Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna (Goiânia)
The Goiânia circuit is the state-owned track in central Brazil that brought MotoGP back to the country in March 2026 after a 37-year wait for this venue. It’s a 3.835 km lap with a long, fast main straight, a regular stop for the Stock Car Pro Series, and, after a messy first Grand Prix in its new era, it’s getting a second new surface ahead of the 2027 race. Here’s the name, the history, how a lap works, the records, what races there and how to visit.
Goiânia at a Glance
Length 3.835 km / 2.383 mi the mixed layout used by MotoGP
Turns 14 9 right-handers and 5 left-handers
Longest straight 994 m / 3,261 ft the main straight into Turn 1
Opened July 28, 1974 construction started in the early 1970s
Location & owner Goiânia, Goiás owned by the Goiás state government
MotoGP lap record 1:18.654 Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia, 2026
Why Is the Goiânia Circuit Named for Ayrton Senna?
It opened in 1974 as the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia and kept that name for 20 years. After Ayrton Senna was killed at Imola in 1994, it was renamed Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in his honor. Senna never actually raced here; the name is a tribute, not a connection to his career.
That tribute is popular in Brazil, so you’ll find other tracks with the same name, including the circuits in Londrina and Caruaru. That’s why you’ll usually see this one written as “Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna (Goiânia),” and why most fans, commentators and MotoGP itself simply call it Goiânia.
The track was designed by architect Silas Varizzo and racing driver Marcos Veiga Jardim, with Emerson Fittipaldi consulting. It belongs to the state of Goiás and is run by the state’s sports and leisure department, which is why decisions about the circuit, from rebuilds to Grand Prix contracts, come from the state government.
Goiânia Circuit History
Goiânia had a short run in the spotlight in the late 1980s, when it hosted three motorcycle Grands Prix, then spent decades as a national-level track. The return of MotoGP in 2026 was supposed to be its big comeback, and in terms of crowds it was, but the new surface didn’t hold up, and the circuit spent much of 2026 being rebuilt again.
- 1972–73 Construction starts on the edge of Goiânia, the planned capital of Goiás state.
- 1974 The Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia opens on July 28.
- 1987 The motorcycle World Championship arrives for the first Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix here. Wayne Gardner wins the 500cc race.
- 1988–89 Eddie Lawson wins the 1988 500cc race and Kevin Schwantz takes the 1989 edition, the last world championship race at Goiânia for 37 years.
- 1994 The circuit is renamed for Ayrton Senna after his death.
- 1990s–2000s Without a Grand Prix the track slowly declines, and its surface ends up close to ordinary road asphalt.
- 2012–14 The state sets aside about R$30 million for an upgrade, and the circuit reopens in April 2014 with the Stock Car series.
- 2024 In December, a five-year deal is announced to bring MotoGP back to Brazil, with Goiânia as the venue.
- 2025–26 A rebuild of roughly R$200 million adds a full resurface with a polymer-modified asphalt mix, a reworked “S” section with a new chicane and gravel run-off, and new facilities.
- March 2026 MotoGP returns on March 20–22. Marco Bezzecchi wins for Aprilia, but the race is cut from 31 to 23 laps after the asphalt breaks up at Turns 11 and 12, a day after a sewer collapse on the main straight.
- May 2026 The Stock Car Pro Series races here for round 4; Felipe Fraga and Gaetano di Mauro win the two races.
- Mid-2026 The track closes again for a complete resurface under the contractor’s warranty, and the October Stock Car round moves elsewhere. Cyclists and runners are allowed back on October 9.
The Main Straight and Turn 1
If Goiânia has a signature, it’s the run down the main straight into Turn 1. At almost a kilometer long, the straight lets a MotoGP bike get past 330 km/h (205 mph), and then the rider has to scrub off more than 200 km/h in about the length of two and a half football fields. Brembo rates it the toughest braking point on the lap.
994 m / 3,261 ft
Main straight
The longest straight on the lap, and the place where MotoGP bikes hit their top speeds.
