The Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo hosts the final round
of the 2007 Formula One GP season – the 2007 Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The first ever Brazilian Grand Prix race event (1973) was
held at this Sao Paulo Interlagos racing circuit, which is situated in the
Interlagos suburb of Sao Paolo. At the time, the Interlagos circuit (Autodromo
Carlos Pace) was 7.96 kilometres long and set between two lakes, which has
since disappeared. The Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi won the inaugural 1973
race in a Lotus. In 1978 the race was moved from Interlagos race circuit to
the Jacarepagua circuit near Rio de Janeiro. In 1979 Sao Paulo Interlagos circuit
managed to get its race back, but by 1981 however, Rio had retaken the Grand
Prix, with the slums of Interlagos being at odds with the glamorous image Formula
One racing wanted to portray. After an extensive $15m redevelopment programme
during the heyday of Ayrton Senna, a Sao Paulo local, the race finally moved
back to the Interlagos circuit in 1990.
Compared to other countries, Brazil has a relatively short
history of its involvement in the Formula 1 world championship calendar, although
the country has a long and illustrious history of motor racing. Brazil can
boast many Formula 1 world champions, such as Emerson Fittipaldi (1972 and
1974), Nelson Piquet (1981, 1983 and 1987) and legendary Ayrton Senna (1988,
1990 and 1991).
The city of Sao Paulo is the country's most highly industrialised
region. Sao Paulo is also Brazil's centre of finance and trade - and an enormous
city, which is said to stretch over 3,200 square kilometres and is home to
more than 15 million inhabitants. The city receives the largest number of tourists
in Brazil and dictates the fashion, style and culture trends in Brazil. Sao
Paulo is a city where you can enjoy local art, excellent restaurants, late-night
clubs, museums, parks and theatres, but above all, the unbelievable cultural
diversity of its people.
What the drivers say
The Sao Paulo Interlagos circuit is a physical challenge for
the drivers, as it is one of only two anti-clockwise race circuits. The other
circuit is Istanbul. This places different physical pressures on the drivers,
as the forces in the corners work on the opposite muscles. As for the racetrack,
the bumpy surface causes major vibrations in the car and also influences the
set-up, ride heights and grip levels.
Qualifying at the front is very important, as there is a circuit
gradient that gets steeper the further down the grid a car qualifies, which
can make its start slower. Set up will, as usual, alter between qualifying
and for race day. During qualifying the racing cars require a lot of downforce
to be quick on the infield, but of course for race day, a high top speed on
the straights helps them to overtake, so they use less downforce. But at Interlagos
this difference is far greater than at other circuits.
The circuit is also bumpy, which affects reliability and the chassis set up.
The teams will run the cars higher here than at most other circuits, but the
cars will still leave brown marks from their planks, as they bottom out under
load past the pit entrance. The drivers must stay a 100% focused all the time
to handle the difficult track surface.
The Autodromo Carlos Pace offers good possibilities for overtaking,
with the best opportunity under braking into the first corner. This usually
leads some very exciting race encounters.
RACING PROGRAM AND EVENT TIMETABLE
Although not yet finalised for 2007, we have included the
2006 Formula 1 program, to give you an idea of what the event timetable should
look like. Except for the two Friday free practices sessions, which will be
extended to two 90 minute sessions for 2007, we do not expect any other major
changes from the 2006 program.
So please take note that the following 2006 program and timetable could change
for 2007.
FRIDAY
| 11h00 – 12h00 |
Formula 1 |
Free Practice Session 1 |
| 14h00 – 15h00 |
Formula 1 |
Free Practice Session 2 |
| 15h20 – 15h55 |
Porsche Cup |
Practice Session |
| 16h05 – 16h40 |
Trofeo Maserati |
Practice Session |
| 16h50 – 17h25 |
Formula Renault |
Free Practice Session |
SATURDAY
| 11h00 – 12h00 |
Formula 1 |
Free Practice Session 3 |
| 14h00 – 15h00 |
Formula 1 |
Qualifying Session |
| 15h50 – 16h25 |
Porsche Cup |
Qualifying Session |
| 16h40 – 17h15 |
Trofeo Maserati |
Qualifying Session |
| 17h30 – 18h05 |
Formula Renault |
Qualifying Session |
SUNDAY
| 08h50 – 09h25 |
Formula Renault |
Race |
| 09h35 – 10h10 |
Trofeo Maserati |
Race |
| 10h20 – 10h55 |
Porsche Cup |
Race |
| 12h30 – 13h00 |
Formula 1 |
Driver's Parade |
| 13h30 |
Formula 1 |
Grid Formation |
| 14h00 |
Formula 1 |
Formula 1 Grand Premio do Brasil (71 laps) |
German Version
