The Brazilian Grand Prix is the eighteenth Grand Prix in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship season and is due to take place on the weekend of the 5th to the 7th of November 2010 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos, in the Brazilian city of São Paulo . If you’re planning to go to the race, here is some information about the circuit and some of the area’s other attractions.
São Paulo Overview
São Paulo is Brazil’s largest city and is situated in São Paulo State, in the south-east of the country. It’s a bustling city, with a range of attractions, so if you’re visiting Brazil for the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix, it’s worth extending your stay so that you can explore the city.
Getting to São Paulo
The main international airport in the city is São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport. It’s situated about 25km from Downtown São Paulo and about 40km from the Autódromo José Carlos Pace. A number of airlines operate international flights to São Paulo.
You can travel between the centre of São Paulo and the Autódromo José Carlos Pace by bus, train, taxi or hire car.
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace was completed in 1940. Originally known as Autódromo de Interlagos, its name was changed in 1985 in order to honour the Brazilian racing driver José Carlos Pace, who died in a plane crash in 1977.
The first Brazilian Grand Prix, in 1972, was held at the Interlagos Circuit, although it was not part of the official Formula 1 World Championship. The Brazilian Grand Prix was included on the official F1 World Championship calendar from 1973. It was hosted at Interlagos until 1977, in Rio de Janeiro in 1978, and at Interlagos in 1979 and 1980. The race then moved to Rio de Janeiro from 1981 until 1990, when it returned to Interlagos.
The circuit is 4.309km long and has 15 turns. Formula 1 drivers aim to complete 71 laps of it, and progress around it anti-clockwise.
Hotels in São Paulo
São Paulo has a wide range of hotels, so you should be able to find something to suit you whatever your budget. Hotels in São Paulo include the InterContinental São Paulo, the Radisson Hotel São Paulo Faria Lima, the Grand Hyatt São Paulo and the Renaissance Hotel São Paulo. Unfortunately, camping is not available at the circuit.
Attractions in São Paulo
If you’re extending your stay in São Paulo, you’ll find many things to see and do within the city. One of the city’s most popular attractions is Ibirapuera Park. It’s a great place to visit for a stroll or a picnic, and it’s also home to a number of other attractions, such as the Museu de Arte Moderna (Museum of Modern Art), the Museu de Arte Contemporânea (Museum of Contemporary Art), the Museu Afro Brazil (Afro-Brazil Museum) and the Planetário Professor Aristóteles Orsini (Professor Aristóteles Orsini Plantarium).
Other attractions in São Paulo include the historic city centre, São Paulo Zoo and the Mercado Municipal (Municipal Market).
Essential Information
São Paulo is 3 hours behind the U.K and the currency used is the Real.
Image: Marlon Hammes
Tags: Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Brazilian Grand Prix, Formula 1, Ibirapuera Park, Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo hotels, sports event travel