337 → 117 km/h
Turn 1 stop
Brembo’s figures for MotoGP: 209 to 73 mph in 259 m (850 ft) and about 4.4 seconds.
1.5 g
Peak braking
The hardest of seven braking zones on a lap that adds up to about 20 seconds on the brakes.
It’s also where most of the passing happens. Marc Márquez called Turn 1 the one sure place to overtake, with the last corner as the other main option, so a good exit from the final turn and a tow down the straight can set up a move. The same straight was where a sewer gave way during the 2026 weekend, one of the reasons the track is being resurfaced again.
Goiânia Track Guide: A Lap, Section by Section
The MotoGP lap is 3.835 km with 14 turns, 9 of them right-handers. The first and last sectors are fast and flowing, and the middle sector is a slower mix of tight corners. The turns are usually referred to by number; older track maps, like the one below from 2006, also show traditional names for some sections, such as Curva Zero, Esse, Mergulho and Bico de Pato. Note that the map was drawn before the 2026 rebuild added the new chicane. There are also shorter External (2.590 km) and Short (1.910 km) layouts.
Straight
Main straight
Nearly a kilometer flat out past the pits and grandstands. The 2026 weekend showed how important the surface is here: a sewer collapsed under the straight during the event.
T1
Turn 1
The heaviest stop on the lap and the main overtaking spot. Brake late and you can make a pass; brake too late and the gravel is waiting.
T2–4
Linked turns
A run of connected corners where you need to place the bike or car right for the next one. The slowest part of the lap starts at Turn 4.
T6–7
Double left
A slow left-hand pair in the middle of the lap. It’s one of the few places you spend time leaned to the left, since Michelin says riders spend more than 50 seconds of each lap leaned to the right.
The S
S-bend and new chicane
The 2026 rebuild reworked the second part of the S that leads onto the back straight, adding a chicane and gravel run-off.
T11–12
Turns 11 and 12
The corners where the new asphalt broke up during the 2026 MotoGP race, forcing a shorter race. Alex Márquez slid off at Turn 11 two laps from the end and lost a podium place.
T12–13
Short burst
A brief burst of throttle between Turns 12 and 13 gives you a second chance to line up a pass.
Final turn
Last corner
A right-hander onto the main straight. Your exit speed here decides your speed all the way down to Turn 1, and it’s a passing option of its own.
Goiânia Lap Records
Only laps set in a race count as official lap records, so pole times are listed separately. Because the layout changed in 2026, the older records come with an asterisk. For a sense of how far bikes have come, Eddie Lawson’s fastest 500cc race lap here in 1989 was 1:26.980.
1:18.654
MotoGP race lap record
Marco Bezzecchi set it on an Aprilia during the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, on the way to the win.
1:17.410
Fastest MotoGP lap ever
Fabio Di Giannantonio’s pole lap on a Ducati in 2026. It doesn’t count as a lap record because it was set in qualifying.
1:17.245
Formula 3 record
Christian Hahn set this lap in a Dallara F309 in 2016, before the 2026 rebuild changed the S section.
1:23.494
Stock Car record
Felipe Fraga’s lap in May 2026, the first Stock Car race on the rebuilt track.
Races and Events at Goiânia
MotoGP is the headline, and the 2026 weekend drew more than 150,000 visitors, according to the state government. National series such as the Stock Car Pro Series, Stock Light, Turismo Nacional and Formula 4 Brazil fill out the calendar when the track is open. If you’re into Brazilian racing more broadly, our Interlagos guide covers the country’s Formula 1 track, and our Dakar Rally guide covers the rally-raid world that the Sertões belongs to.
March or April
MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix
MotoGP Moto2 and Moto3
MotoGP’s Brazilian round. The 2026 race on March 22 was the first here since 1989: Marco Bezzecchi won from Jorge Martín and Fabio Di Giannantonio, in a race shortened to 23 laps. Daniel Holgado won in Moto2 and Máximo Quiles in Moto3. The 2027 race is April 2–4.
