Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet


 * For the race course of the same name in Brasilia, see Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet (Brasília)

The Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet (Nelson Piquet International Autodrome), also known as Jacarepaguá, after the neighbourhood in which it was located, was a race course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which hosted the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix 10 times.

History
The circuit was built in 1978 on reclaimed marshland, thus the course is quite flat with little elevation change. The course itself has few distinguishing characteristics, with two main straights, plus numerous slow-speed corners; however, the scenic backdrop of the mountains of Rio is quite stunning.

From 1996 to 2000 the CART series staged events at Jacarepaguá in an accessory trapezoid-shaped speedway named Emerson Fittipaldi Speedway having approximately 3 km (1.875 mi) length. The circuit also hosted the Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix race from 1995 to 2004, and held the Mil Milhas Brasil endurance race in 1997.

As of early 2005, there were plans to partially demolish this racetrack to make room for a new sports complex to be used for the 2007 Pan American Games. It would have made the track approximately 1.67 miles (2.69 km) long, thus making it too short for most international racing series. However, the FIA's ruling on a track's minimum length is ambiguous. In 2006, despite rumors of the race being cancelled, the Brazilian Stock Car Rio event was contested on a temporary short circuit combining sections of the oval and normal circuits and the start/finish line was moved to the back stretch, which was cut short to make room for the Pan-American games venues.

Another proposal for the circuit was to have both a club permanent circuit, and an international-length half-permanent, half-car park circuit involving that circuit and an extension which utilises the car parks of the park. That would be have been designed by Hermann Tilke.

As of 2008, the 3.336 kilometres (2.073 mi) track comprises the original's second half, with a hairpin that connects the previous main straight and back straight. It remains active, with races such as Stock Car's Corrida do Milhão.

In January 2008, it was announced that the track was to be demolished to allow the city to build an Olympic Training Centre venue for the Rio de Janeiro bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics which Rio was successful.

Official website

 * Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet (Rio de Janeiro)