Brazil gears up for exciting finish to F1 season in Sao Paulo
In less than a month’s time, the glamorous world of Formula One will set up camp in Brazil, when the penultimate Grand Prix of the season is contested at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo.
The sport is a hugely lucrative business, attracting millions of pounds worth of sponsorship, inviting massive sums of money from competing TV companies trying to get their hands on coverage rights and affording its stars lavish lifestyles.
It is a major coup for any country that secures a Grand Prix, with the likes of Abu Dhabi this year joining the racing calendar having splashed out huge amounts of cash on staging events.
The Brazilian Grand Prix – or Grande Premio do Brasil – has been a stalwart of the racing calendar for many years, however, and the scene of dramatic events since its introduction in the 1970s.
It was the success of Emerson Fittipaldi brought F1 fever to the nation, with his home town being chosen as the location for the race.
Ever since, Brazil has enjoyed a love affair with F1 and its drivers have experienced fantastic success on the tracks, not least the nation’s favourite son, Ayrton Senna.
A winner of three world championships, including 41 grand prix victories, the charismatic Brazilian galvanised support for F1 in his home country, as well as attracting thousands of fans across the globe with his driving, which was described as “genius” by many, including current F1 commentator Martin Brundle.
His life was tragically cut short in a freak crash at the San Marino Grand Prix, when he hit a concrete wall. One of the corners on the Interlagos track is now named after Senna in tribute to his memory.
It is not just this legend that has helped to fuel excitement surrounding the sport in Brazil, but also the likes of Nelson Piquet (senior), and present drivers Rubens Barrichello, Felipe Massa and Nelson Piquet (junior).
Each of the current crop has been the focus of major stories this season, which is bound to focus the spotlight even more firmly on Brazil and Sao Paulo when the race takes place on October 18th.
Nelson Piquet was fired from his F1 team, Renault, and subsequently made allegations to the sport’s governing body, the FIA, which said that senior members were involved match-fixing at the Singapore Grand Prix in 2008. This lead to managing director Flavio Briatore and executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, resigning.
Felipe Massa, meanwhile, was involved in a life-threatening crash during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, in which a spring that came dislodged from countryman Barichello’s car hit his helmet and requiring him to have emergency surgery.
The driver has since expressed his desire to return to racing at the Brazilian Grand Prix, revealing to the Guardian that at the very least, he will be present at Interlagos as a spectator. This is sure to attract the attention of the world’s media to the country.
Finally, Barichello is in the running for the drivers’ championship, fighting Brawn team-mate Jenson Button for the end-of-season honours.
Every year, tens of thousands of locals and tourists alike travel to Sao Paulo for the Grand Prix, with hotels and flights booking up months in advance of the event.
As it looks like the drivers’ championship will go down to the wire this season and with a Brazilian in contention, there is bound to be huge attention on the race, which is likely to boost tourism in the country and help to once again propel it onto the world stage.
