Massa wins inaugural F1 fiesta in Valencia

Valencia hosted its inaugural F1 Grand Prix on this day in 2008, with Felipe Massa emerging as the triumphant victor, the Ferrari charger outpacing Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kubica on the day.

The race, held on the newly designed circuit, was an uneventful affair with Massa maintaining control from the very start.

The high point of the race's excitement occurred when Kimi Raikkonen attempted to exit the pits before the refueling hose was fully detached on his Ferrari, thus inadvertently knocking over the team's refueler man, Pietro Timpini, who sustained a fractured foot and some back discomfort.

Massa's victory narrowed the championship race gap to just six points between himself and the leader, Hamilton.

Four other European Grand Prix editions were held in Valencia before the venue was permanently scrapped from F1's agenda, and for the better!