The 3.850 km (2.392 mi) circuit was designed by John Hugenholtz, also known for his work on the Suzuka International Racing Course, and built by Alessandro Rocci in 1967 on arid scrub land. The track quickly became a prominent venue for both national and international motorsport events.
The original Jarama circuit was characterized by a short main straight and a preponderance of tight, twisting corners, making overtaking exceptionally difficult. This layout presented a significant challenge to drivers and teams. Gilles Villeneuve famously demonstrated his defensive driving prowess at the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix, holding off four faster cars throughout the race despite having a less aerodynamically efficient car. His Ferrari 126CK, while powerful, lacked the ground effect aerodynamics of the Ligiers, McLarens, Williams, and Lotuses pursuing him. This victory proved to be the last of Villeneuve’s career. By 1981, the circuit was deemed too narrow for modern Formula One racing, leading to the end of its tenure as a Grand Prix venue. However, it continued to host a variety of other motorsport disciplines.
The corpus does not detail specific corners, but emphasizes the overall character of the circuit as consisting of “tight, twisty corners” that made overtaking difficult. This characteristic defined the racing experience at Jarama.
The circuit underwent a lengthening in 1991, and further upgrades were completed in 2015. The corpus does not specify what prompted these changes, but the 1991 lengthening suggests an attempt to address the concerns about the track’s narrowness that had led to its removal from the Formula One calendar.
The corpus does not detail any specific crashes that drove subsequent reform.
Jarama has hosted a diverse range of motorsport events beyond Formula One and motorcycle Grand Prix racing. These include the World Touring Car Championship, with the 1987 Jarama 4 Hours won by Roberto Ravaglia and Emanuele Pirro in a BMW M3. Klaus Ludwig set pole position for the same race in a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth with a time of 1:31.434, while Andy Rouse recorded the fastest lap at 1:33.710, also driving a Sierra Cosworth. The circuit has also hosted sports car racing, including events from the BPR Global GT Series, FIA GT Championship, IMSA European Le Mans Series, and the Le Mans Series (hosting the 1000 km of Jarama in 2006). Endurance racing has also been a feature, with the FIM Endurance World Championship racing at Jarama in 1969 and 1983. Motorcycle racing continues to be a significant part of the circuit’s history, with various national and international events held there. More recently, the circuit has hosted Formula E’s Madrid ePrix, TCR Spain, and the FIA European Truck Racing Championship.
As of March 2026, the circuit is known as Circuito de Madrid Jarama - RACE. Klaas Zwart holds the unofficial lap record with a time of 1:16.994, set in a demonstration event with a Jaguar R5 in 2017. Current official race lap records are not detailed in the corpus. The circuit continues to operate as a busy motorsport venue, hosting events throughout the year, including touring car, truck, and motorcycle championships, as well as the Formula E Madrid ePrix.
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