# Interlagos Circuit

The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Autódromo de Interlagos or simply Interlagos, is a 4.309 km (2.677 mi) motorsport circuit located in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. It was inaugurated on 12 May 1940, by the federal intervener of the São Paulo province, Adhemar de Barros. In 1985, the circuit was renamed to honor the Formula 1 driver José Carlos Pace, who died in a plane crash in 1977. Attached to its facilities there is a kart circuit named after Ayrton Senna. It runs counterclockwise.
It is internationally known for hosting the Lollapalooza music festival. It has hosted the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix since 1973. It also hosted the Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix in 1992, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft in 1996, the FIA GT1 World Championship in 2010, and the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2012 to 2014. As the major racetrack in the country it also hosted many previous and active national championships such as Stock Car Brasil, Campeonato Sudamericano de GT, Fórmula Truck, Copa Truck, Formula 3 Sudamericana, Brazilian Formula Three Championship, and Mil Milhas Brasil. In addition, the Prova Ciclística 9 de Julho road cycling race was held at the venue from 2002 to 2006 and from 2008 to 2013.
The contract is prolonged until 2030, although profits from tobacco advertising have been cut from the equation since such advertising was banned in 2006.

## History

The land on which the circuit is located was originally bought in 1926 by property developers who wanted to build housing. Following difficulties partly due to the 1929 stock market crash, it was decided to build a racing circuit instead; construction started in 1938 and the track was inaugurated on 12 May 1940. Its design was inspired by tracks such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Roosevelt Raceway in the United States, Brooklands in England, and Montlhéry in France.
The traditional name of the circuit, Interlagos (in Portuguese, "between lakes"), comes from its location on the neighborhood of the same name, a region between two large artificial lakes, Guarapiranga and Billings, built in the early 20th century to supply the metropolitan region of São Paulo with water and electric power. The name "Interlagos" was suggested by the French architect and urban planner Alfred Agache after the Interlaken region located in Switzerland. Interlagos was renamed in 1985 to "Autódromo José Carlos Pace" in honor of the Brazilian Formula One driver José Carlos Pace, who died in a plane crash in 1977.
Formula One started racing at Interlagos in 1972, when the event was run as a non-championship race (won by Argentinean Carlos Reutemann). The first World Championship Brazilian Grand Prix was held there in 1973, and it was won by defending Formula One World Champion and São Paulo local Emerson Fittipaldi. Fittipaldi won the race again the following year, and José Carlos Pace won his only race at Interlagos in 1975.
Due to safety concerns with the 7.960 km (4.946 mi) original layout, including a bumpy surface, the inadequate barriers, deep ditches and embankments, the last Formula One race held on the original Interlagos was in 1980, when it was nearly cancelled after protests by many Formula One drivers – including defending world champion Jody Scheckter. The safety concerns were directed towards the track surface, which BBC commentator Murray Walker described as "appallingly bumpy". Most of the ground-effect cars of 1980 were designed in such a way that bumpy surfaces were barely tolerable for the drivers. These factors meant that Formula One would move back to the Jacarepaguá circuit in Rio de Janeiro, hometown of established star Nelson Piquet and where the Brazilian Grand Prix was held in 1978. After Formula One moved away, the only major race being held at Interlagos was the Mil Milhas Brasil, and the last major race on the original circuit was the 1989 Mil Milhas Brasil. Formula One returned to the circuit in 1990 after it had been shortened and modified at a cost of $15 million. The track layout, aside from the pit exit being extended along the "Curva do Sol" over the years has remained the same since 1990.
The circuit is often witness to dramatic results when it hosts the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix, especially since its move to an end of season slot in 2004. Fernando Alonso won both the 2005 and 2006 world titles in Brazil, with Renault also clinching the constructors' title in 2006. Kimi Räikkönen won the 2007 World Championship here after being seven points down and in third place in the championship entering the final race of the season. Felipe Massa almost won the 2008 Driver's World Championship when he finished the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix as winner, but after he finished, Lewis Hamilton overtook Timo Glock and was crowned World Champion. Despite Rubens Barrichello's pole position in 2009, Mark Webber won the race and Jenson Button won the championship for Brawn after starting 14th. Williams got their first pole since 2005 here at the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix with Nico Hülkenberg. The race was won by Sebastian Vettel, and with Mark Webber coming second, Red Bull secured the constructors title; however the driver's title was not confirmed until the last race of the season.
During the weekend of the 2023 race, one roof in the complex came off because of bad weather.

