Barcelona Circuit President Says F1, MotoGP Remain Lucrative Despite Recession In Spain

Barcelona Circuit President Vicente Aguilera "shared figures regarding the impact that F1 and MotoGP have had on Spain in recent years," according to Manuel Franco of AS. Aguilera: "During these difficult economic times, during the worst crisis that there has been in Spain in the last 40 years, we have been able to reverse the situation and finish with positive numbers." Aguilera said that F1 attendance in '11 was 64,000, with that number increasing to 81,000 in '12 and 94,000 this year. This "included an increase in spectators from outside Spain, as the percentage of foreign fans has increased from 30% in '11 to 60% this year." This "has led to a bigger financial impact regionally and nationally -- from €160M in '12 to €192M ($264M) this year -- with €138M ($190M) coming during the Spanish Grand Prix." Aguilera said in terms of MotoGP, "We have also passed from 80,000 spectators last year to 92,000 this year." This included a total economic impact of €43M ($59.2M) (AS, 12/18).