The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, in Interlagos, hosts this weekend the Interlagos Super Challenge, valid as the third round of the 2026 TCR South America season. The race will have a special long-distance format and promises to raise the strategic level of the competition.
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The race will be held for approximately 58 minutes plus one lap, with a mandatory pit stop and driver change, in addition to the return of guest drivers to the category. The event will feature the “Long Race” scoring system, as provided in Article 17 of the official regulations.
In total, there will be 21 pairs formed by regular and guest drivers with prominence in regional and international motorsport. Among the debutants are champions of the Stock Car Pro Series, the Uruguayan Super Touring Championship, the Argentine Turismo Carretera Championship, and TCR Europe. Leonel Pernía and Nelson Piquet Jr., champions of TCR South America and TCR Brasil, respectively, also participate.
The Interlagos track, known for its tradition and technical demands, adds another element of difficulty to the weekend, especially due to its altitude variations and challenging characteristics for drivers and teams.
The event format requires extra attention to strategy. Teams will need to manage race pace, tire wear, and pit stop execution, all decisive factors for the final result.
Before the race, the schedule includes a shakedown and three 30-minute free practice sessions. Following that, there will be two 15-minute qualifying sessions (Q1 and Q2), with all cars participating. Guest driver “B” enters Q1, while regular driver “A” competes in Q2. At the end of the sessions, the sum of each driver’s best times will determine the grid.
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Driver changes are scheduled to occur between laps 17 and 22, and are prohibited during Safety Car periods. If the Safety Car is deployed during this interval, lap 22 will be extended proportionally to the number of laps it remained on track.
For pit stops, the time between entering and exiting the pit lane will be timed by transponder, requiring a minimum of 1 minute and 45 seconds. If a team completes the procedure in less than the recorded minimum time, a 90-second penalty will be applied.
At the start, cars must maintain a 2×2 grid formation, with speeds between 70 and 90 km/h, in a compact formation, with no gaps between rows and strictly respecting the formation line.
With this set of rules and differentiated format, the Interlagos Super Challenge consolidates itself as one of the most important rounds of the season, combining spectacle, strategy, and a high competitive level within the TCR South America Banco BRB.
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