Fleetway Travels

Fleetway Travels: Experiencing the Grand Prix 2017

A thrilling, bucket-list experience, the F1 Grand Prix is a must do for any and all sports fans. We sent Harry from Fleetway HQ in London to the Barcelona races, and he’s shared his experiences with us across all three days. Read on for an inside-scoop on what the Grand Prix with Fleetway includes...

TOUCHDOWN

Touching down in Barcelona a few days before the Grand Prix, I could immediately feel a real buzz around the city. Formula 1’s popularity and support in Spain was apparent, and when you add to that a sea of Ferrari and Mercedes cap-wearing fans, that had travelled from all over Europe or the rest of the world to be there, the stage was set perfectly for a weekend of exhilarating motor sport. Just a short transfer from the airport and we were checking into the Renaissance Barcelona Fira Hotel, a perfect base for the weekend. Chic, comfortable rooms were a short elevator ride away from the vast, quirky foyer decorated with interesting plant motifs - this provided a very welcome break from the hot Catalonian sun.

QUALIFYING RACE

Bright and early on Saturday morning is when the excitement really started building - we jumped on our coach transfer to the Circuit de Catalunya, and after a speedy ticket check, we were in! Walking around, taking in the surroundings and soaking up the atmosphere, we took our seats ready for the racing to begin. Before the official Formula 1 qualifying kicked off, a number of slick Formula 3 and rally car races served to get us in the mood, and above anything else, get us accustomed to the unmistakable noise that these cars make!

When the qualifying race came around, it was evident to almost everyone that Lewis Hamilton was in fast form, as he coasted into pole position quickly – this made the prospect of the race the next day all the more exciting! However, perhaps the biggest highlight of the day was watching a struggling Fernando Alonso manage to fight his way into 7th place on the grid to the frenzied delight of the home fans! What a response from the crowd!

RACE DAY

Our swift transfers to the track on race day were much the same, but already the feel of the day was very different. A tension was building that could only be broken by the glare of the green lights, and the start of the race. For the British fans, the start of the race was a disaster! Lewis Hamilton, a favourite, was already overtaken before the first corner and by the time the racing cars sped past our seats, it was the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel, not the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, that lead the pack. He fought valiantly, however, and in a thrilling turn of events he came back to win the race and make our day! After a day of nail-biting excitement in under the Barcelonan sun, we retired to the roof terrace of the Renaissance Barcelona Fira for a few cocktails and a dip in the refreshing rooftop pool. A lovely end to a weekend packed full of sport and unforgettable moments.

Do we have you excited to book on for 2018?