Autódromo General San Martín

Autódromo General San Martín at a glance

Location

Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut

Type

road course

Length

4.17 km (2.591 mi)

Turns

15

Direction

clockwise

Surface

asphalt

Opened

1969

Owner

Automóvil Club Comodoro Rivadavia / municipal

Address

Ruta Nacional 3, near the Aeroclub Comodoro Rivadavia aerodrome

Track map and layout

The Autódromo General San Martín sits on the Patagonian coast just off Ruta Nacional 3, beside the Aeroclub Comodoro Rivadavia aerodrome, and is exposed to the strong, unpredictable winds that blow off the South Atlantic almost year-round. The facility can be configured into several layouts, from a short 3.1 km club circuit up to the 4.170 km, 15-turn Long Circuit used for the biggest national meetings, and it grew out of a dirt oval first laid out in 1966 before being paved in 1969. A distinctive fast S-curve sequence nicknamed "la Viborita" (the little snake) was added when the track was surfaced, and remains one of its defining features. Gusting crosswinds, sudden temperature swings and reduced visibility in bad weather make it one of the more physically demanding stops on the Argentine calendar, quite unlike the more sheltered circuits further north.

Configurations

Events and race weekends

The circuit is a regular, though not annual, stop for Argentina's top national touring car categories, chosen for its remote Patagonian setting rather than a fixed slot on the calendar. Turismo Carretera has raced here repeatedly since its 1969 opening (most recently in 2022), alongside visits from TC2000, TC Pista, TC Pick Up and Top Race V6; there is no fixed yearly date, and rounds are announced season by season by each series' governing body.

Getting there and parking

Comodoro Rivadavia is served by its own airport a short distance from the circuit, making it the practical way in for most visitors given the long overland distances across Patagonia; long-distance buses also connect the city to Buenos Aires and other Patagonian towns, though journeys run well over 20 hours by road. There is no rail service in this part of Argentina.

• Comodoro Rivadavia General Enrique Mosconi Airport (CRD) · about 15 min drive

Pack layers and windproof clothing even in summer; the site sits exposed to strong South Atlantic winds that can change conditions quickly.

Hotels and camping near Autódromo General San Martín

Comodoro Rivadavia itself, a mid-sized oil and fishing city on the Patagonian coast, has the area's main hotel supply and is the obvious base for a race weekend, with options ranging from business hotels to budget lodgings a short drive from the circuit. There is no dedicated trackside accommodation or camping culture at this venue, unlike some of Argentina's larger permanent circuits.

Where to look

Central Comodoro Rivadavia, a short drive from the circuit, has the widest choice of hotels in this part of Chubut.

Track days, driving experiences and lap records

This is a competition and club-racing facility rather than a commercial track-day venue, and there is no public programme allowing visitors to drive the circuit outside organised race meetings and local club events. Argentine national series such as Turismo Carretera do not run public test or ride days here.

Lap records

Spectator guide

Spectator facilities are modest compared with Argentina's major venues, with general-admission viewing areas around the perimeter of the Long Circuit rather than large permanent grandstands. Wind and sudden weather changes are the main practical concern for spectators year-round, so warm, windproof clothing is essential whatever the season.

Seating

General-admission banks and fencing around the main straight and key corners; no large permanent grandstand structures.

Best places to watch

Areas near the fast S-curve sequence and the main straight give the best sense of the circuit's high-speed character.

Weather

• Dec-Feb (summer): mild but very windy, highs around 20-24°C with frequent strong gusts
• Jun-Aug (winter): cold, highs around 8-10°C, occasional snow and strong winds

History of Autódromo General San Martín

From dirt oval to Patagonian asphalt circuit

The Autódromo General San Martín traces its roots to 1966, when ground was broken on a dirt racing facility beside the small Aeroclub Comodoro Rivadavia aerodrome on Ruta Nacional 3, on Argentina's windswept Patagonian coast. The circuit was paved in November 1969 and formally opened on 14 December that year with a season-ending round of Turismo Carretera, Argentina's premier touring car category, instantly establishing the venue as a serious stop on the national calendar despite its remote location roughly 1,800 km south of Buenos Aires. The asphalt layout largely followed the original dirt track's shape but added a new, fast S-curve sequence that competitors nicknamed "la Viborita" (the little snake), a feature still associated with the circuit today.

A demanding, wind-battered venue

Unlike Argentina's more sheltered central circuits, San Martín sits exposed to the strong, gusting winds that blow almost constantly off the South Atlantic, combined with sudden temperature swings and, at times, reduced visibility. These conditions have made it one of the most physically and mentally demanding tracks on the domestic calendar, and the facility can be configured into several layouts, from a compact 3.1 km club circuit up to the 4.170 km, 15-turn Long Circuit used for the biggest meetings. Turismo Carretera, TC2000, TC Pista, Top Race V6 and Turismo Nacional have all raced here at various points since 1969, though never on a fixed annual date; rounds are scheduled depending on each series' calendar for the season. The circuit's isolation from Argentina's other tracks means race weekends here draw heavily on local and provincial support alongside travelling national series regulars.

A serious, if infrequent, safety record

The track's high average speeds and exposure to the elements have occasionally been implicated in serious accidents, including a fatal multi-car crash in 2007 that contributed to safety changes in Turismo Carretera regulations. Today the Autódromo General San Martín remains active as a multi-purpose regional facility, hosting club racing and periodic visits from Argentina's national touring car series, valued for its unique Patagonian character even if it lacks the permanent grandstands and year-round calendar of the country's flagship circuits.

Frequently asked questions

Other tracks nearby

• Autódromo Mar y Valle · 341 km · road course
• Autódromo Parque Provincia del Neuquén (Centenario) · 785 km · road course