Varies
Stock Car Pro Series
Stock Car Pro Series Brazilian touring cars
Brazil’s top touring-car series has raced at Goiânia on and off since 2014. In May 2026 it reopened the rebuilt track, with Felipe Fraga and Gaetano di Mauro winning the two races; the planned October round was moved while the track was resurfaced.
August
Rally dos Sertões
Rally dos Sertões Rally raid
Brazil’s big cross-country rally started and finished in Goiânia in 2026 (August 22–30), though the prologue ran on a separate course rather than on the circuit. Lucas Moraes and Kaique Bentivoglio won in cars, and Bruno Crivilin won on bikes.
Goiânia Race Calendar: 2026 and 2027
2026 was an unusual year at Goiânia: two big race weekends, then months of closure while the track was resurfaced again. The state expects motorsport to return around the end of 2026, but no event date had been confirmed at the time of writing. Dates marked TBA haven’t been announced; check the official channels before you book.
2026 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 20–22 | Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix | MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 | Done |
| May 15–17 | Stock Car Pro Series, round 4 | Stock Car Pro Series, with Stock Light, Turismo Nacional and F4 Brazil | Done |
| Aug 22–30 | Rally dos Sertões (start and finish in Goiânia) | Rally dos Sertões | Done |
| October | Stock Car Pro Series round | Stock Car Pro Series | Moved (track rebuild) |
| Late 2026 | Return of motorsport after the resurface | National events | Date TBA |
2027 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2–4 | Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix | MotoGP, round 3 | Upcoming |
| TBA | Stock Car Pro Series rounds | Stock Car Pro Series | Date TBA |
| TBA | Rally dos Sertões | Rally dos Sertões (route not yet announced) | Date TBA |
Goiânia Weather by Season
Goiânia sits on Brazil’s central plateau with a tropical climate: it’s warm all year, and the real difference between seasons is rain, with a wet season from about October to April and a very dry winter. Seasons are flipped from North America and Europe. The figures below are 1991–2020 averages for Goiânia from Brazil’s national weather service, INMET.
31°C / 88°F
Summer · Dec–Feb
Average highs of about 31°C (87–88°F) and lows near 20°C (68°F). This is the heart of the rainy season, with 236–272 mm (9.3–10.7 in) of rain a month, usually in heavy afternoon storms.
30–31°C / 86–88°F
Autumn · Mar–May
Highs stay around 30–31°C (86–88°F) while the rain tapers off, from about 259 mm (10.2 in) in March to 138 mm (5.4 in) in April and just 30 mm (1.2 in) in May. The April 2027 Grand Prix falls at the tail end of the wet season, so rain is possible.
30–33°C / 86–91°F
Winter · Jun–Aug
Dry season: barely any rain (July averages 1.5 mm, or 0.06 in), sunny days around 30–33°C (86–91°F) and cooler nights of about 15–17°C (59–62°F).
31–34°C / 88–93°F
Spring · Sep–Nov
The hottest stretch of the year, with September averaging 34°C (93°F). Rain returns in October and builds to about 220 mm (8.7 in) in November.
Visiting Goiânia: Tickets, Getting There and Tips
For most visitors, a trip to Goiânia means the MotoGP weekend, when the city and the state put on a big transport and parking operation. For national events it’s a much easier, cheaper day out.
Tickets
MotoGP tickets for Goiânia are sold through Eventim, the official ticketing partner, so buy there or through MotoGP’s own channels rather than resellers. National events are far cheaper: for the May 2026 Stock Car weekend, general admission on the grass bank cost R$220, and the covered grandstand sold out ahead of time.
Getting there
The circuit is on the GO-020 highway on the edge of Goiânia, and Santa Genoveva airport is the nearest airport. For the 2026 Grand Prix, the city’s RMTC bus network ran event buses from the Isidória, Praça da Bíblia and Paulo Garcia terminals, and about 13,500 parking spaces were set up at sites such as the Serra Dourada stadium and the Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Center, with shuttles running roughly every 15 minutes. Expect a similar plan for 2027, but check the official announcements closer to the race.
