Navarra

The circuit of Navarra, located near the town of Los Arcos, is a multi-discipline sporting complex featuring a 2.4 mile road course, half-mile karting circuit, skid pan and off-road arena.

Plans for the circuit in northern Spain were first announced in 2007 by the private Samaniego Group. Funding difficulties saw the Government of Navarra step in and become majority owner and construction work began in 2009 at a cost of €50 million.

Opening in 2010, the track has been designed and built to the highest standards, achieving FIA Grade T1 and Grade 2 licences – meaning it can host F1 tests and all race categories below F1 – and FIM Grade B standards, allowing World Superbikes and below. The main circuit has three configurations, two of which can be run simultaneously.

Spectator facilities are good, with plenty of good viewing spots outside of the main grandstand, while photographers will be delighted to find that they have several areas set aside specifically for them, meaning photo opportunities are much better than at many circuits.

Navarra has become a popular testing venue, thanks to its good weather and close proximity to the French border. It has also become a staple on the GT racing scene, hosting rounds of the FIA GT and Blancpain Series, as well as the French GT Tour and the European Truck Racing Series.

In 2021 it became host to the World Superbikes Championship for the first time, added as an additional European round of the coronavirus-affected schedule. Ducati rider Scott Redding took the Superpole race and then followed up with a race one victory, before the second race was won by the Yamaha of eventual series champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu.  Riders hailed the layout as being fun, unique and full of character, with six-time champion Jonathan Rea describing the first corner as "like no other in the world." Despite this, it proved a one-off event for the championship, which did not return in 2022.

In May 2022, the Government of Navarra announced it was launching a tender process to sell the circuit, citing the high costs of managing and maintaining the facility. A four-month process was initiated by the public company Navarra Impulsa Cultura, Deporte y Ocio (NICDO – Navarra Infrastructure, Culture, Sports and Leisure in English), seeking a new buyer.

British-based MotorSport Vision (MSV) was announced as the successful bidder in September 2022, adding Navarra to its impressive portfolio of circuits, which already included Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Cadwell Park, Donington Park and Bedford Autodrome. It marked MSV’s second venture into mainland Europe, following the freehold purchase of a former military airbase in north-east France (Couvron), now being developed as the world’s first self-sufficient eco circuit.

As part of the agreement with NICDO, MSV committed to a significant programme of upgrades, notably including a complete resurfacing of the Navarra track.

MSV took over operations on 1 November 2022 and immediately set about enhancing the circuit’s facilities. Spanish GT, the CIV Velocidad, Spanish F4 Championship and action from TCR Spain and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Ibérica featured among the categories in its first year of stewardship.

Consistent with MSV’s approach elsewhere, a comprehensive refurbishment was undertaken. The race control tower and main pit buildings, including all garage doors, received a full exterior redecoration, while all signage across the venue – including the start/finish gantry, pit buildings and paddock – was revamped. Technology improvements followed, with upgrades to the race control complex, new screens and enhanced CCTV. The 360-degree VIP hospitality rooms above race control were also renovated. In addition, a complete repair of the venue’s on-site irrigation reservoir brought immediate environmental benefits, with wildlife returning to the man-made lake. Major upgrades to the Paddock Bar were completed by August 2023, with a full refurbishment and refurnishing.

The most substantial transformation came in 2024, when MSV delivered a multi-million Euro redevelopment programme, carried out in two phases to minimise disruption to the circuit’s busy calendar.

The first phase, completed ahead of the 2024 racing season, focused on essential preparatory works. This included a major resurfacing programme to remove long-established bumps – particularly at the start/finish line and on the approach to Turn 5 – with the resurfacing stretching from before the start/finish line up to Turn 2, and then from the approach to Turn 5 to just after Turn 7. Runoff at the existing Turn 13 was also extended, with barrier realignment taking place. EM light panels were installed as part of an upgraded marshalling and safety system, accompanied by improvements to the venue’s CCTV network and the progressive replacement of marshal posts. The initial phase also saw the re-profiling of Turn 6, transforming it from a slow left-hander into a much faster corner – effectively a continuation of Turn 5 – with drainage and runoff reworked accordingly.

The second phase of works commenced in July 2024 and was completed by the end of August. This phase saw the creation of a new 650-metre circuit extension, extending the main layout from 3.9km to 4.3km. Developed in partnership with Driven International, the extension introduced a new straight following Turn 10, leading to a banked hairpin at Turn 11 designed to promote overtaking. This is followed by a challenging fast right-left sequence through Turns 12 and 13. The new section features modern kerbing, with all runoff areas and safety installations tailored to the updated layout.

These extensive upgrades have delivered a faster, more flowing circuit, highly regarded by both drivers and riders. The changes, led by MSV Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer in partnership with Driven International, were shaped by driver and customer feedback, with particular attention given to eliminating previous surface imperfections and enhancing the overall experience for competitors and spectators alike.