Motor racing is almost as old as the car itself. Many cars and tracks of the early years have been almost forgotten - and the Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar falls in this category. Luckily, we can run it in Assetto Corsa.
When sim racers think of vintage cars, most would probably think of something that was raced in the 1960s, maybe the 1950s. But what about the machines of the early years of Grand Prix racing? What about those early venues they competed at, many of which being a matter of national pride at the time?
The Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar fits this description very well. It may not have been the site of the first-ever Spanish Grand Prix - that honor falls to Guadarrama in central Spain, where a 103-kilometer street circuit played host to the event in 1913. But the second edition of the race in 1923 did take place at the circuit, which was brand new back then.
In fact, it had been opened by none other than King Alfonso XIII that very same year. Sitges-Terramar was one of the first purpose-built racing tracks in the world, joining the ranks of Monza, Brooklands and Indianapolis at the time. Located between Barcelona and Tarragona at the coast of the Balearic Sea, the circuit was built essentially as a dog-leg oval measuring 2 kilometers (1.242 miles) in length. Both ends featured banked turns - and the Spaniards went all out when it came to that.
Well, try 66°. Sitges-Terramar is the highest-banked oval in the world. And probably the bumpiest, too.
The somewhat tighter turns 3 and 4, as they probably would be called today, required some slowing down, but 1 and 2 could be taken at higher speeds. This led to an average speed of 142 kph for 1923 Spanish Grand Prix winner Albert Divo in his Sunbeam - an extremely high speed for the time.
However, economic problems of the track's construction company as well as complaints from drivers about the surface and the transitions onto and off of the bankings in particular led to the initial enthusiasm waning quickly. Grand Prix racing did not return, and few events were run at Sitges-Terramar in the following years. Officially, the site operated as a racing circuit until 1955. A chicken farm has settled down in the infield since.
It was only in 2009 that cars and bikes returned to Sitges-Terramar. The circuit had been cleaned and has since been used for promotional runs and tests and, perhaps most famously, featured in a 2018 epsiode of The Grand Tour. There are plans to re-open the facility for equestrian events, so competitions featuring horsepower should return - just in a different way.
Another version can be found on the web courtesy of @Sergio Loro, so sim racers are actually spoilt for choice when it comes to the Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar. Your throwback to the early days of racing can go ahead, then!
And you can do it in period-appropriate cars, too. OverTake community member @Nicecuppatea has specialized in pre-war Grand Prix cars, and there are six vehicles from the 1923 version available in our download section - be sure to also install the appropriate driver model, including goggles and leather cap, as well as the small patch they released.
Image: @rmi_wood
Will you give the Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar a go in the old Grand Prix cars? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
When sim racers think of vintage cars, most would probably think of something that was raced in the 1960s, maybe the 1950s. But what about the machines of the early years of Grand Prix racing? What about those early venues they competed at, many of which being a matter of national pride at the time?
The Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar fits this description very well. It may not have been the site of the first-ever Spanish Grand Prix - that honor falls to Guadarrama in central Spain, where a 103-kilometer street circuit played host to the event in 1913. But the second edition of the race in 1923 did take place at the circuit, which was brand new back then.
In fact, it had been opened by none other than King Alfonso XIII that very same year. Sitges-Terramar was one of the first purpose-built racing tracks in the world, joining the ranks of Monza, Brooklands and Indianapolis at the time. Located between Barcelona and Tarragona at the coast of the Balearic Sea, the circuit was built essentially as a dog-leg oval measuring 2 kilometers (1.242 miles) in length. Both ends featured banked turns - and the Spaniards went all out when it came to that.
World's Highest-Banked Oval
To add some perspective, the turns at Indianapolis Motor Speedway feature 9° of banking. The already fairly steep banked turn at Brooklands had 30°, similar to Daytona's 31°, and the fearsome Nordkehre of the AVUS that was used until 1967 had 43°. Terramar could not have had that much more, right?Well, try 66°. Sitges-Terramar is the highest-banked oval in the world. And probably the bumpiest, too.
The somewhat tighter turns 3 and 4, as they probably would be called today, required some slowing down, but 1 and 2 could be taken at higher speeds. This led to an average speed of 142 kph for 1923 Spanish Grand Prix winner Albert Divo in his Sunbeam - an extremely high speed for the time.
However, economic problems of the track's construction company as well as complaints from drivers about the surface and the transitions onto and off of the bankings in particular led to the initial enthusiasm waning quickly. Grand Prix racing did not return, and few events were run at Sitges-Terramar in the following years. Officially, the site operated as a racing circuit until 1955. A chicken farm has settled down in the infield since.
It was only in 2009 that cars and bikes returned to Sitges-Terramar. The circuit had been cleaned and has since been used for promotional runs and tests and, perhaps most famously, featured in a 2018 epsiode of The Grand Tour. There are plans to re-open the facility for equestrian events, so competitions featuring horsepower should return - just in a different way.
Sitges-Terramar For Assetto Corsa
As is the case with many historic venues, Assetto Corsa allows us to experience the Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar with its original purpose. OverTake community member @rmi_wood has released a converted version of the track in our download section, featuring 12 pit stalls, the infamous high banking, and even RainFX - although we are not sure if racing in the wet would be safe in period-appropriate cars.Another version can be found on the web courtesy of @Sergio Loro, so sim racers are actually spoilt for choice when it comes to the Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar. Your throwback to the early days of racing can go ahead, then!
And you can do it in period-appropriate cars, too. OverTake community member @Nicecuppatea has specialized in pre-war Grand Prix cars, and there are six vehicles from the 1923 version available in our download section - be sure to also install the appropriate driver model, including goggles and leather cap, as well as the small patch they released.
1923 Grand Prix Cars By Nicecuppatea
- Bugatti Type 32
- Delage 2LCV
- FIAT 805 405
- Rolland-Pilain A22
- Sunbeam Grand Prix
- Voisin C6 'Laboratoire'
Image: @rmi_wood
Will you give the Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar a go in the old Grand Prix cars? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
