The 2023 Sao Paulo F1 Grand Prix, formerly known as Brazilian Grand Prix (Portuguese: Grande Prêmio do Brasil), will be held on Nov. 5, 2023, at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos neighborhood of São Paulo, Brazil.

It is the last round of the Formula One World Championship, and, as such, title implications are common. Last year, the race drew more than 180,000 spectators.

Here’s what you need to know:

The Race

The 2023 race will be held at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace. The schedule is as follows:

• Friday-Saturday, November 3rd: Practice
• Saturday, November 4th: Qualifying/Sprint
• Sunday, November 5th: Race

Read full race details.

VIP Nightlife

F1 Grand Prix races attract more than race enthusiasts, and the race is merely the finale of a high-traffic period of race-related events throughout Sao Paulo.

Click here for more on the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Experiences packages.

Preferred Airport

Guarulhos (SBGR) is the preferred airport. It is a 24/7 airport with complete services available. Airport slots aren’t required, but prior permission required (PPR) is needed. As the airport doesn’t have a public parking area, operators looking to stay here overnight will need to reserve parking at the private apron.

Parking at Guarulhos

GA parking should not be an issue at SBGR, and you’ll be able to park as long as you like. But it is not cheap to use the open-air hangar (OAH). So, be prepared for high prices between $500 – $4100, depending on the aircraft’s size.

The OAH area is located on Apron 12 and makes up a part of the former GA apron. More GA aircraft can be accommodated at SBGR by using a compact parking approach.

Open Air Hangar specifics

Towing requirements

Note that towing in and out of the OAH area is mandatory and towing charges are not included in overnight parking fees. Towing prices to/from OAH are displayed above. Operators don’t need to bring their own tow bars as local handlers are well-stocked for most business aircraft models.

Alternative airports

Congonhas (SBSP)

Congonhas (SBSP) is the closest airport to both the city center and the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace Interlagos race circuit in the Interlagos neighborhood. Drive time from SBSP to the Interlagos track is 30-40 minutes instead of about one hour and one hour 40 minutes from SBGR and Campinas (SBKP), respectively. However, there are restrictions to consider when operating to SBSP.

SBSP restrictions

SBSP operates daily from 0600-2300 local with no airport overtime possible. Airport slots are required at all times. As this is not an airport of entry (AOE), you’ll first need to land at an AOE in Brazil before proceeding to SBSP. You’ll need to use private hangars for overnight GA parking, as ramp parking is unavailable for non-commercial flights. Prices vary for private hangar parking but generally range between 1000 and 1500 USD/per night. The good news is that towing charges are included in overnight parking rates to/from the hangar area.

SBSP slot considerations

Airport slots at SBSP have +/- 30 min deviation and may be requested anytime between 120 hours and two hours before flight. Be mindful that you’ll need your AVANAC domestic flight permit approval before applying for an airport slot. It usually takes at least 48 hours to obtain a domestic flight permit, so you’ll want to have this as early as possible to give yourself time to secure an airport slot. At this point, no NOTAM restrictions have been issued for the weekend of the Formula One Grand Prix, but this may still become a factor to consider closer to the event. It’s recommendable to double-check if the slot requirement is extended after day 29 of October when Notam becomes ineffective for slots.

SBKP

SBKP is a 24-hour AOE about a one-hour 40-minute drive from central Sao Paulo. There’s no fixed-base operator (FBO) or general aviation terminal (GAT) at this location, but complete GA support services, fuel uplifts, and credit are available. The GA parking ramp at SBKP is relatively remote, and overnight parking charges run 800 to 1000 USD/night. You may park at SBKP as long as you wish but note that towing is mandatory, even if you’re parked in an area with no other aircraft nearby. Expect to pay about 300 USD each way for tows to/from your parking spot. These towing charges are in addition to overnight parking fees. At this location, we recommend that operators bring their own tow bar.

SBJH

This is the newest airport in São Paulo, built exclusively for executive/general aviation. SBJH is a private airport by JHSF group, owners of Fasano Hotel. Distance from São Paulo downtown to SBJH airport is 1h15m of driving time, approximately 75km. They are already cleared to perform international operations; however, they have a few restrictions due to federal authorities’ shift.

ALL WEEK  – FROM 0600LCL TO 2200LCL (0900UTC TO 0100UTC)

Requests must be placed 48 business hours prior.

