Despite protests from environmentalists, the first racetrack in the Canary Islands is being built in Tenerife.

In Tenerife, the first racetrack in the Canary Islands has quietly, without much fanfare, begun construction. The history is long – the idea originated 35 years ago, but due to disputes and obstacles, implementation was delayed. Therefore, now that work has finally started, no one is in a hurry to make loud announcements. On the one hand, motorsport fans, of which there are many on the islands, are thrilled. On the other hand, environmentalists are sounding the alarm.

In the Los Duques de Atega area, near Granadilla de Abona, trucks are raising dust clouds that can be seen from afar. On a plot of land the size of 91 football fields (650,000 square meters), the ground is being leveled. There will be a 4-kilometer track with an 800-meter straight section and 16 turns. It is said that not only local racers, but also Formula 1 and Moto GP stars will be able to race here.

But everyone is afraid that construction will stop again, as it did in 2017 when the first contractor went bankrupt. Therefore, the Tenerife Automobile Sports Federation is silent instead of celebrating for now, saying they don't want to jinx it. The main threat now is lawsuits from the environmental organization "Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature" (ATAN). While the machinery is working, four cases are being considered in the courts regarding the access road to the track, the stands, the track itself, and the flood protection plan.

So far, one decision has invalidated the environmental impact report, another has confirmed its validity, and two more are awaiting court decisions. ATAN and local authorities are filing appeals and counterclaims. But work continues until there is a final court decision or an order to stop it.

Local authorities, currently represented by the Canarian Coalition and the People's Party, say they must fulfill the agreement concluded by the previous Cabildo de Tenerife team (PSOE and "Citizens"). In August 2023, they signed a contract with Sacyr Construcción and Servicios Bahillo for the construction of the racetrack for 44.1 million euros. If this contract is terminated now, huge compensations will have to be paid.

After leveling the ground, it will be necessary to adapt the area to the Flood Protection Plan, build stands, a paddock (an area for boxes, garages, and team trucks), and the track itself. There are also plans to create parking lots for spectators and a motocross track. In addition, the requirements of the Canary Islands Commission for Territorial Planning and the Environment regarding environmental impact must be met. But they assure that the track does not affect any protected area.

Among the conditions: any changes to the project must be reported to assess their environmental impact; local flora and fauna must be protected (and 21 species of birds listed in the Red Book live there); noise must be minimized; the soil must be protected from water during construction. And, of course, be careful with archaeological finds that may occur during the work.

Dámaso Arteaga, Councilor for Mobility and Roads of the Cabildo de Tenerife, assures that all legal requirements, both environmental and urban planning, are "strictly observed." He emphasizes that this is a public contract, "approved and signed by the previous authorities," and that the lawsuits "do not affect" the current work.

Arteaga also emphasizes that this project is a "long-standing dream" of the island's automotive world, which has thousands of fans. He hopes that top-level sporting events will be held here, as well as local competitions that attract many spectators.

Although officially none of the automobile and motorcycle sports federations are commenting on the situation, some sources say that the start of work is great news. They recall the success of the international Rally Gran Canaria 2024, which took place in May and brought together elite drivers and many spectators.

The Tenerife racetrack will be the first in the Canary Islands with international certification. It is supported by famous racers such as Carlos Sainz (Formula 1), Carlos Checa (Moto GP), and Christine Giampaoli Zonca, who participates in rally and off-road racing.

In a 2022 interview, Carlos Sainz said that the Tenerife track is "a great opportunity to have another track in Spain, and even more so on this island." He added that race tracks operate 365 days a year, they are used for testing cars, holding events, etc.

Sainz also noted that Tenerife has "the best weather in Europe in January or February," so it would be logical to come here for training. "The conditions on the island are more or less the same as for most of the Formula 1 season, spring and summer. It would be a guarantee to come to the island to prepare for these reasons," he said.

But not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Now that environmental issues are becoming increasingly important, the racetrack is being criticized. ATAN, an organization with 50 years of experience, opposes the construction and is filing lawsuits demanding its termination. They believe that the land on which the track is being built has high natural, historical, and archaeological value, and the damage could be irreparable.

ATAN has also tried to influence the decisions of local authorities. In December 2024, they proposed redirecting 13.3 million euros allocated to the track to combat climate change and improve the environment. But all political forces in the Cabildo rejected this proposal and supported the construction of the track.

Preparations for the work began a year ago, in September 2024. At that time, the construction management reported that there may be species in the project area that need protection, as well as archaeological finds. Cabildo Vice President Lope Afonso explained that the construction company had informed the competent authorities about this, and these warnings were taken into account.

Huge stands for 60,000 spectators, a track where you can accelerate to 320 kilometers per hour, support from international federations... "The world of motorsport on the island has fans with deep roots and traditions," says the promotional brochure. "Motorcycle and car lovers are counting the days until the checkered flag is waved for the first time at the Tenerife racetrack."