Madrid has built a shiny new Formula One circuit, because what every city needs is more noise, more traffic, and a seasonal wetland turned into a parking lot. The 5.4km-long (3.3 miles) Madring, constructed in the north-east of the Spanish capital at a cost of €83m (£71m), is set to host the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix on 11-13 September. The circuit bills itself as "a perfectly connected circuit: just 20 minutes from the city centre" - which, frankly, sounds like a threat to anyone who values peace and quiet.

Local residents, however, are not revving with excitement. Tests using Formula Three cars produced average noise levels of 102.7 decibels, with peaks between 107.7 and 109.1 decibels. The legal limit for residential areas is 55 decibels. That's not a typo; the track is nearly twice as loud as the law allows. The Stop F1 Madrid platform, formed a year ago, is taking legal action. Spokesperson Antonio Ibáñez noted the disruption extends beyond eardrums: "It's not just about the dust and the noise," he said, pointing out that remote workers couldn't function and families with autistic children had to flee the area due to the distress.

Authorities, predictably, are spinning this as a win. Borja Carabante, Madrid's city councillor for urban planning, mobility, and environment, assures that acoustic panels will be deployed, and in a classic bit of motorsports logic, claims F1 cars are quieter than F3 cars, so "there'll be less noise on 13 September than there was during the tests." He also urged Madrileños to celebrate: "We should be congratulating ourselves that Madrid is hosting such an important and significant event that will put us at the epicentre of great sporting events." Regional minister Jorge Rodrigo echoed the sentiment, calling the disruption "worth a little bit of sacrifice" for the economic benefits and international positioning.

Environmentalists are less enthused. María Ángeles Nieto of the Madrid Environmentalist platform points out that over 700 trees were felled or moved, and a seasonal wetland home to amphibians was destroyed. She also notes that Madrid's summer temperatures can exceed 40C (104F), and the track will exacerbate the city's heat island effect. "There is no justification whatsoever" for subjecting residents to "a living hell," she said. The Madring's spokesperson insists they're taking "all measures within our reach to minimise disruption," but for now, the only thing revving louder than the engines is the collective groan of the neighbourhood.