Autódromo José Carlos Pace

The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, universally known as Interlagos, occupies a hillside in the Interlagos neighbourhood of southern Sao Paulo, its name meaning "between lakes" in Portuguese and referring to the two large artificial reservoirs, Guarapiranga and Billings, that flank the surrounding district. The circuit measures 4.309 kilometres and runs anti-clockwise through 15 corners with substantial elevation change, the lap falling away from the start-finish line before climbing back through the Curva do Sol and the long Junção sweeper. Bumpy asphalt, fast direction changes, and varying grip levels across the circuit create a demanding test of mechanical setup that rewards well-rounded cars over those optimised for any single parameter.

The original circuit at Interlagos was inaugurated on May 12, 1940, and its early layout stretched to 7.96 kilometres, incorporating the full extent of the hillside terrain. The track's design drew inspiration from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Brooklands in the United Kingdom, Roosevelt Raceway in the United States, and Montlhery in France. Formula One ran at Interlagos from 1973, with the first world championship Brazilian Grand Prix won by Emerson Fittipaldi on his home ground. The original track was removed from the F1 calendar after 1980 due to safety concerns and deteriorating surface conditions. A shortened and renovated version, reduced to its current 4.309-kilometre layout, returned in 1990 and the circuit was renamed in 1985 to honour Brazilian Formula One driver Jose Carlos Pace, who died in a plane crash in 1977. A five-year contract signed in November 2023 secured the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos through the end of the 2030 season.

The WEC has established the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo as a fixture on the second half of its calendar, and the 2026 round is scheduled for July 12. Endurance racing at Interlagos presents specific strategic challenges: the high altitude of Sao Paulo, at roughly 800 metres above sea level, affects engine breathing and cooling, while afternoon thunderstorms are a regular occurrence and can transform both track conditions and race strategy within minutes. The anti-clockwise layout and high kerb loads create distinctive tyre wear patterns that often open tactical opportunities for teams willing to run longer stints.