Circuito de Venta Cabrera at Montserrat

Spain has had countless street circuits, some very famous and some rather obscure. One of the more intriguing in the latter category is the Circuito de Venta Cabrera at Montserrat, near Valencia.

While most Spanish street circuits were short city courses, Venta Cebrera was very different: a 10.3 km course with long straights and six curves, of which three slightly banked. I have details of two race meetings:


Circuito Montserrat - Venta Cabrera
09.11.1969

Copa Nacional TS (10 laps = 103 km)

Winner: Salvador Cañellas (Renault) in 49.05,3 = 125.895 km/h
Also set fastest lap in 4.51,7 = 127.116 km/h

I Trofeo del Circuito Montserrat - Venta Cabrera (6 laps = 61.8 km)

Winner: Jorge de Bagration (Porsche 911) in 23.10,7 = 159.950 km/h
Also set fastest lap in 3.47,9 = 162.702 km/h

The only photo of the circuit I have found is from this meeting.

Circuito Montserrat - Venta Cabrera
20.12.1970

Race over 45 minutes:

Winner: José Manuel Lencina (BMW 2002 TI) 11 laps in 45.03,6
Also set fastest lap in 3.59,3

This latter meeting would have been the final and deciding round of the 1970 Spanish speed championship, but as it turned out the number of entries was too low and the meeting lost its points-paying status as a result. This handed the title to Jorge Bäbler, much to the disappointment of his nearest rival José Manual Lencina, who won but did not receive any points.

I believe the 1970 meeting was the last at the Venta Cabrera circuit, but I'm sure there were more meetings than just these two.

In the 1960s, the circuit had already been used for special stages of rallies, for example a special test of the Rallye del R.A.C.E. on 01.05.1964, when C. Godia (Porsche) clocked a new lap record in 4.09,6 = 148 km/h.

The earliest reference to the circuit is from around 1930, when there seem to have been plans to organise a combined auto and motorcycle meeting, although it is not clear if this took place. The circuit also pops up in a 1947 calender of Spanish motorcycle races, so it may have been around for quite a few years.

It's a bit of a long shot, but I'm hoping someone here can tell me a little bit more about this fascinating circuit.

Venta Cabrera is a forgotten circuit. This is what I have found so far:

25/03/62 III Rallye Fallas – “Trofeo Barreiros” (2nd & 3rd stages)
24/03/63 IV Rallye Fallas – “Trofeo Barreiros” (2nd stage)
05/04/64 V Rallye Fallas – “Trofeo Barreiros” (2nd stage)
01/05/64 XII Rallye Nacional del Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE) (1st stage)
03/04/65 XIII Rallye Nacional del Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE) (4th stage)
01/04/66 XIV Rallye Nacional del Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE) (1st stage)
01/05/66 VII Rallye Fallas – “Trofeo Barreiros” (2nd stage)
20/12/70 IV Rallye Novopán (2nd stage)

Nothing new. As you have already stated it was mainly used to held rallye stages. I still have to search through some 'Formula' magazines in order to check whether there were more TS races (BTW the championship was born in 1969).

Another photo (not a good one, I guess): Rallye Fallas, 1966, Jaime Juncosa & Jaime Juncosa Jr, Fiat Abarth:



On the 1930 race meeting: it was finally run on January 19. 'Irasusta' (Scott 500 cc) and 'Mazarredo' (Chrysler) were the winners for both motorcycle and auto categories (or races?). There was a second meeting planned (10th of August), although I don't know whether it took place. The relationship between both circuits –do they share the same layout?– would be a point to have into account.

That's all. Sorry for not being more helpful.


Narcís.

Edited by a_tifoosi, 10 May 2012 - 20:51.

Rob,

I wonder if this could be the rough outline of the circuit.

It is pretty close in terms of length and the northernmost corner which is quite overgrown is banked if you look on Streetview - see seperate link as I can't work out how to dump the picture and upload it .



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

http://maps.google.c...,59.84,,0,16.71

Chris

@Narcís: thanks for the info, that is certainly very helpful!

I don't believe there were more Copa TS races there, as you say the championship was established in 1969, but Venta Cabrera wasn't on the calender anymore in subsequent years.

For the 1930 race, perhaps the layout was (slightly) different, as I recall a length of 12 km mentioned somewhere. But the name Circuito de Venta Cabrera certainly goes back that far.

It looks like the circuit was also used for bicycle races.

@Chris: that is exactly what my guess would be as well. Reminds me of Chimay.

The II Circuito de Venta Cabrera indeed took place on 10.08.1930, now for motorcycles only. The circuit measured 12 km. Overall winner was Luis Morodor in 2 hours 7 minutes.

I have checked a complete run of 'Fórmula' from 1966 –when it was born– to 1971, and I have only found another race (rallye) not yet listed:

1968: IX Rallye Fallas – “Trofeo Barreiros” (1st stage)

Regarding the Copa TS race of 1969:

1. Salvador Cañellas (CA) 49'05''3
2. Salvador Benlloch (LE) 49'41''6
3. Emilio Zapico (CE) 49'55''5
4. Francisco Anet (CA) 49'55''5
5. José Mª Clot (CA) 49'56''3
6. José Pavon (NO) 49'56''6
7. Víctor Puig (CA) 50'48''4
8. Juan Mundet (CA) 50'48''9
9. Julián Rosende (CE) 50'50''8
10. Gerardo van Dulken (CE) 50'51''3
11. Salvador Sansa (CA) 51'06''2
12. Pedro Gallud (LE) 51'11''2
13. Ernesto Sugrañes (CA) 51'28''7

(Federation): CA=Catalunya (Catalonia), LE=Levante (East), CE=Centro (Centre), NO=Noroeste (Northwest)

I'll scan a few photos from this race.


Narcís.

Thank you, Narcís. I will send you a PM on a different matter.

I'll scan a few photos from this race.

As promised, a few images from 1969's Copa TS race held at Montserrat (sorry for the poor quality):

Clot leading in front of Zapico, Pavón and Anet.


Cañella behind Clot's R8.


Benlloch followed by Cañellas.


The winner, Salvador Cañellas:


Finally, the track layout:



Narcís.

Great, thanks Narcís! I'm glad to see Chris and I were spot on... Don't you just love a circuit over the open roads like this ?

I reckon turns 1, 2 and 3 were banked, but looking in Google Street View, it would appear the first photo you posted in this thread, from the 1966 Rallye Fallas, was taken at the hairpin just beyond turn three (the wall on the inside is still there). So I suspect the quicker turn three was a later addition.

Edited by Rob Semmeling, 24 May 2012 - 08:40.

So I suspect the quicker turn three was a later addition.

Shades of Mettet eh Rob !

Yes, come to think of it!