Test event in the pipeline as new F1 venue nears completion

The general manager behind F1's newest venue has confirmed a test event is in the pipeline ahead of the sport making its debut at the circuit later this year.

The Madring is set to open its doors to the Spanish Grand Prix on September 11-13 as F1 returns to the city for the first time in 46 years after Jarama, 20 miles north, last played host in 1981.

Despite the numerous uncertain stories that have circulated around the construction of the circuit over the past two years since F1 announced it would stage a race, work has continued apace and is on target for completion.

The Madring is a 5.4-kilometre, 22-turn track which utilises a mix of permanent circuit and the public roads around the Ifema Madrid complex.

Madring general manager Luis Garcia Abad said: "We continue to meet each of our major milestones on schedule, and day-to-day, there is a real buzz around the Ifema Madrid as we continue to build a world-class, long-term home for Formula 1 in Spain at the Madring.

"Work is still scheduled to be completed in the next few months as planned, at which point we will be ready to stage a test event and go through all the final checks with Formula 1 and the FIA ahead of the race in September."

The circuit features a blend of slow, medium and fast corners, offering drivers a technical challenge, along with ample overtaking opportunities.

Notable features include 'La Monumental', a 24% banked corner that is expected to become a circuit landmark, the high-speed 'Hortazela' and Turn 4 combination, the fastest point on the circuit at which cars are expected to reach speeds of 340kph.

At that point, they will also rise to 697 metres before descending downhill through the ‘Bunker’ section.

At Turn 18, spectators will also see the cars plunge into a tunnel before heading through the final sector of the lap.