Circuit of the past · Rio de Janeiro

Nelson Piquet

Grand Prix years
1978–1989
Grands Prix held
10
Lap length
5.031 km
Corners
11
Type
Race circuit
Elevation change
6 m

About the circuit

A Grand Prix in Rio

The circuit in the Jacarepaguá district of Rio de Janeiro first hosted the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1978, and from 1981 to 1989 the race was held only here. The heat and humidity made it one of the toughest races for the drivers. Alain Prost won in Rio five times; in 1982 the win came to him after Nelson Piquet and Keke Rosberg were disqualified for running underweight cars.

Named after Piquet

The circuit was later named after Nelson Piquet, who won here in 1983 and 1986. The last Grand Prix in Rio, in 1989, was won by Nigel Mansell on his Ferrari debut, in a car with a semi-automatic gearbox. Since 1990 the Brazilian Grand Prix has been held at Interlagos, and the Jacarepaguá circuit was demolished to make way for the Olympic Park of the 2016 Games.

Championship races
10 — 1978 and 1981–1989, all of them the Brazilian Grand Prix
First race
29 January 1978 — Carlos Reutemann
Most wins
Alain Prost — 5
Last race
26 March 1989 — Nigel Mansell

Layouts by year

1978–198910 races · 5.031 km · 11 turns

Winners

1989Nigel MansellFerrarifrom P6
1988Alain ProstMcLarenfrom P3
1987Alain ProstMcLarenfrom P5
1986Nelson PiquetWilliamsfrom P2
1985Alain ProstMcLarenfrom P6
1984Alain ProstMcLarenfrom P4
1983Nelson PiquetBrabhamfrom P4
1982Alain ProstRenaultfrom P1
1981Carlos ReutemannWilliamsfrom P2
1978Carlos ReutemannFerrarifrom P4

Records

Lap record1:32.507Riccardo Patrese · 1989
Most wins5Alain Prost
First Grand Prix1978Carlos Reutemann
Races held10in the World Championship since 1978

The lap record is per circuit layout. Calculated by Gridlap from f1db history and the season’s results