## Characteristics

One of the main characteristics of Interlagos is that it was not built on flat terrain, but follows the ups and downs of hilly ground, which makes it harder to drive and demands more power from the cars' engines. The races therefore can be tough on the car and physically demanding on the drivers, especially since the circuit runs counterclockwise, where the centrifugal forces in the many hard left turns push the drivers' necks to the right, instead of left as in most of the circuits on the F1 calendar. The hilly course is also a good feature for road cycling races, which are usually held at the circuit.
Additionally to the physical aspects there is also a climate component to the venue, the region where the track is located is known for having rapid changes in weather with outbursts of rain being common, which can vary from a short lived drizzle to a torrential storm. This can add a degree of unpredictability to the races and it's classically associated with the circuit. The city of São Paulo itself where the circuit is located is known by the nickname "Land of the Drizzle".

### First reform

In 1979 upgrading work was done and the pit lane was extended past the first left-hand turn (1), making the corner more narrow, and the pit lane ended right in the middle of turn 1 and 2. The present design of the track dates back to 1990, when the original circuit was shortened from 7.87385 km (4.89258 mi) to 4.325 km (2.687 mi). As a consequence of the reduction, the track lost three long straight sections and nine fast curves (5 were lost forever, 4 were made slower and are still present). The original track was full of fast corners and it allowed cars to keep maximum speed for up for many seconds, it was considered dangerous, and in 1990 the old layout was mostly revised. The new track still had a very long top-speed section that contained bumps, high-speed turns and little run-off area though the track was very wide at this point.

### Improvement in 2007

For the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix, the largest-scale repairs in the last 35 years were carried out at the circuit, to fundamentally solve problems with the track surface. The existing asphalt was entirely replaced, resulting in a much smoother track surface. At the same time, the pit lane entrance was enhanced to improve safety and to add a new fixed grand stand. To facilitate the work, the circuit was closed and no events were held in the five months immediately preceding the race.
On 17 October 2007, Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM) began to operate the new station of the Line C (currently called Line 9), Autódromo, near the circuit. The Line C had been extended to improve the access between the center of São Paulo and southern region of the Greater São Paulo including the circuit, improving circuit accessibility.

### Planned 2012 redevelopment

Shortly before the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix, FIA race director Charlie Whiting detailed several planned upgrades of the circuit, including a new pit entrance and expanded run-off at the final corner, as a response to several fatal accidents at the circuit in 2011. In June 2012, further details of the proposed plans emerged, calling for the construction of a brand new pit building and the relocation of the start line from its current position between Arquibancadas and the Senna 'S' to Reta Oposta. However, later it was decided to keep start/finish straight at its current location along with the new pit building.

### Pit lane

Interlagos has one of the longest pit-lanes ever used in Formula One, starting just before the start-finish straight and rejoining the main course after Curva do Sol. Entering the pits was originally not a trivial task, as the high speed and the left turning may force the car rightwards, out of the pits. The pit lane entrance received some changes to become safer for the 2007 Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix, and later for the 2014 Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix, when a chicane was added.

## Layout history

* Original Grand Prix Circuit (1940–1979)
* Grand Prix Circuit (2nd Variation) (1980–1989)
* The track as it was redesigned in 1990 (the latest major modification of the track, which saw only minor modifications since then)
* Motorcycle Circuit (1992)
* Overlay showing the differences between present-day and 1973 layouts

## Track layout

Race start is in the "Tribunas" section and features a long straight with an upward inclination, then comes "S do Senna" (the Senna S) [1,2], a pair of alternating downward turns (left then right) that exhibit different attack angles and inclinations.
"S do Senna" connects with "Curva do Sol" (Curve of the Sun) [3], a round-shaped large-radius left turn that leads to "Reta Oposta" (Opposite Straight) the track's longest (but not the fastest) straight. Reta Oposta is succeeded by a pair of downhill left turns that are called "Descida do Lago" (Lake's Descent) [4,5] into a short straight section that climbs up towards the back of the pit buildings.
This is followed by a slow section, with small, kart-like turns and elevation changes. The first of these turns is known as "Ferradura" (Horseshoe) [6,7] downhill and right into "Laranjinha" (Little Orange) [8], another right turn and the slowest point of the circuit; the next turn leads into "Pinheirinho" (Little Pine Tree) [9], left on a plain field; then comes "Bico de Pato" (Duck Bill) [10] a right turn with a tight hairpin like shape; and then "Mergulho" (Dive) [11], a constant-radius left-hand turn that slings the driver straight into a harder left at "Junção" (Junction) [12].
Turn [13] "Café" (Coffee), is a left up-hill kink and marks the start of the long top-speed section. Rising up through "Subida dos Boxes" (Up to the Pits) [14], the driver encounters a long uphill left turn with a gradient of 10% that demands a lot of power from the cars. At the end of it comes Arquibancadas (Bleachers) [15], a wide high velocity left turn that connects to the "Tribunas" straight to complete the final section of the track.
The series of left turns from the exit of "Junção" all the way to Turn 1 is typically taken at full throttle and treated as a long straight. This section is one of the longest full-throttle stretches on the Formula 1 calendar, and thus demanding of the engine's reliability. Other notable stretches of this nature are the "Rettifilo Tribune" straight at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza and the Kemmel Straight at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
List of the corners with their names (the numbers correspond to the current layout, from start to finish line):
* 'S' do Senna (Senna S) (1,2)
* Curva do Sol (Curve of the Sun) (3)
* Descida do Lago (Lake's Descent) (4,5)
* Ferradura (Horseshoe) (6,7)
* Laranjinha (Little Orange) (8)
* Pinheirinho (Little Pine Tree) (9)
* Bico de Pato (Duck's Bill) (10)
* Mergulho (Dive) (11)
* Junção (Junction) (12)
* Café (Coffee) (13)
* Subida dos Boxes (Up to the Pits) (14)
* Arquibancadas (Bleachers) (15)

