Motoring

It was Alberto Santos Dumont who brought the first automobile to Brazil, in 1891, and the first car accident starred two other historical figures, the abolitionist José do Patrocínio and the poet Olavo Bilac. Seen as an example of technology overcoming nature, the automobile is one of the most important symbols of the 20th century. Motorsport, to a great extent, is understood as the exponential expression of this symbolic representation.

In Rio de Janeiro, the sport arrived in 1909, when the state's first automobile race took place, the Circuito de São Gonçalo. The idea was to hold the race in Alto da Boavista, but mayor Souza Aguiar, with the support of the Municipal Legislative Chamber, banned it from taking place, and the Automóvel Clube do Brasil moved the race to the neighboring municipality.

The arrival of automakers like General Motors and Ford in the country in the 1930s boosted the popularization of motorsport in Brazil, especially in Rio. Until the opening of the Autódromo de Jacarepaguá (Nova Caledônia) in 1966, races were held on the streets and had precarious organization, putting the safety of the public and drivers at risk.

The first race in the city took place in 1925, promoted during the 1st Automobile Exhibition of Rio de Janeiro. The track was set up in the flat area that emerged after the leveling of Morro do Castelo, carried out for the celebrations of the centennial of Independence and to host the international exhibition.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an automobile race held during the 1st Automobile Exhibition in Rio de Janeiro in 1925. The image shows a wide, straight dirt track with a vintage car in motion at the center. On the right, a crowd of spectators has gathered behind a low wall, watching attentively. On the left, people are also spread out along the track, some appearing to be in starting position. In the background, there are buildings and distant mountains.

Then came the races held around Morro da Viúva, one of the most highly valued areas of Rio. From 1933 to 1954, with an interruption due to World War II, the city hosted Brazil's first international motor racing championship. The Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix, on the Gávea Circuit, was part of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) calendar. For attracting some of the world's most important drivers and for the exceptional beauty of its setting, the circuit went down in the history of world motor racing.

Image description: This is an old photograph of an automobile racing event. The image shows a race track curving to the left, with two cars in motion. On the right, there is a crowd of people watching the event, some seated in the grandstands while others stand, waving flags and cheering on the competitors. In the background, there are houses and buildings near the waterfront, with mountains in the distance. The image is in black and white.

With its risky 93 curves, climbs, and descents, the race became known as the Devil's Trampoline and ended up being banned for safety reasons. Among the famous drivers who raced on the circuit were Brazilian champion Chico Landi and the legendary Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio, who would become five-time Formula 1 champion, the world championship created by the FIA in 1950.

In the 1950s, some races were held in Botafogo and at Quinta da Boa Vista, drawing large numbers of enthusiasts. The Circuito de Botafogo started on Av. Rui Barbosa and continued along the cove, passing in front of Cinema Guanabara (at the corner with Voluntários da Pátria) and along Av. Pasteur, returning to Praia de Botafogo and to the starting point. The then sparsely populated and distant Barra da Tijuca hosted championships such as the 500 Quilômetros da Guanabara, which attracted major national motor racing drivers. Even Ilha do Fundão, already in its current shape, held some races.

In the 1960s, Alto da Boa Vista became the stage for the Mountain Climb challenges, which featured the berlinetas – famous for having paved the way for the creation of the Puma and the Karmann-Ghia, sports cars that were a hit on the city's streets.

In 1978, one year after its reopening and complete overhaul, the Jacarepaguá International Racetrack hosted its first Formula 1 race, won by Argentine driver Carlos Reutemann. The sport's most famous competition left Rio de Janeiro in 1989 and returned to being held in São Paulo.

Image description: The image is an aerial photograph of a racetrack located in Jacarepaguá. The track has several curves and straights, with a central area that appears to be a space for race cars. On the left, there is a green area and houses near the track. On the right, there are more houses and a road running parallel to the track. In the center of the track, there is a light-colored area with a white symbol.

The racetrack hosted several other motorsport competitions, such as Formula Indy, Stock Car, Formula Truck, and MotoGP. In 2012, the site was demolished for the construction of Olympic facilities for the Rio 2016 Games.