Tips
Plan for heat and strong sun even outside summer: bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water, plus a light rain jacket for the wet season. Ear protection is a good idea for MotoGP. Crowds were above 150,000 for the 2026 weekend, so leave early and give yourself extra time to get home after the race.
Can You Drive the Goiânia Circuit?
Not right now. There’s no regular track-day program, and the track has been closed to motorsport for much of 2026 while it was rebuilt. In the past, the Goiás motorcycling federation (FMG) ran occasional motorcycle track days here, so keep an eye out for events once the track reopens. In the meantime, since October 9, 2026 the circuit has been open early in the morning (5:00–8:30 a.m.) for cycling on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and for running on Mondays and Wednesdays.
On screen, it’s easier. Goiânia is in the official MotoGP 26 game, released in April 2026, and Automobilista 2 includes the full circuit plus the Short and External layouts. Just remember that older sim versions show the pre-2026 S section without the new chicane.
Talk Goiânia With Other Enthusiasts
Heading to the Brazilian MotoGP round, following Stock Car or just chasing a lap time in a sim? Share what you know, ask questions and find people going the same weekend in the AutoGathering community.
- Brazilian MotoGP trips
- Getting to the track
- Where to watch
- Stock Car weekends
- Rally dos Sertões
- Goiânia photos
- Automobilista 2 lap times
- Track reopening news
Goiânia Circuit FAQ
How long is the Goiânia circuit?
The mixed layout used by MotoGP is 3.835 km (2.383 miles) long with 14 turns, 9 to the right and 5 to the left. Its main straight is 994 m (3,261 ft) long.
Why is the Goiânia circuit named after Ayrton Senna?
It was renamed in his honor after his death in 1994. It opened in 1974 as the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia, and Senna never raced there.
When is the 2027 Brazilian MotoGP?
The 2027 Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix runs April 2–4, 2027, at Goiânia, as round 3 of the MotoGP season.
Who won the 2026 Brazilian MotoGP?
Marco Bezzecchi won for Aprilia on March 22, 2026, ahead of Jorge Martín and Fabio Di Giannantonio. The race was shortened from 31 to 23 laps because the asphalt broke up at Turns 11 and 12.
What is the lap record at Goiânia?
The MotoGP race lap record is 1:18.654, set by Marco Bezzecchi in 2026. The fastest MotoGP lap ever is Fabio Di Giannantonio’s 1:17.410 pole lap the same weekend.
Why is the Goiânia track being resurfaced again?
The surface laid for the 2026 Grand Prix broke up during the race, so the whole track is being resurfaced under the contractor’s warranty. Motorsport is expected back at the end of 2026.
How do you get to the Goiânia circuit?
The circuit is on the GO-020 highway. On MotoGP weekend, event buses run from city bus terminals and shuttles link remote parking lots to the track. The nearest airport is Santa Genoveva.
Can you ride or drive on the Goiânia circuit?
There’s no regular track-day program. Since October 2026 the track has been open early in the morning for cycling and running, and occasional motorcycle track days have been held in the past.
Explore More Racing Circuits
Goiânia is one of 25 circuits and rally events in our South American racing directory. The nearest neighbor is the Autódromo Internacional de Brasília, a few hours’ drive northeast in the capital, and Interlagos in São Paulo is home of the Brazilian Formula 1 race.
Photo credits
- Header image: Boaventuravinicius, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Track map of the Goiânia mixed circuit…: Will Pittenger, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- MotoGP riders sweep through a long corner…: Boaventuravinicius, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.
- A MotoGP rider on the colorful curbs…: Boaventuravinicius, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Stock Car Pro Series cars racing at…: NaBUru38, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- A rally car kicks up dust on…: Sertoes, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.