If you are a Formula One fan, watching at least one Grand Prix live is probably high up on your bucket list. You can obviously go local – that is if you are fortunate enough to reside in one of the 21 host countries. Or you can satisfy your wanderlust, travel to an exotic destination and get your high-speed fix.
As with all sporting events there are a few F1 tracks that dare to be different. Some are street circuits; others are custom built on reclaimed land and others still are surrounded by nature.
Here are three Grand Prix circuits that offer that little bit extra in terms of all-round experience:
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve - Canadian GP
What is so special about the Canadian GP? Well for one it takes place on a man-made island in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River.
That does not mean you have to row or swim across the mighty ‘Kaniatarowanenneh’ - that’s Mohawk for big waterway by the way - to get your fill of Formula 1 or NASCAR racing. There are a couple of bridges and a river shuttle connecting the now famous Notre Dame Island to Montreal.
What is remarkable about the island location of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is that it is really a pile of rubble that has been reshaped into a leisure and recreational area.
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The story goes that when the Montreal Metro was built around 50 years ago, 15 million tons of excavated rock was dumped into the river. It is on this track of reclaimed land that the notoriously unpredictable circuit was constructed.
At the Canadian Grand Prix, it is all about straight line riverside racing with a touch of inclement weather thrown in!
Marina Bay - Singapore GP
The Singapore GP is a once in a lifetime must-see event for a number of reasons. It is the first ever night race and one of three grands prix held on a street circuit.
What is special about Marina Bay is it’s backed by the spectacular Singapore skyline. It also follows the waterfront promenade in several places.
On the night of the race the entire area is lit up like fairyland. In the days - and nights - preceding the race Marina Bay is transformed into a vibrant entertainment zone.
The circuit itself traces the history of the city traversing the likes of Raffles Boulevard and Stamford Road and passing the Merlion Park with its massive sculpture of the city’s iconic mascot.
In Singapore the humidity and heat add a whole new dimension to racing and with a circuit that is defined by twists and turns, driver focus is key.
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - Belgian GP
Not that long ago the Belgian GP was basically a road race contested on winding public roads in and around the villages of Francorchamps and Stavelot.
It was a treacherous 14 km circuit that claimed the lives of too many young men. After being scratched off the F1 calendar the track was shortened and modified to enhance driver safety.
Today the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is still a major challenge. When the localised wet weather barrels in it is a test of different kind as the track varies from slippery to bone dry.
With the Belgian GP it is the surrounds that are breath taking. The circuit is built at the base of the High Fens and in the thickly forested region of the Ardennes.
It is a race immersed in nature and one that takes place on a fast, hilly track that supports top speeds of 330 kph!
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