## Events
### Current

* January: Mil Milhas Brasil
* February: Fórmula Truck, Brazilian Superbike Championship
* April: Brazilian Superbike Championship, Porsche Cup Brasil
* May: Stock Car Pro Series, Copa Truck, NASCAR Brasil Series, F4 Brazilian Championship, Stock Light, Turismo Nacional BR, Império Endurance Brasil, Brazilian Superbike Championship
* June: Brazilian Superbike Championship, Moto 1000 GP
* July: FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of São Paulo, Brazilian Superbike Championship
* August: Porsche Cup Brasil
* November: Formula One São Paulo Grand Prix, Porsche Cup Brasil, F4 Brazilian Championship, Brazilian Superbike Championship, Moto 1000 GP
* December: TCR South America Touring Car Championship, Stock Car Pro Series, Copa Truck, NASCAR Brasil Series, F4 Brazilian Championship, Turismo Nacional BR, TCR Brazil Touring Car Championship [es]

### Former

* Brasileiro de Marcas (2011–2018)
* Brazilian Formula Three Championship (1989–1994, 2014–2017)
* Campeonato Sudamericano de GT (2007–2013)
* Ferrari Challenge North America (2013)
* FIA GT1 World Championship (2010)
* Fórmula Academy Sudamericana (2018–2019)
* Formula BMW Americas (2008)
* Formula 3 Brazil Open (2010–2014)
* Formula 3 Sudamericana (1987, 1989–1993, 1995, 1998–1999, 2003–2011, 2013)
* Formula One
** Brazilian Grand Prix (1972–1977, 1979–1980, 1990–2019)
* Grand Prix motorcycle racing
** Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix (1992)
* International Formula 3000 (2001–2002)
* International Touring Car Championship (1996)
* Le Mans Series (2007)
* Prova Ciclística 9 de Julho (2002–2006, 2008–2013)
* South American Super Touring Car Championship (1997–1999)
* Stock Car Brasil
** Stock Car Corrida do Milhão (2010–2013, 2016, 2019–2020)
* TC2000 Championship (2007)
* TCR World Tour (2024)
* Top Race V6 (2009–2010)
* World Series by Nissan (2002)

