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Motor racing-Indycar returns to Europe after 20 year absence with home race for Palou

By Thomson Reuters Oct 23, 2026 | 2:15 PM

Oct 23 (Reuters) – US-based Indycar will race in Europe for the first time in 20 years with a July 2027 ​round at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya ‌in a multi-year deal announced on Friday.

The race will be a return home for Spain’s five-time Indycar champion Alex Palou, who was born near Barcelona.

• Indycar ‌last ​raced in Europe at the ⁠Assen circuit in the ⁠Netherlands in 2007. The championship has not raced outside North America since 2013, when there was a race in Brazil.

• Palou, ​29, has won the last four Indycar titles and also won the Indianapolis 500 ⁠in 2025.

• The Circuit de ⁠Catalunya hosted Formula One this ​year but drops off the calendar in 2027 ​and will alternate with Belgium until 2032.

• “We’ve been ‌witnessing his (Palou’s) extraordinary talent for years, and we know that his fans in Spain have been eager to see him compete live,” ⁠said Mark Miles, CEO of Indycar owner Penske Entertainment Corp.

• “It is an amazing opportunity, and it means so ⁠much to ‌me to have a race ⁠at home in Barcelona, it’s hard ​to ‌put into words. I know the ​fans are ⁠going to love it, and I think we are going to put on a great show,” said Palou.

• The 2027 race will be held on July 16-18.

(Reporting by Alan BaldwinEditing by ​Toby Davis)