The layout of the new Rio de Janeiro Autodrome was officially presented this Thursday (06/11), at an event in Cidade das Artes. Budgeted at more than R$ 1.3 billionthe project foresees capacity for 120 thousand spectators and must have its Works started in the first quarter of 2026, with an estimated duration of two years.
Located no Guaratiba Parkin the West Zone, the race track will occupy an area of more than two million square meters. The track design was created to encourage overtaking and provide a high average speed – around 241 km/h. Mayor Eduardo Paes participated in the event and highlighted that the investment will be completely private.
– It’s all private resources, without the use of public money. Work is expected to begin at the beginning of 2026, and I believe that the race track will be ready in 2029. The idea is for Rio to once again host major categories, such as Formula 1, MotoGP and Indy – said Paes.
With 4.7 km in length, the circuit will follow FIA Grade 1 and FIM Grade A standards, which enables it to host the main motorsport and motorcycling competitions in the world. There will be four straights — two of them main and parallel — and ten curves, in addition to the possibility of adaptation to 11 different configurations. The design was developed by the same designers responsible for the Mandalika (Indonesia) and Navarra (Spain) circuits.
The permanent structure is being developed by the company Populous, recognized for projects such as the Silverstone circuit in the United Kingdom and the Sphere arena in Las Vegas. The complex will include stands, parking lots, a helipad, VIP areas, shops and a modern paddock.
– The proposal is to create a new sporting icon in Rio, focusing on the public experience and strengthening motorsport in the region – said Thiago Nunes, from Populous.
The project, called Parque Autódromo de Guaratiba, was approved by the City Council and will have a direct connection to the BRT system, including an exclusive station for the public on race days.
Sustainability is also one of the pillars of the plan. Construction must adopt ecological practices, such as reuse and capture of rainwater, LED lighting and energy saving. The buildings may have green roofs, and the surrounding area will have rain gardens and ecological drains.
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F1 has a contract with São Paulo until when?
The São Paulo Grand Prix, held at the Autódromo de Interlagos, will continue on the Formula 1 calendar until 2030. The agreement, which would originally end in 2025, was extended for another five years, maintaining the same terms and values as the previous contract (2021–2025).
The announcement was made on November 3, 2023, during a press conference with the CEO of F1, Stefano Domenicali, the GP promoter, Alan Adler, and the mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes. The renewal occurred after the interest of other cities in hosting the Brazilian stage, which led the São Paulo city hall to guarantee the continuity of the event in Interlagos.
Has Rio de Janeiro ever had an F1 race?
Rio de Janeiro has already hosted Formula 1 races at the former Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet, better known as Jacarepaguá, located in the West Zone of the city. The circuit hosted the Brazilian Grand Prix in ten editions (one in 1978 and nine from 1981 to 1989).
The first race in Rio, in 1978, was won by Argentine Carlos Reutemann, for Ferrari. After that, Formula 1 returned to Rio in 1981 and remained until 1989, a period in which legendary drivers won on the track, such as Alain Prost, Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell. Brazilian Piquet triumphed twice at home, in 1983 and 1986, and Prost was the biggest winner in Jacarepaguá, with four victories.
The layout was praised for being fast and technical, with long straights and challenging curves, making it one of the favorites of drivers at the time. However, the race track ended up being deactivated and demolished in the 2000s to make way for the Barra da Tijuca Olympic Park, built for the 2016 Olympic Games.
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