If you liked this past weekend’s IndyCar race in Brazil, you’ll be glad to learn that the IndyCar series is very likely to stage a second race in the South American country next year. IndyCar has announced that it received a “written commitment” from Tarso Genro -- the governor-elect of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul -- to hold a race next year. Jose Fortunati, mayor of Porto Alegre, is also enthusiastic about the race, pledging to support next year’s event. But next year’s event promises to be significantly different from this past weekend’s event, which was contested at the Anhembi circuit.
One of the documents signed by Genro and Fortunati was a letter of intent that both municipal and state governments will seek Brazilian federal and corporate funding to stage a street race through Porto Alegre in September 2012. The actual staging of the race depends upon this funding materializing. But IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard seems optimistic that they will have a second Brazilian race.
“It appears to us that the governor and mayor are very optimistic that all funding will happen and that we will soon reach a formal agreement to have a race in 2012,” says IndyCar series commercial division president Terry Angstadt to IndyCar.com. “The cooperation between the state and municipal level indicates the broad-based support necessary to host world-class international events.”
IndyCar is enthusiastic about the deal not only because a race in Porto Alegre would solidify the series’ position in Brazil, but also because the city is within reasonable distance of Uruguay and Argentina, two other markets IndyCar would like to exploit.
With the spring race in Sao Paulo and a second Brazilian race at Porto Alegre in September, IndyCar would give itself a strong footprint in Brazil, a country that is experiencing strong economic growth. The American race series always enjoys considerable success with its two Canadian events -- in Toronto and Edmonton -- and it would like to develop a similar one-two punch in Brazil. Now we just have to see if the hoped-for funding will be approved.
