3,300 Deltabloc protective walls secured the new
Formula 1 racetrack

Safety barrier systems from Kirchdorfer were successfully deployed at the new Formula 1 racetrack in Madrid. More than 3,300 Deltabloc concrete safety barriers protected drivers, track personnel, and spectators at the new Madring circuit – including twelve prototype barriers with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

From September 11 to 13, 2026, an international Grand Prix was held for the first time on the newly constructed street circuit in Madrid. The approximately 5.4-km-long semi-permanent circuit is secured by more than 3,300 Deltabloc concrete safety elements, emergency gates, and special pit wall elements to protect the pit lane.

For Deltabloc, a relatively small company based in Wöllersdorf, Lower Austria, and its parent company, the Kirchdorfer Group, the project represents a significant step in their commitment to safety in international motorsports. The specialized racetrack systems are based on the group’s many years of experience in the development and testing of vehicle restraint systems made of concrete and steel.

La Monumental – 550 m long with a 24% cross-slope

One of the most striking sections of the new circuit is the approximately 550-meter-long “La Monumental” curve. With a 24% bank angle, it ranks among the longest and most technically challenging banked turns in international motorsports. The exceptional geometry posed special requirements for track safety measures. While concrete safety barriers are typically installed on largely level surfaces, the elements in this steeply banked turn had to be structurally secured to prevent them from sliding.

To achieve this, the safety barriers were anchored to the subgrade using patented anchor bolts. These allow for rapid installation, repair, or removal in the event of a collision. The installation in Madrid also includes pit wall elements and emergency gate systems. This ensures that coordinated system solutions are available for the various sections of the track.

High-strength steel wire catch fences from the Swiss project partner Geobrugg were mounted on the concrete safety elements. The combined systems perform different functions: The concrete safety barriers serve to contain and controlledly redirect vehicles, while the catch fences help keep vehicle parts and debris away from the spectator and track marshal areas.

“In motorsports, safety systems must meet particularly high requirements, and the coordinated interaction of various elements – such as concrete safety barriers, safety fences, and emergency gates – is essential. With our many years of experience in the field of crash-tested concrete safety barriers, we are making an important technical contribution to the protection of drivers, track personnel, and spectators,” explains Thomas Edl, Managing Director of Deltabloc International GmbH.

CO₂-Reduced Barriers in Use for the First Time

Another unique feature is the twelve CO₂-reduced (*Carbon Balanced Product Stage (A1-A3) in accordance with SSB 100 mDF per EN 15804, ISO 14040) special elements installed in the pit lane area. These were produced by MABA Fertigteilindustrie GmbH at its Micheldorf site, Deltabloc’s Austrian sister company.

During their manufacture, measures to reduce the product’s CO₂ footprint were consistently implemented in accordance with the Deltabloc Carbon-Balanced concept. These include the use of special reinforcement as well as a CO₂-optimized concrete mix design featuring clinker-reduced cement and selected recycled and secondary raw materials as concrete admixtures. The special elements demonstrate how technical requirements for track safety can be reconciled with sustainable concrete technology.

Fourth Race Track with Deltabloc Systems

The Madring is the fourth racetrack where Deltabloc Race Track Safety systems are being used. The A1 Motor Park in Bulgaria was the first; further projects followed in Thailand and Argentina. Collaboration with regional manufacturers makes it possible to produce the concrete safety elements close to the respective project site.

“Deltabloc’s licensing model allows us to combine Austrian safety expertise with regional production and defined quality requirements. The completed international projects demonstrate the effectiveness of this model in race track projects that are exceptionally demanding from both a technical and logistical standpoint. Deltabloc will soon be seen at additional race tracks,” emphasizes João Paulo Pereira da Silva, Managing Director of the Kirchdorfer Group.

With the successful conclusion of the most recent race weekend, Deltabloc has passed a crucial test under real-world operating conditions. For the Kirchdorfer Group, the project represents a significant international milestone in the use of modular concrete safety barrier systems on racetracks in accordance with the latest safety standards.