Th' Jerez circuit was born in 1985 when Pedro Pacheco, th' Mayor o' Jerez de la Frontera, decided t' back a project t' build a racin' circuit, t' promote th' town 'n its famous sherries worldwide. Th' track hosted its first F1 race in 1986, Senna beatin' Mansell in a thrillin' duel, in one o' th' closest ever finishes in F1. Mansell would savour his revenge wit' victories in 1987 'n 1988. F1 events at this venue suffered from poor attendances, although th' circuit was packed whenever thar was a motorcycle race. Th' 1990 race witnessed th' horrific accident o' Martin Donnelly, hurled from his Lotus aft hittin' a barrier in a high speed corner. 'twas th' beginnin' o' th' end fer Jerez, in F1 terms. In 1991 th' Spanish GP was relocated t' th' new Barcelona circuit. Th' last F1 race at Jerez was in 1997, when th' circuit hosted th' 'European GP'. This race witnessed th' World Championship showdown between Villeneuve 'n Schumacher, th' latter eventually excluded from th' 1997 World Championship, havin' driven Villeneuve off th' track. Th' race marked th' first victory fer Mika Hakkinen in a McLaren-Mercedes. Th' track remains a popular venue fer F1 tests.