Formula One News

Location: Sao Paulo Race Date: 27th November 2011 Circuit Length: 4.309 km Number of Laps: 71 Race Distance: 305.909 km 2010 Pole Sitter: N.Hulkenberg 2010 Race Winner: S.Vettel Grands Prix Held: 27 Circuit Website: Brazilian GP Circuit Diagram Produced By: Adrian Dean

Brief History

The Interlagos circuit is situated only 16km (10 miles) south of Sao Paulo. The land where the circuit sits was originally bought by two local property developers in 1938, who intended to build a large housing development there. However, it was discovered that it was not suitable for that and so a race circuit was constructed instead.

In 1970, the circuit was named in memory of Brazilian Formula One driver, Jose Carlos Pace after he died tragically in a plane crash. There is also a go-kart circuit within the grounds, which is named after Ayrton Senna.

The Interlagos circuit held its first official Formula One race weekend in 1973. In 1978 the grand prix moved to Rio, but in 1979 Interlagos once again hosted the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix, and it stayed there until 1980. In 1981, the Brazilian Grand Prix moved to the Jacarepagua circuit, and stayed there until returning to the Interagos circuit in 1990, and has stayed there ever since. Interlagos, is one of the few circuits on the F1 calendar that runs in an anti-clockwise direction.

In 2005, for the first time the Brazilian Grand Prix decided the world championship. It was won by Fernando Alonso, who became the youngest ever Formula One World Champion. Since then every Formula One World Championship since has been decided at the Brazilian Grand Prix. With Alonso winning again and taking the title in 2006, followed by Kimi Raikonen in 2007, Lewis Hamilton in 2008 and most recently Jenson Button became Formula One World Champion in 2009. Although, the 2010 season put an end to this run, when it went down to the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi.