Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Motorsport racing track in Cidade Dutra District, São Paulo, Brazil
Autódromo José Carlos Pace is a motorsport racing track in the Cidade Dutra district of São Paulo, Brazil, where major races take place before large crowds. The facility sits between two artificial lakes and follows a course with fifteen turns and strong elevation changes across 4.3 kilometers.
The track opened on May 12, 1940, and began as a local venue for races in São Paulo. In 1973, the site hosted its first Formula 1 World Championship race and became part of the international racing calendar.
The circuit was renamed in 1985 to honor José Carlos Pace, the Brazilian Formula 1 driver who won his only race here in 1975, the Brazilian Grand Prix. In 2024 his body was moved from a vandalized mausoleum and reburied next to his bust at the track. The kart circuit alongside is named after Ayrton Senna.
Multiple bus routes and train connections lead to the entrance of the facility, where parking is available for visitors. Event days can be long, so arriving early and considering the weather conditions in São Paulo helps.
The circuit's official name honours José Carlos Pace, but the site was originally bought in 1926 by developers planning housing; the 1929 crash helped turn the land into a racetrack instead. In August 2024 Pace's body was moved here and buried beside the bust of him at the track.
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