## Lap records

As of December 2024, the fastest official lap records at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.309 km (1999–present) |||||
| Formula One | 1:10.540 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes AMG F1 W09 EQ Power+ | 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| LMP1 | 1:18.367 | Andre Lotterer | Audi R18 e-tron quattro | 2014 6 Hours of São Paulo |
| LMH | 1:24.801 | Mike Conway | Toyota GR010 | 2024 6 Hours of São Paulo |
| LMP2 | 1:24.916 | Olivier Pla | Ligier JS P2 | 2014 6 Hours of São Paulo |
| LMDh | 1:25.651 | Frédéric Makowiecki | Porsche 963 | 2024 6 Hours of São Paulo |
| F3000 | 1:27.323 | Sébastien Bourdais | Lola B02/50 | 2002 Interlagos F3000 round |
| Formula Three | 1:28.282 | Guilherme Samaia | Dallara F309 | 2016 1st Interlagos Formula 3 Brasil round |
| Formula Nissan | 1:28.656 | Bas Leinders | Dallara SN01 | 2002 Interlagos World Series by Nissan round |
| GT1 (GTS) | 1:30.074 | Oliver Gavin | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | 2007 Mil Milhas Brasil |
| LM GTE | 1:30.101 | Patrick Pilet | Porsche 911 RSR | 2014 6 Hours of São Paulo |
| GT3 | 1:32.303 | Victor Franzoni | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 | 2018 500 km of Interlagos |
| Sports car prototype | 1:34.489 | Aldo Piedade Jr. | Sigma P1 G4 | 2022 Mil Milhas Brasil |
| Formula 4 | 1:34.821 | Genaro Trappa | Tatuus F4-T421 | 2024 2nd Interlagos F4 Brazil round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:35.744 | Werner Neugebauer | Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup | 2024 3rd Interlagos Porsche Cup Brasil round |
| Stock Car Brasil | 1:36.058 | Ricardo Mauricio | Chevrolet Cruze Stock Car | 2019 Corrida do Milhão |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 1:36.105 | Alberto Valerio | Tatuus FR2000 | 2004 1st Interlagos Formula Renault 2.0 Brazil round |
| GT4 | 1:40.417 | Renato Braga | Mercedes-AMG GT4 | 2020 Mil Milhas Brasil |
| Formula BMW | 1:40.842 | Alexander Rossi | Mygale FB02 | 2008 Interlagos Formula BMW Americas round |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:42.304 | Pepe Oriola | Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) | 2021 Interlagos TCR South America round |
| N-GT | 1:42.569 | Max Wilson | Porsche 911 (996) GT3-RS | 2001 Mil Milhas Brasileiras |
| Ferrari Challenge | 1:42.598 | Alan Hellmeister [pt] | Ferrari F430 Challenge | 2010 2nd Interlagos GT Brasil round |
| Stock Series | 1:42.932 | Felipe Barrichello Bartz | Chevrolet Cruze JL-G12 | 2024 2nd Interlagos Stock Series round |
| Trofeo Maserati | 1:43.885 | Fábio Greco | Maserati Trofeo Light | 2011 3rd Interlagos GT Brasil round |
| Super Touring | 1:45.131 | Cacá Bueno | Peugeot 406 | 1999 Interlagos SASTC round |
| TC2000 | 1:46.030 | Marcelo Bugliotti [es] | Chevrolet Astra | 2007 Interlagos TC2000 round |
| Formula Renault 1.6 | 1:48.924 | Juan Vieira | Signatech FR 1.6 | 2019 Interlagos Formula Academy Sudamericana round |
| NASCAR Brasil | 1:51.413 | Rafa Dias | Chevrolet Camaro NASCAR Brasil | 2024 Interlagos NASCAR Brasil round |
| Turismo Nacional BR | 2:00.640 | Gustavo Magnabosco | Volkswagen Gol | 2022 Interlagos Turismo Nacional Brasil round |
| Truck racing | 2:04.584 | Paulo Salustiano [pt] | Volkswagen Truck | 2020 Interlagos Copa Truck round |
| Stock Car Circuit with Chicane: 4.314 km (2011–2017) |||||
| Stock Car Brasil | 1:40.066 | Júlio Campos | Chevrolet Cruze Stock Car | 2016 Corrida do Milhão |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.292 km (1996–1998) |||||
| Formula One | 1:18.397 | Jacques Villeneuve | Williams FW19 | 1997 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Formula Three | 1:34.320 | Jaime Melo | Dallara F394 | 1998 Interlagos F3 Sudamericana round |
| Class 1 Touring Cars | 1:35.014 | Alessandro Nannini | Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI | 1996 Interlagos ITC round |
| GT2 | 1:42.329 | Antônio Hermann | Porsche 911 (993) GT2 | 1997 500 km of Interlagos |
| Super Touring | 1:48.062 | Nonô Figueiredo | Chevrolet Vectra | 1998 Interlagos SASTC round |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.325 km (1990–1995) |||||
| Formula One | 1:18.455 | Michael Schumacher | Benetton B194 | 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Formula Three | 1:36.990 | Fernando Croceri | Ralt RT33 | 1993 Interlagos Formula 3 Sudamericana round |
| Group B | 1:43.440 | Christian Fittipaldi | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 | 1994 Mil Milhas Brasileiras |
| Motorcycle Circuit: 4.352 km (1992) |||||
| 500cc | 1:42.872 | Wayne Rainey | Yamaha YZR500 | 1992 Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 250cc | 1:44.478 | Loris Reggiani | Aprilia RSV 250 | 1992 Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 125cc | 1:50.262 | Dirk Raudies | Honda RS125R | 1992 Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 7.873 km (1980–1989) |||||
| Formula One | 2:27.311 | René Arnoux | Renault RE20 | 1980 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Original Grand Prix Circuit: 7.960 km (1940–1979) |||||
| Formula One | 2:28.760 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier JS11 | 1979 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Formula Two | 2:37.900 | Carlos Pace | Surtees TS15 | 1972 3rd Interlagos Torneio F2 round |
| Group 5 | 2:43.070 | Wilson Fittipaldi | Porsche 917 | 1972 Interlagos Copa Brasil round |
| Group 6 | 2:50.800 | Luís Pereira Bueno | Porsche 908/02 | 1971 Sud-Am Tournoi de Sao-Paulo |
| Formula Three | 3:01.800 | Carlos Pace | Lotus 59 | 1971 2nd Interlagos Torneio F3 round |
| Formula Libre | 3:46.600 | Chico Landi | Ferrari 125 C | 1952 Interlagos Grand Prix |