The circuit was built on flat swampland at the southern edge of Buenos Aires and surrounded by large grandstands that gave spectators broad sightlines across the infield. Its flat topography and modular infield section — which could be added or removed to alter lap lengths significantly — made it one of the most versatile venues in international motorsport. The 1000 km Buenos Aires sports car event, which ran from 1954 to 1960, used the circuit in combination with sections of nearby highway, demonstrating the ambition of Argentine organisers in staging international-calibre endurance events from the circuit's earliest years.
The Buenos Aires Grand Prix ran continuously at the venue from 1952 to 2009, encompassing Formula Libre, Formula Two, Formula Three, and touring car categories in addition to its grand prix connections.
Formula One used the Autodromo across four distinct circuit configurations over its 45-year relationship with the venue.
The No.2 configuration, employed from 1953 to 1960, established the circuit's Formula One credentials during the era of Fangio, Gonzalez, and early world championship racing. Argentina was a founding fixture of the world championship calendar and the Buenos Aires race drew large passionate crowds throughout the 1950s.
The No.9 layout was used from 1971 to 1973 as Formula One returned to Argentina after a twelve-year absence.
The No.15 configuration, used from 1974 to 1981, was the fastest the Autodromo offered. It added two long straights and a sweeping third-gear corner between them that cars could take at the absolute limit; at 305 km/h on exit, the cars were flat out for approximately 40 consecutive seconds through the sector. This version of the circuit provided some of the most dramatic spectating anywhere in Formula One during this period.
The Argentine Grand Prix was dropped from the 1982 calendar following Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands and the simultaneous sudden retirement of Carlos Reutemann — the local favourite — after the 1982 Brazilian Grand Prix. Formula One did not return until 1995.
The No.6 configuration, using the Senna S chicane rather than the Tobogán section, hosted the Argentine Grand Prix from 1995 to 1998. This tight, twisting layout was not popular with Formula One teams or drivers, who felt it created little overtaking opportunity. After the 1998 race the event was dropped permanently from the calendar due to a lack of funding to support the sanctioning fee.
Ten Argentine motorcycle Grand Prix events were held at the Autodromo between 1961 and 1999 across the No.2, No.1, No.8, and No.6 circuits. A major redevelopment programme announced in 2025 aims to bring the circuit to FIA Grade 2 standard to host MotoGP from 2027.
The circuit carried four official names through its history. From 1952 to 1955 it was the Autodromo 17 de Octubre. Following Perón's overthrow it became the Autodromo Municipal Ciudad de Buenos Aires, and from the mid-1960s acquired the longer designation Autodromo Municipal del Parque Almirante Brown de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. In 1989 it was renamed the Autodromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez to honour the elder of the two celebrated brothers. A further renaming in 2008 added Juan Gálvez's name to produce the current official title.
The flat open site, surrounded by large permanent grandstands, meant the Autodromo was better suited to spectating than many of its contemporaries — sightlines across the infield allowed most spectators to see a significant portion of the lap. The circuit's ability to accommodate layouts ranging from tight infield configurations to high-speed circuits using external straights gave it unusual flexibility across different classes of competition. Stock car, touring car, and sports prototype events have continued to use the venue throughout its history alongside the international categories.