Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo

Coordinates: 27°30′21.1″S 64°54′52.1″W / 27.505861°S 64.914472°W / -27.505861; -64.914472
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Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo
LocationTermas de Río Hondo, Santiago del Estero, Argentina
Time zoneUTC-03:00
Coordinates27°30′21.1″S 64°54′52.1″W / 27.505861°S 64.914472°W / -27.505861; -64.914472
FIA Grade2[a]
Broke ground2007
Opened10 May 2008; 15 years ago (2008-05-10)
Major eventsCurrent:
TCR South America (2022–present)
Porsche Cup Brasil
(2016–2017, 2022–present)
Turismo Carretera
(2008–2019, 2022–present)
Turismo Nacional
(2009, 2011, 2013–2019, 2022, 2024)
Former:
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Argentine motorcycle Grand Prix (2014–2019, 2022–2023)
WTCC Race of Argentina
(2013–2017)
TC2000
(2008–2011, 2013–2017, 2022)
Top Race V6
(2009–2011, 2013–2016)
Websitehttp://autodromotermas.com
Grand Prix Circuit (2013–present)
Length4.805 km (2.986 miles)
Turns14
Race lap record1:39.019 (Valentino Rossi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 2015, MotoGP)
Short Circuit (2013–present)
Length4.430 km (2.753 miles)
Turns11
Race lap record1:35.691 (Juan José Ebarlín, Chevrolet Chevy, 2018, Turismo Carretera)
Original Circuit (2008–2012)
Length4.351 km (2.703 miles)
Turns10
Race lap record1:34.005 (Mariano Werner, Toyota Corolla, 2010, TC2000)

Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo is a 4.805 km (2.986 mi) motorsport circuit located in Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina. The circuit was opened in 2008 and underwent a complete overhaul and rebuild process in 2012, based on design by the Italian circuit designer Jarno Zaffelli [it].[1]

Racing background[edit]

Original layout of the circuit (2008–2012)

The circuit hosted the third round of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season in 2014 and 2015, bringing Grand Prix motorcycle racing back to Argentina after fifteen years.[2] In 2013, the circuit also hosted Rounds 15 and 16 of the FIA WTCC Race of Argentina of the World Touring Car Championship, and the first MotoGP and Moto2 official tests.[3][4] The track was to host the Argentine motorcycle Grand Prix in 2013,[5] but the government's nationalisation of the local subsidiary of Repsol S.A., and the ensuing cancellation of gas exports to Argentina raised concerns for the safety of the Honda MotoGP team that is sponsored by the Spanish oil company, forcing a one-year postponement.[6] In previous years, the circuit has also hosted events in the TC2000 Championship, Top Race V6, Turismo Nacional and Formula Renault Argentina series.

On February 6, 2021, the circuit's pit buildings were destroyed due to a fire. No human victims were reported.[7] After the fire, the grandstand, media centre, and pit garages were reconstructed. The reconstruction works were completed before the 2022 Argentine Republic motorcycle Grand Prix.[8]

On 21 March 2023, Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles and VP Michael Montri paid a visit to the circuit to tour the property and evaluate the possibility of holding a future IndyCar race at the facility.[9]

Events[edit]

Current
Former

Multiple winners[edit]

Grand Prix motorcycle racing[edit]

# Wins Rider Years won
3 Spain Marc Márquez 2014, 2016, 2019
2 France Johann Zarco 2015, 2016
Italy Marco Bezzecchi 2018, 2023

Lap records[edit]

