Interlagos is the popular name for the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, a motor racing circuit in the Interlagos district of São Paulo, Brazil. Opened on May 12, 1940, it is one of the oldest active racetracks in the world and has become synonymous with Brazilian motorsport, most famously as the long-running home of the Formula 1 Brazilian (now São Paulo) Grand Prix.
The circuit was renamed in 1985 in honor of Brazilian F1 driver José Carlos Pace, who died in a 1977 plane crash. Built into hilly terrain rather than flat ground, Interlagos runs counterclockwise and is known for unpredictable weather and dramatic changes in elevation, qualities that have produced some of Formula 1’s most memorable races.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: São Paulo, Brazil
- Opened: May 12, 1940
- Capacity: About 60,000
- Current track length: 4.309 km (2.677 mi)
- Turns: 15
- F1 host since: 1973
- Notable feature: Home of the ‘Senna S’ opening corners
From 8-Kilometer Giant to Modern Grand Prix Track
When Interlagos first hosted a Formula 1 World Championship round in 1973, the original layout stretched nearly 8 kilometers with 26 turns. Emerson Fittipaldi won that inaugural Brazilian Grand Prix in front of a huge home crowd, cementing the venue’s status as a national motorsport landmark.
By the late 1970s, the long original circuit’s bumpy surface and thin safety margins pushed it off the F1 calendar. A roughly $15 million revamp shortened the track to about 4.3 kilometers for its 1990 return, introducing the tight opening sequence known as the Senna S, developed with input from Brazilian F1 legend Ayrton Senna.
A Fixture of Brazilian Motorsport
Beyond Formula 1, Interlagos has hosted the FIA World Endurance Championship, Brazil’s Stock Car Pro Series, and touring car events including the DTM in 1996. Its hilly, counterclockwise layout and changeable weather have repeatedly produced chaotic, high-drama races.
In August 2024, José Carlos Pace’s remains were relocated to the circuit that bears his name, making him the first deceased driver ever buried at a race track, a mark of how deeply the venue is tied to Brazilian racing history.
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Interlagos FAQs
What is Interlagos officially called?
Its official name is Autódromo José Carlos Pace, named in 1985 after Brazilian F1 driver José Carlos Pace. “Interlagos” refers to the São Paulo district where it is located.
When did Interlagos start hosting Formula 1?
Interlagos held its first Formula 1 World Championship race in 1973, won by Brazil’s Emerson Fittipaldi, though the track itself opened in 1940.
How long is the current Interlagos circuit?
The modern Grand Prix layout, used since a 1990 redesign, is about 4.309 km (2.677 miles) long with 15 turns, much shorter than the original nearly 8 km circuit.
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Photo: Morio / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.