The inaugural Mil Milhas Brasil was held on November 24–25, 1956, at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos, São Paulo, with 31 cars competing. The race typically spans 12 hours and covers approximately 1,000 miles (1,609 km), challenging teams of drivers and a grid of over 70 vehicles, including GT cars, prototypes, and production models. The event began as a nighttime endurance contest on Interlagos' original 8 km layout, fostering rivalry between São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul drivers while showcasing national and imported vehicles without strict technical restrictions. The inaugural edition was won by Catarino Andreatta and Breno Fornari in a 1940 Ford Carretera.
Interlagos hosted the event from 1956 to 1996. The 1997 edition moved to the Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet in Jacarepagua, Brasília, and the 1999 edition to Curitiba, before Interlagos resumed as the permanent venue from 2001. The race experienced hiatuses, including 1962–1964, 1974–1980, and 2009–2019, but resumed in 2020. The 2025 edition is scheduled for January 23–26.
In 2007, the Mil Milhas Brasil was incorporated into the Le Mans Series calendar, marking the first time the event formed part of an international championship. Previously, it had featured as a non-championship round in the BPR Global GT Series and the FIA GT Championship. The FIA GT Championship had initially planned to host the event in 2007 but transferred organization to the Le Mans Series.
The Mil Milhas Brasil was initially held on the original full layout of the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, which measured approximately 7.96 km and was used from 1956 through 1989 for the race. In 1990, the track underwent significant modifications, shortening the circuit to 4.309 km by removing the outer loop and reconfiguring the layout to include a new downhill Senna 'S' section and tighter infield turns. This revised configuration was adopted for the Mil Milhas Brasil from 1990 to 1996. From 2001 to 2008, the event utilized the 4.309 km layout with incremental tweaks, including the addition and refinement of chicanes. Post-2009, the event has predominantly employed the standard 4.309 km Formula One configuration.
The Mil Milhas Brasil is structured as a multi-day endurance event, typically spanning Thursday to Sunday. Practice sessions occur on Thursday, qualifying on Friday, and the main race is a continuous 1,000-mile (approximately 1,609 km) endurance contest, equivalent to 373 laps on the 4.309 km circuit, with a maximum duration of 12 hours plus one additional lap. The race commences late Saturday evening at 23:59 with a standing start and extends into Sunday morning. Pit stop regulations enforce mandatory halts for refueling, tire changes, and driver swaps, with each stop requiring a minimum duration of 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Driver changes must occur every 3 hours and 30 minutes maximum of continuous driving, followed by at least 1 hour of rest, and teams may field 2 to 5 drivers per vehicle.
Safety protocols have evolved significantly, with the 1980s marking a shift toward more rigorous personal protective equipment requirements, including fire-resistant suits. By the 2000s, integration into the FIA-sanctioned Le Mans Series in 2007 introduced measures such as a 50 km/h speed limit in the pits, on-site medical helicopters, and upgraded barriers. The Head and Neck Support (HANS) device became mandatory around this period. Current regulations (as of 2025) mandate equipment including fire-resistant suits, homologated gloves, closed helmets, HANS devices, 4 kg ABC powder extinguishers, 6-point roll cages for touring cars, oil catch tanks, and external safety latches.
The Mil Milhas Brasil features diverse vehicle classes, primarily prototypes, GT (Grand Touring) cars, and touring cars (TC), with numerous sub-classes. Prototypes form the top tier, with classes such as P1, P2, P3, P4, and national-exclusive PN variants. The P1 class is eligible for national prototypes like the Metalmoro AJR or Sigma P1, as well as international FIA LMP3 models like the Ligier JS P320. GT classes include FIA-homologated GT3 and GT4 for modern production-derived racers like the Porsche 911 GT3 or McLaren 570S. Touring car divisions, such as T1, T2, and T2A, target national or Mercosul-produced vehicles. Scoring emphasizes endurance, with separate winners declared for each class based on the greatest distance covered within the fixed 12-hour duration.
Zeca Giaffone holds the record for most overall victories by a driver, with five wins achieved in 1981, 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1989. Porsche stands out among manufacturers for its long-term success, securing numerous class and overall triumphs, exemplified by the Stuttgart Motorsport team's five victories since the early 2000s using models like the 911 GT3 R. Notable past winners include Nelson Piquet (1996) and Hélio Castroneves (2006).
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