one race per country policy and, despite the intention to rotate with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix, Valencia never graced the calendar again. Ironically, in 2026, both Madrid and Barcelona will hold F1 races on Spanish soil.

During the process, the Valmor Sport group, responsible for organising the deal and maintaining the circuit, started to take on significant debt. All in all, this grew to an eye-watering £255million. Since 2013, the track has been left in disrepair and fans have been able to make their way into the facility.

Amongst the vandalism, graffiti and overgrowth, the old pit building remains unused. Formed out of a repurposed 19th-century warehouse, the inside has since been gutted. The concrete blocks and catch-fencing barriers remain in place on the tarmac.

Valencia isn't the only Spanish host venue of the European GP to suffer an unfortunate fate in recent years. The Circuito de Jerez, based in Andalucia in southern Spain, was submerged in water back in March after a huge downpour.

Now, though, F1 fans are getting excited for a new F1 venue. In 2026, the Madring will debut on the schedule, and it is expected to replace Barcelona long-term as the home of the Spanish Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz visited the circuit earlier in June for a demo run, along with junior talents Pepe Marti and Mari Boya.