f1 circuits: Brazil

AUTODROMO JOSE CARLOS PACE, INTERLAGOS

Overview

With Imola in Italy, Interlagos is one of two anti-clockwise tracks on the Formula One calendar and is known as an undulating low-grip circuit with a long high-speed straight past the pits that offers the best chance for overtaking. It has fast corners and a bumpy surface, although this has been resurfaced recently, and offers great spectator viewing with its bowl-like amphitheatre.


Specifications:

  • Starting time: 19:00 CET
  • Local time: CET -5 hours
  • First GP: 1973
  • Circuit length: 4.309 km
  • Race laps: 71 laps
  • Total distance: 305.939 km
  • Winner 2006: Felipe Massa, Ferrari
  • Fastest lap: J.P. Montoya, 2004, BMW Williams, 1:11.473


History:

The land on which the circuit is built was originally bought in 1936 by property developers who wanted to build accommodation. However, it was discovered that the land was unsuitable for housing, so a racing circuit was built instead.

The traditional name of the circuit (literally, "between lakes") comes from the fact that it was built in a region between two large artificial lakes, Guarapiranga and Billings, which were built in the early 20th century to supply the city with water and electric power. In the 1970s it was renamed to honour the then recently deceased Formula One driver José Carlos Pace. There is a kart circuit inside it named after Ayrton Senna.

Although the Grand Prix of São Paulo has taken place since 1936, the Interlagos circuit was not built until 1940, and only acquired internatonal fame when it was redeveloped in the early 70´s, when it became the host circuit for the Brazilian Grand Prix from 1972 to 1980.

The Autodromo José Carlos Pace, situated within a suburb of São Paulo, the home town of Ayrton Senna, at a time when the great Brazilian driver was a consecutive world champion and a national hero, has run the F1 GP since 1990 and now looks set to be the only Grand Prix held in South America.

Facilities and organisation at Interlagos have often been criticised. Notably, during a qualifying session in 2000, the session had to be stopped three times due to advertising hoardings falling onto the track - one straight into the path of Jean Alesi's Prost car. A practice session before the race in the 2004 season had to be stopped because a stray dog had found its way onto the track. The circuit is also criticised for being bumpy. Despite attempts to smooth the surface, drivers still complain.

 

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