Barcelona to fill looming F1 void as eye-catching contract signed - report

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has signed an agreement to bring IndyCar to Europe after the success of Spain's Alex Palou, according to reports.

The former host track of the Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona is set to enter a rotational period on the grand prix calendar along with the Belgian Grand Prix, with the Spanish race set to take place in even-numbered years from 2028 until 2032. 

Having already lost the formal 'Spanish GP' title to the new Madrid in the capital, Barcelona was keen to fill the void with a high-profile championship - and, according to Motorsport.com, has penned a deal with IndyCar to bring the series to Europe for the first time ever.

The track also recently hosted the World Endurance Championship's Barcelona Six Hours.

Since the Indy Racing League ran first in 1996, the series has not raced in Europe, with events in North America, South America, Australia, and Japan, whilst the rival CART series did race in Europe until it eventually folded into the IRL to create what is known as IndyCar today. 

The race is expected to feature in the second-half of the calendar, with IndyCar currently only having published its 2027 schedule for 10 rounds up to June 27th's trip to Road America.

The news comes after the astonishing success of Alex Palou, now a five-time series champion, who has established himself as one of the all-time greats since his debut in 2020.

In the seven full seasons Palou has completed in IndyCar, he has won five titles and in 2025, claimed his first oval victory, doing so in the Indianapolis 500. 

Only A.J Foyt (seven) and former Ganassi team-mate Scott Dixon (six) have won more championships than Palou, who was born in Barcelona province in Catalonia.