After the summer break, Formula One returns to action this week with thesecond visit of the season to Spain. The European Grand Prix, Round 11 ofthe 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, takes place on Sunday in thecoastal city of Valencia.

New on the calendar last year, the Valencia Street Circuit uses thepermanent roads surrounding the Juan Carlos I Marina which was the base forthe 32nd America's Cup in 2007. The 5.440km (3.380 mile) track closelyfollows the water's edge for the majority of the lap and uses a speciallyconstructed swing bridge to cross between the north and south sides of themarina.

The lap has a challenging and innovative layout with 25 turns giving it morecorners than any other circuit on the Formula One calendar.Surrounded by high concrete walls and with average speeds of 200kph, theValencia Street Circuit has a very different feel to somewhere like Monaco,with top speeds reaching in excess of 300kph.

ROSS BRAWN, TEAM PRINCIPAL

Q. What are the engineering considerations of the Valencia Street Circuit?

"Valencia presents an unusual engineering challenge as the circuit is quitedifferent from anywhere else on the calendar. It's not the type of streetcircuit that we have been used to racing around in Monaco; it's much moreopen and quite fast flowing with higher top speeds. The tall barriers givethe lap the feel of a street circuit but the run-off areas are quitegenerous compared to Monaco, helping to improve safety and giving thedrivers some margin for error at certain places of the lap.Traction is important here and the sectors of the lap which have astop-start nature make Valencia tough on the brakes. Cooling is also aconsideration in the high ambient temperatures but we do not expect toencounter any issues. The team has been working extremely hard sincereturning from our summer shutdown and everyone is looking forward to theracing getting underway again this weekend."

JENSON BUTTONQ. Are you looking forward to getting back in the car this weekend inValencia?

"It's going to be great to get back racing again after the summer break andeveryone at the team is looking forward to Valencia. I've kept pretty busyover the past few weeks with the London Triathlon at the start of the monthand then some time to relax with my family and friends but it's seemed likea long time without a race! Valencia is a beautiful city and the track isquite fun when it goes round the edge of the marina and over the bridge.It's quite challenging for the drivers with so many turns and the addedfactor of being surrounded by barriers means you have to maintain yourconcentration. There's been a lot of work going on at the factory followingour shutdown and with the cars at the front being so close at the moment, itwill be an interesting weekend."

RUBENS BARRICHELLO

Q. What did you think of Valencia and the new street circuit after the firstrace there last year?"Valencia is a cool city and proved to be a great venue for the EuropeanGrand Prix last season. The challenge of a new circuit is always excitingand even more so this year as we should be in a much better position tochallenge for a good result this time. The first part of the lap is quickwith the long pit straight followed by a curved right-hander before theslower section leading up to the bridge over the marina and then you're downonto another curved straight. The second half of the lap feels more like astreet circuit as you head away from the water and the third long straightends with a tight hairpin at Turn17 which is the best overtaking opportunity. The final part of the lap isquite fast with some sweeping corners before the tight left-hander whichtakes you back out onto the pit straight. It's a very different type ofcircuit to the classic image of a street track such as Monaco."

Valencia Street Circuit Stats

Circuit Length: 5.419km Race Distance: 308.883km Number of Laps: 57 

Full Throttle: 56% Brake Wear:  High Tyre Compounds: Soft / Super Soft Downforce Level: High 7/10 Tyre Usage:  Medium Average Speed: 200kph (124mph) 

Race Weekend Schedule (all times are local)

Friday 21 AugustPractice 1: 1000 - 1130   Practice 2: 1400 - 1530

Saturday 22 AugustPractice 3: 1100 - 1200   Qualifying: 1400 - 1500

Sunday 23 AugustRace: 1400