Brasilia was a modern racing facility built at a reputed cost of $3.5 million when it opened in 1974. The inaugural non-championship Gran Prêmio del Presidente Medici attracted a crowd of 85,000, but sadly this proved to be one of the few international races held there. Three-time world champion Nelson Piquet was retained as President with the goal of bringing international racing back to the capital. Brasilia hosted a round of the one-off Temporada GT series in 1996 and, more recently, a round of the IndyCar Series was announced for 2015. Redevelopment of the circuit began but the race was cancelled in January of that year after a change of local government. Work on the new circuit layout and facilities ceased immediately and Brasilia’s Autodromo lay dormant for eight years. It reopened for national events in 2022.
