ACCIONA, in a joint venture with Eiffage Construcción, has completed construction of Madrid’s Formula 1 circuit in a record 16 months. The circuit hosted the Spanish Grand Prix in the capital from September 11 to 13 this year.

The deadline was met under particularly challenging conditions. Much of the work took place in an active urban environment next to the IFEMA exhibition center, with construction also subject to a mandatory 21-day shutdown due to other events held at the venue.

Comprehensive project management was key to achieving this milestone. ACCIONA, in a joint venture with Eiffage Construcción, coordinated specialized teams and concentrated construction and installation activities within a tight schedule to deliver the circuit on time.

The 5.4-kilometer track combines existing public roads, including Ribera del Sena, Vía Dublín and Francisco Umbral, with new sections built specifically for racing.

The circuit features 22 turns, two tunnels beneath the M-11 highway, and changes in elevation and gradient. Among its most distinctive features is a banked turn, one of the project’s main construction challenges, along with a track surface specifically designed to meet the demands of racing. All elements comply with the technical standards of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

The circuit was also designed as reversible infrastructure. Once the event is over, the surrounding area can be restored to its original configuration, eliminating any permanent impact on the city.

SUSTAINABILITY

ACCIONA used portable and hybrid photovoltaic systems, as well as battery systems, on the project. The company also introduced electric crane trucks and hybrid vehicles into its construction fleet, replacing combustion-engine vehicles.

Material reuse was another key focus of the project. ACCIONA reused material recovered from pavement milling as selected fill material and installed an on-site sustainable asphalt mixing plant to produce the asphalt mixes required for construction.

Throughout construction, ACCIONA continuously monitored noise and dust levels in nearby areas and relocated six olive trees affected by the work to a new location within IFEMA.

As a compensatory measure, ACCIONA plans to plant 1,005 specimens of native species in the Hortaleza and Barajas districts starting this November.

The Madrid racing circuit adds to ACCIONA’s track record in this type of infrastructure. The company built the Ciudad del Motor de Aragón circuit in Alcañiz (Teruel), completed in 2009. The project included a 5,300-meter track designed for top-level car and motorcycle racing, together with pit buildings, race control facilities, a medical center and access roads.

At the same complex, ACCIONA also built a 2,200-meter karting circuit and a 1,100-meter autocross circuit.

More recently, in 2021, the company completed the Nokian Tyres Technology Center in Santa Cruz de la Zarza (Toledo), featuring 17.4 kilometers of tire-testing tracks and 6.2 kilometers of access roads.