By BMW Sauber F1 Team
October 31 2008

As is traditional, this year's Formula One season once again reaches its conclusion at the "Autodromo José Carlos Pace" in Interlagos. We present some interesting information about the Brazilian Grand Prix .

History and background:

Paulista coffee plantations laid the foundations for the economic growth of the region around São Paulo in south-eastern Brazil. The industrialisation of the late 19th century brought riches, but these have been spread unevenly among the population. Today, the people of São Paulo suffer from the effects of jarring social disparities – bitter poverty and immense wealth exist side by side and crime is rife. The city of São Paulo, founded in 1554, is the capital of the Brazilian state that bears its name and the country’s financial and trading hub. The size of the local population can only be estimated. Eleven million people are thought to live in the city itself, 20 million in the wider São Paulo area. The climate is subtropical.

F1 has been hosted by Brazil since 1973, and 2008 marks the country’s 36th Grand Prix. The debut event was held at Interlagos, with the track still covering 7.96 kilometres at the time and located outside the São Paulo city limits. The city has since mushroomed right up to the outskirts of the race track. In 1978 the Brazilian GP was hosted by the Jacarepagua circuit near Rio de Janeiro for the first time, and it was held there on ten occasions in all. In 1990 F1 returned to Interlagos, where the Brazilian GP has been staged ever since.

Circuit/Date:
Interlagos / 2nd November 2008

Start time (local/UTC):
15.00 hrs/17.00 hrs (18.00 hrs in Central Europe)

Lap/Race distance:
4.309 km/305.909 km (71 laps)

Corners:
5 right-hand and 10 left-hand corners

Winner 2007:
Kimi Räikkönen, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, 1 hr 28:15.270 minutes

Pole position 2007:
Felipe Massa, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, 1:11.931 minutes

Fastest lap 2007:
Kimi Räikkönen, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, 1:12.445 minutes

Data 2007 (race):
Full-throttle percentage: 65%
Top speed: 314 km/h
Longest section at full throttle: 17 sec / 1,220 m
Gear changes per lap: 40
Tyre wear: medium
Brake wear: medium
Downforce level: medium to high