Autódromo Jorge Ángel Pena (San Martín, Mendoza)
Autódromo Jorge Ángel Pena (San Martín, Mendoza) at a glance
- Location
- San Martín, Mendoza
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.167 km (2.589 mi)
- Turns
- 12
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1978
Track map and layout
The circuit sits in Barrio Venier on the outskirts of San Martín, alongside Ruta Nacional 7 around 45 km east of Mendoza city, in the heart of Argentina's wine country. It opened in 1978 as a short 1.602 km, seven-turn track and has since been progressively lengthened: to 2.668 km in the mid-1990s, to 3.585 km in 2006 to suit TC2000, and to its current 4.167 km (2.589 miles), 12-turn form in March 2012, which finally allowed Turismo Carretera to race there. The medium (3.585 km) and short (2.668 km) configurations remain in occasional use for other categories.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit (2012-present) | 4.17 km | current 12-turn layout used by Turismo Carretera and TC2000 |
| Medium circuit (2006-present) | 3.58 km | 3.585 km, 10-turn layout used for some categories |
| Original historical circuit (1994-2005) | 2.67 km | 2.668 km, 11-turn layout |
| Original circuit (1978-2005) | 1.60 km | 1.602 km, 7-turn layout used before expansion |
Events and race weekends
The circuit has hosted Turismo Nacional intermittently since 1979 and became a regular TC2000 venue from the mid-1990s, with rounds through the 2000s and 2010s. Its 2012 expansion to the current 4.167 km layout brought Turismo Carretera to San Martín for the first time, with rounds in 2012-2013, and Top Race V6 has also raced there. It sits in Mendoza's wine-producing region, giving visiting fans an easy opportunity to combine a race weekend with vineyard tourism.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turismo Nacional round | Turismo Nacional | Multiple dates | an intermittent venue for the category since 1979, with a fixture from 2025 |
| TC2000 / Súper TC2000 rounds | TC2000 / Súper TC2000 | Multiple dates | a regular venue historically, though not every season |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits directly alongside Ruta Nacional 7, the main road linking Mendoza with San Martín, around 45 minutes' drive east of Mendoza's airport. From Mendoza, follow RN7 to the junction with Route 63 on the outskirts of San Martín, turn onto Route 63 then Route 60 toward Palmira, and follow local streets to the circuit entrance. Local bus lines 240, 250 and 260 connect Mendoza with San Martín, from where a short local transfer reaches the venue; the trip from Mendoza takes around 40-45 minutes by bus.
- Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (Mendoza) (MDZ) · about 45 min drive
Parking
General parking areas operate around the circuit for race meetings; the venue's location alongside Ruta Nacional 7 makes driving from Mendoza straightforward outside peak arrival times.
Combine a race weekend with Mendoza's wine country, since the circuit sits in the heart of the region's vineyard area on the way out from the city.
Hotels and camping near Autódromo Jorge Ángel Pena (San Martín, Mendoza)
Most visitors base themselves in Mendoza city, around 45 km and 45 minutes' drive away, which offers by far the widest choice of hotels, restaurants and wine-tourism experiences; San Martín itself has a smaller, more limited range of local accommodation closer to the circuit. Combining a race visit with a Mendoza wine-country stay is a popular option given the circuit's location within the region's vineyard area.
Where to look
Mendoza city for the widest choice of hotels and wine-tourism amenities; San Martín itself for a smaller, more limited range of accommodation closer to the circuit.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
The circuit is used mainly for organised race meetings across Argentina's domestic touring-car and stock-car categories rather than for advertised public track days. There is no established public programme allowing private car or motorcycle owners to book self-drive sessions in the way some circuits abroad offer; visitors wanting to experience the track are best served by attending one of its race weekends.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TC2000 (Full circuit) | 1:19.733 | Agustín Canapino | Chevrolet Cruze | 2018 |
| Turismo Carretera (Full circuit) | 1:24.850 | José María López | — | 2012 |
Spectator guide
Grandstands and general admission areas line the main straight and several corners, giving fans a view of the circuit's mixed, technical 12-turn layout. Mendoza's dry, sunny climate makes race weekends generally pleasant, though summer afternoons can be hot, so sun protection is worth bringing.
Seating
Grandstands run along the pit straight and start-finish area, with general admission spots around other parts of the lap.
Best places to watch
General admission areas near the infield corners give a good view of overtaking on the current 12-turn layout.
Weather
- December-February: hot and dry, with highs commonly in the low 30s°C
- June-August: cool and dry, with highs commonly in the mid-teens°C
History of Autódromo Jorge Ángel Pena (San Martín, Mendoza)
A San Martín circuit for Mendoza's wine country
The Autódromo Jorge Ángel Pena opened in 1978 in Barrio Venier on the outskirts of San Martín, a town in the heart of Mendoza's wine-producing region around 45 km east of the provincial capital. Its original layout was a short, 1.602 km, seven-turn track, modest by the standards of Argentina's larger domestic circuits, and it was used mainly for regional and Turismo Nacional racing in its early decades, including a Turismo Nacional round in 1979.
Progressive expansion
Rather than a single major rebuild, the circuit grew in stages. A significant lengthening in the mid-1990s took the lap to 2.668 km, and the venue began hosting TC2000 from 1995. A further extension in 2006, to 3.585 km, was aimed squarely at accommodating TC2000's growing car specifications, and the circuit continued as a fixture on that category's calendar through the 2000s. The most significant change came in March 2012, when the track was extended again to its current 4.167 km, 12-turn form, finally meeting the requirements to host Turismo Carretera, Argentina's premier domestic stock-car category, for the first time.
Present day
Since 2012 the circuit has alternated between Turismo Carretera, TC2000/Súper TC2000, Top Race V6 and Turismo Nacional rounds, though not every category visits every season. Its location directly alongside Ruta Nacional 7 and within Mendoza's vineyard region makes it a natural stop for visitors combining motorsport with wine tourism, and it remains one of the more scenic settings on Argentina's domestic racing calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Jorge Ángel Pena circuit?+
The current full layout, in use since March 2012, is 4.167 km (2.589 miles) with 12 corners; shorter historical configurations of 3.585 km, 2.668 km and 1.602 km have also been used over the years.
What racing series use the circuit?+
Turismo Carretera, TC2000/Súper TC2000, Top Race V6 and Turismo Nacional have all raced there, though not every category visits every season.
How far is the circuit from Mendoza city?+
About 45 km, roughly a 45-minute drive along Ruta Nacional 7, or around 40-45 minutes by local bus.
Can I combine a visit with Mendoza wine tourism?+
Yes. The circuit sits within Mendoza's wine-producing region near San Martín, making it easy to pair a race weekend with vineyard visits.
Can the public drive on the track?+
There is no regular, publicly advertised track-day programme; the circuit is used mainly for organised domestic race meetings.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuito San Juan Villicum · 185 km · road course
- Autódromo Las Vizcachas · 198 km · dormant
- Autódromo Rosendo Hernández (San Luis) · 198 km · road course
- Circuito Internacional Potrero de los Funes · 211 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Autódromo Internacional de Codegua · 226 km · road course
- Circuito Parque La Pedrera (Autódromo José Carlos Bassi) · 287 km · street circuit
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.