F1 Pre-Season Testing, Valencia If you are an avid fan of Formula 1 racing you will of course already know that the 2011 pre-season testing is due to start in Valencia at the end of January, but did you know that for a nominal fee you can go along to the Cheste circuit to watch? 

The official Formula 1 testing will soon be underway at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Cheste, Valencia. Fernando Alonso will of course be there behind the wheel of his brand new Ferrari along with all your favourite teams and drivers from the World Championship:  Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, Sauber, Williams, Lotus Renault, Toro Rosso, Virgin, Hispania, Lotus and Force India.

The testing is open to the public from 1st-3rd February with general admission starting at 5€ per day for each of the three days giving you access to unreserved seating in the Yellow, Blue or Green Stands. If you prefer the Orange Stands, at the end of the start/finish straight, or the Boxes, the price will be 10 euros per person per day, children under 10 years are free.

Ticket Prices for F1 Pre-Season Testing at Valencia Ricardo Tormo circuit You can buy your tickets to the pre-season testing either online via Servientrada de Bancaja. in person from El Corte Ingles or from the ticket office at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit.

Plus, if you buy tickets to attend the testing you can benefit from a 15% discount on tickets for the F1 GP de Europa held on the Valencia Street Circuit from 24th to 26th June 2011.  Fans must present their pre-season testing ticket in order to obtain the 15% discount on tickets for the Grand Prix in all the stands except the "Balcón Grao' (grey stand) and stands P1 and P2. This promotion is only valid for purchases made up to 3rd February.  Again the GP tickets can be purchased either online via Servientrada de Bancaja or in person from El Corte Ingles or from the ticket office at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit.

Don't miss out on the Formula 1 official training sessions, it's where the season begins!

The Ricardo Tormo Circuit

Design
This 4km circuit is based on an American design enabling full visibility of all parts of the track allowing the spectators to follow the race at all times albeit with the assistance of a pair of binoculars.

Who is Ricardo Tormo? (September 7, 1952 - December 28, 1998)
Tormo won the 1978 FIM 50cc world championship as a member of the Bultaco factory racing team. He won the title again in 1981 on a privately backed Bultaco. He was also a three-time 50cc Spanish national champion and a four-time 125cc national champion.

During the 1984 season, Tormo suffered severe leg injuries in a crash while he was test riding a motorcycle in an industrial park near the Derbi motorcycle factory in Barcelona. His serious injuries ended his racing career.

When Tormo died from leukemia in 1998 the racetrack in Valencia was re-named the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in his honour.

Where is it?
The circuit is located in Cheste which is just 20km out of Valencia, 5km from the Valencia Airport, on the Madrid (A-3) motorway.  For more details please visit their website http://www.circuitvalencia.com/