Spanish GP circuit guide

Round 5: 7 May

The F1 teams know all about Barcelona because it is the testing bench for the world's most high-tech motor cars.

Teams spend many hours tesing on the circuit to the north of Catalan city before and during the season.

Circuit facts

Lap length: 2.936m (4.725km)

Race length: 65 laps

Total distance: 190.838 miles

The weather is the most reliable that Europe can offer, particularly in the early spring.

But the track is also regarded as a reliable indicator of whether a car will perform properly in the heat of competition.

The circuit possesses most of the characteristics found at others - providing a litmus test.

Form guide

Fond memories: Schumacher's superb 1996 win in the rain

Must do better: Frentzen has never scored a point here

Look out for: The winner might just be the champion

Tyre wear is severe, a factor which measures properly which rubber should be used on a dirty surface.

The start-finish straight is one of the longest around but it is around the corners where machines are truly found out.

The first turn is a thrilling place to watch overtaking as drivers leave braking to the very last moment.

A number of the others are of the long sweeping kind where drivers have to control the throttle and take the machine to the very edge of grip.

Roll of honour

1995: Michael Schumacher, Benetton

1996: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari

1997: Jacques Villeneuve, Williams

1998: Mika Hakkinen, McLaren

1999: Mika Hakkinen, McLaren

And there are enough slow corners for teams to make sure their car can handle properly when the wheel has to be turned a little tighter.

As a result it is no surprise that four of the last five races have been won by the eventual world champion, and the dominant car/driver combination of the year.

The exception was 1996, when rain handed the advantage to wet weather master Michael Schumacher.

1999 result

1. Mika Hakkinen, McLaren

2. David Coulthard, McLaren

3. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari

4. Eddie Irvine, Ferrari

5. Ralf Schumacher, Williams

6. Jarno Trulli, Prost

McLaren's reputation as having produced the best car of the past two seasons is confirmed by their successive one-two finishes, with David Coulthard runner-up in both 1998 and 1999.

But last year's race was a boring procession which led to debate about the sport's excitement levels.