Podemos!” – “We can!” The phrase has become Spain’s mantra during a summer of sporting success that has seen the national football team crowned European Champions, tennis star Rafael Nadal triumph at Wimbledon and the Olympics and cyclist Carlos Sastre ride to victory in the Tour de France. Racing driver Fernando Alonso may be off the pace this year but this same can-do attitude was in evidence last month as Valencia hosted the Grand Prix of Europe, making Spain the only country in the world to host two Formula One races.

The event failed to deliver many on-track thrills as Ferrari’s Felipe Massa won from pole position and there was little overtaking in evidence. But a race relatively low on drama will have been of little concern to the organisers or to Valencia’s local government, whose main objective was to stage a safe race on a street circuit that would show their city in the best possible light.