Formula 1 driver Carlos Sáinz, ex-Moto GP star Carlos Checa, and female rally driver Christine GZ, are all in Tenerife as ambassadors for the new race track as some of Spain’s biggest motorsports stars. They led the presentation of the project on Tuesday night at the auditorium in Santa Cruz, which was attended by 1,500 people inside, and hundreds more outside who were protesting against the track.
The project, being supported and funded by the Cabildo de Tenerife, will take five years to complete with a budget of 51 million euros, and they claim the island will finally benefit from an infrastructure that will attract people and investment to the island, that is 30 years in the making.
On the other hand, protestors are claiming that there are environmental and economic reasons why it shouldn’t go ahead, claiming it is just something else the island doesn’t want, and that it is endangering some species of birds. According to the Cabildo all investigations have been completed on this front.
At one point during the protest, there was a clash between the police and some protestors on motorbikes, who had blocked the road and refused to move, with claims from some of them that the police became heavy-handed.
However, yesterday morning (Wednesday) all three were at the site of the new track to see where it is going to be built, what facilities it will have, and to drive a reconnaissance lap of the ‘track’, accompanied by the president of the Cabildo, Pedro Martín, and the vice-president, Enrique Arriaga, who are the two main protagonists of the project.
Martín highlighted the “enormous possibilities offered by the Tenerife Motor Circuit, the construction of which responds to an important social demand”, as was confirmed at the presentation ceremony”, and Enrique Arriaga insisted “that the circuit is an excellent opportunity for the island after so many years of waiting”.
The vice president thanked the drivers for their support of the project because, “having drivers of this calibre who believe in the possibilities of this infrastructure that will allow us to continue working with even more enthusiasm so that the circuit is a success”.
Carlos Sáinz stated at the end of the tour, and before leaving for France where he will drive in the French Grand Prix this weekend, that "it is a pleasure to see how many people are excited about this project. I've enjoyed this first lap around the circuit and now it's time to wish you the best of luck so that it goes ahead”.
Former Moto GP rider, Carlos Checa, assured after the reconnaissance lap that, “although the terrain has yet to take shape, you can already guess that the circuit is going to be top level and will compete with others worldwide".
The Tenerife Motor Circuit, located in Atogo (Granadilla de Abona), will have a 4.05km long lap, 16 corners and will run anti-clockwise. The aim is to have the approval of the FIA and FIM for Formula 1 and MotoGP testing, as well as competitive racing in other categories, and track test days.