Be prepared for high prices between $705 – $6150, depending on the aircraft size.

CIQ

At all AOEs in Brazil, customs, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ) are cleared within the commercial terminal. Except SBGR that has the private terminal or SBJH that is already a private airport.

IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ADD THE PRIVATE TERMINAL INFO FOR SBGR. PLEASE FIND BELOW.

GAT (Private Terminal):

GATGRU is the private terminal located right beside the apron where aircraft will be parked. If booked, pax and crew can clear CIQ in there. They also have a lounge with some amenities and its own parking lot. Kindly note information below:

GAT is available:

TOTAL FOR ARRIVAL: USD 2.000

TOTAL FOR DEPARTURE: USD 2.000

• Requests must be placed 24h prior or more. Less than that is subject to availability;
• Pre-payment is required and partially refundable;

Cancellation policy:

• Cancellations with more than 12h: 50% reimbursement;
• Cancellations with less than 12h: no reimbursement;
• Schedule changes with more than 12h: no charges
• Schedule changes superior to 1h30 min of the original schedule submitted with less than 12h will be subject to a new surcharge fee (listed above)

*CIQ. Authorities are not based at the GAT. Requests must be placed at least 12h prior.

**Terminal 3: Using the general terminal 3 there has no additional charge, but the clearance is done along with the commercial airline traffic, with no priority.

***The distance between the ramp and the terminal is around 15 minutes + 10 min of customs clearance and walking.

****GAT offers exclusive services (CIQ, security, VIP lounge, car parking lot, short distant from aircraft to GAT and between airport and external area) for the aircraft, crew and pax into the scheduled date/time.

At the moment, this process usually takes 20-30 minutes, depending upon arriving/departing international traffic.

Hotels and local transport

While hotel prices will be higher than usual during the Brazilian Grand Prix period, we expect an adequate supply of four-star crew accommodations to be available. While there are few hotels near the Interlagos track, there are many good hotel options in the city center, including international brands. Prices for 4-star crew accommodations will range from 200-400 USD/night. We recommend pre-paid (car with driver) options for local transport and avoiding public taxis. UBER also works well in this area, but ensuring you’ll have a driver who speaks your language isn’t easy.

Security considerations

At most airports in Brazil, arranging a guard to watch over your aircraft airside is possible. It must be set up at least 24 hours in advance to obtain airport authority approval. Guards must have proper security licensing and certificates and be unarmed. Off-airport security considerations are similar to other major world centers. In public areas, it’s recommended not to flash jewelry, cash, or talk too much on expensive mobile phones.

In-flight catering options

It’s best to provide a minimum of 24 hours notification for catering orders and 48 hours if special items, wines, or cuisines need to be sourced. The best options are established in-flight caterers who can deliver orders directly to your aircraft. Upon international arrival, all open catering must be disposed of. Unfortunately, there are no options in the Sao Paulo area to store leftover catering at the airport. However, sealed and/or sterile food items may be offloaded and taken to your hotel.

Access back to your aircraft

Before clearing CIQ upon arrival at a Sao Paulo area AOE, it’s essential for crew and passengers to ensure they’ve removed everything they’ll need from the aircraft. While the crew can access the aircraft before the day of departure to pick up left items or favorite sunglasses etc., this is not recommended. You’ll require permission from airport authorities and CIQ officials to access your aircraft airside, which may take up to several hours for your handler to coordinate. There’s also the possibility of fines if the crew leaves items onboard that need to be retrieved later.

Helicopter shuttles

Several service providers offer helicopter transfer options between SBKP and the Interlagos race track. Of course, this needs to be set up in advance, but it is very doable in this vertical takeoff and landing-friendly metropolis.

Conclusion

We don’t anticipate GA parking issues at SBGR for the Grand Prix event. It’s best to submit parking requests as early as possible. If you’re planning a short-notice trip to this year’s Brazilian Grand Prix, it’s best to avoid SBSP and choose a designated AOE – either SBGR or SBKP. This is because you’ll avoid the requirement of obtaining an AVANAC domestic overflight permit as you’re making no more than one stop in Brazil.

Be aware of hotel and transportation options when traveling to Brazil, especially for large events like the Grand Prix. Also, note that security should be a top consideration when traveling to Brazil outside of the airports.