Interlagos Return Confirmed for 2019-20

The FIA World Endurance Championship will return to Interlagos, having confirmed a date for the 2019-20 season.

The announcement, made Thursday in Sao Paulo, confirmed that the Brazilian grand prix venue has agreed a “multi-year deal” to host the six-hour race.

As reported by Sportscar365 last week, the event will run during the 2019-20 campaign, rather than the upcoming ‘Super Season’ which runs from May to next June.

Championship bosses were joined at Thursday’s press conference by members of the Brazilian Motorsport Federation and Nicholas Duduch, CEO of promotion agency N Duduch Motorsports.

Reigning WEC LMP2 champion Bruno Senna, who was announced as the official race ambassador, was also present.

“This is very good news not only for the huge number of extremely passionate and loyal Brazilian fans of the WEC, but also for the championship’s competitors who love to race on the legendary Interlagos circuit,” said WEC CEO Gerard Neveu.

“Our return to South America has been something we’ve been working towards for several years now, and our thanks must go to Nicholas Duduch and his organisation for their hard work to make it happen, with the support of the city of Sao Paulo.

“Together with the whole FIA WEC paddock and our partners, we’re now looking forward to being back in Brazil in 2019-20 and for a great event.

The 15-turn, 2.667-mile Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace had played host to WEC events from 2012-14 but dropped off the calendar due to financial difficulties associated with then-promoter Emerson Fittipaldi.

A round at the Nürburgring replaced Interlagos in 2015, although Neveu stressed a desire to return to Brazil in the future.

The date of the 2019-20 event has yet to be determined.

“The return of the FIA World Endurance Championship to Sao Paulo is very good news for the many Brazilian motor sport fans and is fully supported by the FIA,” said FIA president Jean Todt.

“The history and heritage of this great country, which is so passionate about all forms of motor sport, has always included the discipline of endurance racing.

“A return by the FIA WEC to Brazil enables us to continue to bring our sport to audiences around the world.”