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There's always a sense of intrigue surrounding the first visit to a new circuit, particularly a track like Valencia which is pretty much virgin asphalt. Of course, this is the world of Formula One, so what would normally be a sense of excitement and wonder manifested itself in a slightly different way to most other motorsport categories, with many convinced that some kind of motor-racing Armageddon was on the cards.
Fortunately, the track surface didn't break up, the tyres didn't suffer instant punctures, and the swingbridge didn't part at an inappropriate moment and drop a car into the harbour. Almost disappointingly to the naysayers, save for an attempt by a lone spectator to get onto the track on Friday, everything went to plan and the general consensus was that the organisers had done a good job.
This is no surprise, as F1 always has a certain sense of almost panic about new races, and there was plenty of concern, especially when Valencia's Friday morning rush-hour traffic had the temerity to create a few queues on the way into the circuit.
Yes, the track was rough around the edges - the circuit reverberated with the sound of sundry drilling, hammering and sawing throughout Thursday, and car parks mysteriously moved overnight, but by the time Robert Kubica pulled onto the track during Friday morning's first free practice it was business as usual.
