European Grand Prix - www.motorracinginternational.uk.com

Situated between the mountains and the sea, Valencia bears testament to its Roman, Arabic and Gothic pedigree while wide boulevards and avant-garde architecture can be found in the modern quarter. Once one of Europe's wealthiest cities, Valencia is now famed for its spectacular City of Arts and Sciences, an astonishing collection of space-age buildings close to the port. Life in the city spills down to the seafront where its prized marina will reverberate to the sounds of F1 engines. Hotel Sorolla is situated in the pedestrian zone at the very heart of town, within two miles of the circuit.

Valencia's first Grand Prix will go down as the race in which Massa finally shed his reputation as merely a good supporting player. The Brazilian blitzed qualifying in 2008 and won at a canter while Raikkonen saw his engine, and any genuine chance of retaining his title, go up in smoke. "This is an important moment in my career," pronounced Felipe, fully aware that Ferrari would now throw its entire weight behind his championship ambitions. Outclassed all weekend, Hamilton was content with a haul of eight points which served to extend his advantage over the closest challenger.