Interlagos

Welcome to the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known to the world as Interlagos. You are standing in a place of immense sporting legend, situated in the suburbs of São Paulo between two large reservoirs—hence the name…

Our journey around the track begins at its most famous point: the 'Senna S'. This sequence of turns 1 and 2 was designed with input from the legendary Ayrton Senna himself during a circuit renovation. …

Exiting the Senna S, drivers sweep into Turn 3, the 'Curva do Sol' or Sun Curve. This is a long, fifth-gear left-hander taken at approximately 225 kilometers per hour. …

Now we enter the 'infield,' the most intricate and technical part of the circuit. It begins with Turn 4, 'Descida do Lago' (Lake Descent), a tricky left-hander and another good overtaking spot. …

The final part of the lap is perhaps the most physically demanding for the cars. It begins with Turn 12, 'Junção,' a third-gear left-hander. …

Attending a race at Interlagos is an adventure in itself. Logistics can be a 'shambles,' with traffic jams taking up to two hours for a sixteen-kilometer trip from the city center. …

To understand Interlagos, you must understand Ayrton Senna. His presence is everywhere, from the corner named in his honor to the yellow and green colors that dominate the track. …

As the sun sets over the Interlagos reservoirs, the roar of the engines fades, but the magic of this place remains. We have traveled through the high-speed drama of the Senna S, the technical grind of the infield, and the…