Valencia layout set for major revamp

Just one day after representatives of the Valencian government met with Formula One commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone in London to talk about the possibility of hosting a race in the future, the circuit has announced a project to improve the facilities.

The plan is to make the layout faster and more spectacular, but organisers said they intend to keep the track's main characteristic unchanged: the whole circuit will be visible from every grandstand.

With the new layout, the length of the track will grow from four to 4.4km. The project will include the addition of a new straight, wider turns and two hairpins to improve overtaking, replacing a twisty and slow part of the circuit.

"We have decided to work ahead of a possible decision to include the circuit on the Formula One calendar," said the track's general manager Eduardo Nogues.

"Formula One is the benchmark for every racing facility and a dream for all the Valencian racing fans, so now it's the time to show to Ecclestone and everyone involved in F1 that Valencia wants to host a race and that's why the stands will be filled on April (for the GP2 race)."

Valencia will host the first round of the GP2 championship this year.