For veteran motorsports fans in Spain, Madrid’s Jarama Circuit holds a special place in racing history. Long before the dream of the Madring circuit became a reality, Jarama was a challenging and rewarding track for drivers. Legends like Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda, and Gilles Villeneuve all competed on its demanding asphalt, but the circuit eventually fell into disuse due to urban planning issues and the evolution of the sport.
Now, Formula E is breathing new life into the historic venue. Recent favorable conditions allowed Jarama to host post-season testing in 2024, and the championship organization, teams, and drivers were so impressed that negotiations quickly progressed. Just months later, the FIA gave its approval for Madrid to host a race, culminating in the ePrix at Jarama this Saturday – marking a golden year for motorsports in the Community of Madrid. The expected economic impact is 100 million, a significant boost to the region.
The excitement doesn’t stop there. In September, the Spanish Grand Prix of Formula 1 will be held at the new Madring circuit, currently finalizing its last details. Jarama isn’t viewing this as a setback, but rather as an opportunity. They are providing the sporting and technical expertise to make the September Formula 1 event a must-see on the calendar. This collaboration highlights a growing synergy between the two racing series, with Formula 1 increasingly adopting innovations seen in Formula E.
Nacho Fernández, General Manager of the Madrid Jarama Circuit, has been a key driver in bringing the unique all-electric championship to the capital. His dedication extended to meticulous details, even researching the number of plates, dishes, and cutlery needed for the ePrix weekend – a task that took him to the 2025 season finale in London.
— When you think about organizing a race, you imagine the asphalt, the cars… but not the kitchens.
— And they are fundamental. You have to feed a lot of people. The experience has to be complete, 360 degrees, including everything related not only to VIP hospitality, but too to the people in the lawn and in the stands. You also have to give them sandwiches, drinks… so they can last all day.
— This isn’t the first World Championship to come to Jarama, not by any means, but it is the first major race the circuit will host in this era. What does that indicate for you?
— This is probably the culmination of a process we started to transform our facilities. It has been more than four decades since there was Formula 1, but there have been 16 Grand Prix motorcycle races and 38 editions of the European Truck Championship. This year we will celebrate the 39th. Someone said the other day that we are an ‘old school’ circuit, and we are. I usually add now powered with new energy: a circuit of the old school powered by a new energy.
— Now, with Madring and the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Jarama seems to be in the second part of the headline. But for you, it must be huge, especially after the renovation.
— With respect to Formula 1, I would also say that we are collaborating with Ifema and with the Community of Madrid, with the support of the Spanish Federation. The entire sports team of the circuit will be the provider of sports services for the event. The race will not be held at Jarama, but there will also be a Jarama spirit in Formula 1. It is magnificent that both things are happening in Madrid: that we have the Formula E World Championship and the Formula 1 World Championship, in March and September. That also gives us the opportunity to do other activities throughout the year.
We are working very closely with the Community of Madrid on the concept of how motorsport and road mobility intersect and reinforce each other. Formula E is the great innovation bank in electric mobility and Formula 1 is in hybrid technology. For a circuit that has ‘only’ 59 years of history, continuing to make history is very exciting for us.
Madrid, ¡qué día tan increíble! ⚡️🏁
Gracias @CitroenEspana y @FIAFormulaE por la oportunidad de compartir esta pasión por el automovilismo con todos ustedes.
Después de 15 años viviendo en esta hermosa ciudad, me llena de orgullo haber sido parte de un Show Run tan especial! pic.twitter.com/XSHIVJXrQ9— Tatiana Calderon (@TataCalde) March 15, 2026
— What are the attendance forecasts? Because I understand that everything has been sold out.
— Yes, everything has been sold out. We have released new tickets for sale because the first batch sold out. We were even surprised: on the day of the presentation with President Ayuso, we sold practically 2,000 tickets at once. Right now we are at around 40,000 spectators for the entire weekend. There is also activity from this Friday with the ‘Girls on Track’ project, with schools and with activities linked to sustainability. And on Sunday we have the rookies test. The grandstand tickets are practically sold out; a few remain.
— To what extent is this a very personal project for you? I remember our meeting in London and you told me that you wanted to get involved in this to the kitchen, literally.
— First, it’s a great challenge. We are talking about a World Championship with FIA standards and with Liberty Media behind it, the multinational promoter of Formula 1. I was telling my team the other day, in a session before these last weeks of work, that in 2017, when we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the circuit, we had a slogan: ’50 years making history’. I told them that we are still making history and that we are starting the new 50 years to continue doing so.
On a personal level, it makes me very excited. Also, there is something very nice: we still have people on our team who were in the 1981 Grand Prix or in the last Grand Prix motorcycle races of the 90s. And we also have a young team that has recently joined. This event is serving to transfer that heritage of those who were in those events to those who are now collecting it with great enthusiasm.
— Let’s talk about cars. The arrival of this ePrix in Madrid coincides with a change in regulations in Formula E. And it also serves to link with the other major category: it is no longer the poor brother. Some Formula E cars have straight-line performance that Formula 1 cars would envy.
— They are two different disciplines. In both, you race with cars, but they are different categories. Formula 1 is evolving towards hybrid and electric… For us, it is fundamental that this is the last year that the Gen3 is raced. The Gen4 will arrive next year. The Gen4 cars have already tested the circuit and respond very well to that new generation. I also think that we all have to make efforts — teams, manufacturers and sports authorities — to find formulas that are more friendly to the environment. So we are delighted to welcome this Gen 3 and for the 4 to come, which will be a great surprise.
— We are in March 2026, but I know that you are already thinking about 2027. What projects are on the table for Jarama?
— Formula E has come to the circuit to stay. We have an agreement for several seasons, so we will repeat. We will also continue with our traditional appointments. We have had 38 editions of the European Truck Championship and this year we will celebrate the 39th. I am the president of the truck commission in the FIA, so the trucks will continue, both at the European level and in the Spanish Championship. Our Race speed championship has also grown: for the last two seasons it has been raced not only at Jarama, but also at other circuits, with very interesting grids. This year we have celebrated the Winter Series with the Spanish F4 Championship, the Eurocup-3, the Toyota GR Cup and the Clio Cup, and all that will return. The F4 drivers really enjoy a technical and special track like Jarama.
And also the circuit is not just a sports facility: it is a great training space, the headquarters of our driving school and a place for corporate events. If the 2026 calendar is intense, the 2027 calendar will be even more so.
