A stop on the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) calendar between 2012 and 2014, the Interlagos circuit in Brazil remained unavailable for a duration of many months starting at the end of 2014 in order to undergo a facelift. The goal was to bring it to current motorsport venue standards, with namely the construction of new pits.

Located in the suburb of São Paulo, the circuit - replaced by the Nürburgring on the FIA WEC calendar between 2015 and 2017 - will make its big return to the international endurance stage for the 2019-2020 season (the calendar of which should be released this summer). The announcement, in tandem with the signing of a multi-year contract - was made at a press conference today in Brazil attended by Nicholas Duduch, CEO of the new promotion agency for the 6 Hours of São Paulo, and Bruno Senna, an appointed ambassador for the race.

The nephew of racing icon and three-time Formula 1 World Champion Ayrton Senna will be returning to the LMP1 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a first participation in the class with ORECA in 2009 (retirement). For the past two years the São Paulo native has been a driver with the Rebellion Racing team, with whom he won the LMP2 title at the end of the 2017 World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season. After a brief one-year stint in LMP2, the Swiss outfit is returning to LMP1 with the R13 developed by ORECA.

Jean Todt, President of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile: “The return of the FIA World Endurance Championship to São Paulo is very good news for the many Brazilian motorsport fans and is fully supported by the FIA. The history and heritage of this great country, which is so passionate about all forms of motorsport, has always included the discipline of endurance racing. A return by the FIA WEC to Brazil enables us to continue to bring our sport to audiences around the world." 

"I would like to send my best wishes to the CBA, the City of São Paulo, Nicholas Duduch and the local promoter agency, my good friend Bruno Senna, Gérard Neveu and the whole WEC organisation including all the competitors. We are all now very much looking forward to the start of what promises to be a very strong 2019-2020 season. I am sure you will join me in wanting to see a Brazilian driver winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and why not an FIA World Championship title in the same season as well?"

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “The confirmation of the return of the WEC to São Paulo is very welcome news. Brazilian fans have always shown a genuine passion for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and for endurance racing in general. Who can forget the marvellous race which took place at our last visit to Brazil in 2014? We are very happy to go back to Interlagos for the 2019-2020 season to share our passion for motorsport with our Brazilian friends." 

Gérard Neveu, CEO of the World Endurance Championship: “This is very good news not only for the huge number of extremely passionate and loyal Brazilian fans of the WEC, but also for the championship’s competitors who love to race on the legendary Interlagos circuit."  

"Our return to South America has been something we’ve been working towards for several years now, and our thanks must go to Nicholas Duduch and his organisation for their hard work to make it happen, with the support of the city of São Paulo. Having Bruno Senna as our WEC race ambassador in São Paulo is a real honour; he is undoubtedly one of the best drivers from the FIA WEC. Together with the whole FIA WEC paddock and our partners, we’re now looking forward to being back in Brazil in 2019-2020 and for a great event." 

Nicholas Duduch (Directeur de N Duduch Motorsports): "We are honored to be part of this huge project. In partnership with the FIA WEC, we want to offer a complete experience for motorsport fans. The culture of endurance racing goes beyond the race itself, and our desire is to make the public get used to it, to understand it better and enjoy the best of what the FIA WEC has to offer."

Quotation from FIA WEC press release.

 

PHOTO (Copyright - FIA WEC): The start at the 2014 6 Hours of São Paulo.