As of September 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 4.805 km (2013–present)[8]
MotoGP 1:39.019 Valentino Rossi Yamaha YZR-M1 2015 Argentine Republic motorcycle Grand Prix
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:41.243[10] Guilherme Salas Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2023 Termas de Río Hondo Porsche Cup Brasil Endurance round
Moto2 1:42.829 Celestino Vietti Kalex Moto2 2022 Argentine Republic motorcycle Grand Prix
Súper TC2000 1:42.996[11] Mariano Werner Peugeot 408 2016 Termas de Río Hondo Súper TC2000 round
TC1 1:43.480[12] Nicky Catsburg Volvo S60 Polestar TC1 2017 FIA WTCC Race of Argentina
Turismo Carretera 1:47.877[13] Guillermo Ortelli Chevrolet Chevy 2015 2nd Termas de Río Hondo Turismo Carretera round
Moto3 1:48.834 Andrea Migno Honda NSF250RW 2022 Argentine Republic motorcycle Grand Prix
TCR Touring Car 1:49.706[14] Mikel Azcona Hyundai Elantra N TCR 2022 Termas de Río Hondo TCR South America round
Super 2000 1:50.248[15] Yvan Muller Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 2013 FIA WTCC Race of Argentina
Formula Renault 2.0 1:50.656[16] Martín Moggia [es] Tito F4-A 2015 Termas de Río Hondo Formula Renault Argentina round
Short Circuit: 4.430 km (2013–present)[8]
Turismo Carretera 1:35.691[17] Juan José Ebarlín [es] Chevrolet Chevy 2018 Termas de Río Hondo Turismo Carretera round
Original Circuit: 4.351 km (2008–2012)[8]
TC2000 1:34.005[18] Mariano Werner Toyota Corolla 2010 Termas de Río Hondo TC2000 round
Turismo Carretera 1:34.162[19] Gabriel Ponce de León Ford Falcon TC 2010 Termas de Río Hondo Turismo Carretera round
Formula Renault 2.0 1:34.779[20] Franco Girolami Tito F4-A 2011 Termas de Río Hondo Formula Renault Argentina round

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo's Grade 2 licence expired 17 July 2019.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Unlocking the mysteries of Termas de Rio Hondo: An Interview with Jarno Zaffelli". Sportskeeda. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  2. ^ "2014 Calendar". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  3. ^ http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/termas+de+rio+hondo+statement MotoGP in Termas de Rio Hondo
  4. ^ "2014 MotoGP Schedule Announced: Laguna Seca Dropped". Fox Sports. October 2, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  5. ^ "MotoGP to return to Argentina in 2013". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 13 September 2011. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Officially Confirmed: Argentina MotoGP Round Postponed Until 2014, Qatar A Week Later". 23 November 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  7. ^ "MotoGP Argentina Grand Prix Venue Goes up in Flames". MSN.
  8. ^ a b c d "Termas de Río Hondo - Racing Circuits". Racingcircuits.info. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  9. ^ Marshall Pruett (21 March 2023). "IndyCar contingent checks out potential Argentina race venue". Racer.
  10. ^ "Guilherme Salas voa e bate o recorde do circuito de Termas de Río Hondo! A dupla de Alceu Feldmann registrou o tempo de 1:41.243 e é o dono da melhor volta da classificação da etapa 7 do campeonato da @porschecupbrasil". 10 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  11. ^ "2022 Fecha 05/Termas de Río Hondo". Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  12. ^ "WTCC 2017 » Termas de Río Hondo Round 12 Results". Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  13. ^ "2015 Turismo Carretera Termas de Río Hondo A". Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  14. ^ "2022 TCR South America Termas de Rio Hondo". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  15. ^ "WTCC 2013 » Termas de Río Hondo Round 16 Results". Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Fórmula Nacional Argentina - 2022 Fecha 04 - Termas de Río Hondo". Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  17. ^ "2018 Turismo Carretera Termas de Rio Hondo". Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  18. ^ "2010 Turismo Competición 2000 Termas de Rio Hondo". Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  19. ^ "2010 Turismo Carretera Termas de Rio Hondo". Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Fórmula Nacional Argentina - 2011 Fecha 07 - Termas de Río Hondo - Carrera Final Fórmula Renault 2,0 Carrera, 15 Vts., 64,125 Kms, Má, 30 Min. 10:50 Hs". Retrieved 11 September 2023.

External links[edit]

Media related to Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo at Wikimedia Commons