IndyCar Set for Historic European Return

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has secured a multi-year agreement to host an IndyCar Series race from July 2027, bringing North America's premier single-seater championship to Spain for the first time. The event, confirmed by sources to Motorsport.com and reported by El Periódico, will count as a full championship round with points awarded to drivers and manufacturers. This will be IndyCar's first race outside North America since 2013, when it last competed in São Paulo, and its first appearance in Europe under the current series identity. The last top-level American open-wheel race on the continent was in 2007, when the Champ Car series held an event in Assen, Netherlands.

Palou's Role and Regional Ambitions

Five-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou, a native of Barcelona, has played a key role in attracting the series to his home region. The Catalan government, led by the Generalitat de Catalunya, initiated negotiations in June 2026 to secure a major motorsport event following the introduction of a rotation system that excludes Formula 1 from the Montmeló circuit in 2027. F1 is scheduled to return in 2028, 2030 and 2032. Ignasi Armengol, director of Fira Circuit, the organisation responsible for managing the venue, previously described hosting IndyCar as "a dream", acknowledging the difficulty of the negotiations. The deal is expected to be officially announced in the coming days, with the contract pending final signature.

  • The race will take place in July 2027
  • It marks IndyCar’s first European round since 2007
  • Barcelona becomes the only European stop on the calendar
  • The agreement covers multiple years

Boost for Circuit and Local Economy

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hopes the event will draw a crowd comparable to the 55,500 spectators who attended the 6 Hours of Barcelona endurance race in October 2026. Organisers anticipate strong interest from local fans, European motorsport followers and the established American fanbase. IndyCar has not issued an official comment, but senior sources confirm the agreement is finalised. The series has previously expressed interest in expanding internationally, with discussions also underway for potential events in Brazil and Colombia.

"The truth is that we're working towards it, but it's very difficult, honestly, very difficult.", Ignasi Armengol, director of Fira Circuit, in an interview with Motorsport.com

Primary sources: Generalitat de Catalunya. Direcció General de Turisme, act.gencat.cat. Reported by motorsport.com, Jose Carlos de Celis, autoracing1.com, sport.es, sportsbusinessjournal.com.