In which country is the Interlagos circuit located?

The Interlagos circuit is located in Brazil, in the city of São Paulo. Its official name is Autódromo José Carlos Pace, but fans and broadcasters almost universally call it Interlagos.

The circuit was inaugurated on 12 May 1940 after plans for a residential development were disrupted by financial difficulties following the 1929 crash. Its name refers to the surrounding Interlagos area, which lies between the artificial reservoirs of Guarapiranga and Billings. “Interlagos” means “between lakes” in Portuguese.

Interlagos became internationally famous as the home of the Brazilian Grand Prix. It is a challenging, undulating track that runs counterclockwise and includes the long uphill section from the final corner toward the start-finish line. The venue was renamed in 1985 to honour Brazilian Formula One driver José Carlos Pace, who died in a 1977 plane crash.

A common mix-up is assuming the circuit is in a separate place called Interlagos. The track is in São Paulo, Brazil, although the circuit itself is technically in the city’s Cidade Dutra district rather than the neighbouring Interlagos district.