Autódromo Parque Provincia del Neuquén (Centenario)
Autódromo Parque Provincia del Neuquén (Centenario) at a glance
- Location
- Centenario, Neuquén
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.319 km (2.684 mi)
- Turns
- 8
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2009
- Owner
- Government of Neuquén Province
Track map and layout
Built on a 190-hectare site at Centenario, only around 15 km from Neuquén city in Argentine Patagonia, the circuit was constructed over roughly 24 months at a cost of more than 18 million pesos before opening in September 2009. The main layout runs 4.319 km (2.684 miles) over eight corners; sources vary slightly on the exact length (some quote 4.380 km), likely reflecting different measurement points around the same basic layout. Additional shorter configurations exist within the same complex for support categories and testing, though detailed figures for these are not consistently reported.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit (2009-present) | 4.32 km | 8-turn main layout used by Turismo Carretera and TC2000 |
Events and race weekends
The circuit opened on 6 September 2009 with a TC2000 race and has since become a regular venue for Argentina's domestic motorsport calendar, with Turismo Carretera racing there in most seasons since its first round in April 2010 (with some gaps, including 2012 and 2021). TC2000, Turismo Nacional, Top Race V6, TC Mouras and TC Pick Up have also raced at the venue over the years, making it Patagonia's principal purpose-built motorsport circuit.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turismo Carretera round | Turismo Carretera (TC) | Multiple dates | the circuit's most frequent modern tenant since 2010, with occasional gaps |
| TC2000 / Súper TC2000 rounds | TC2000 / Súper TC2000 | Multiple dates |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits at Centenario, around 15 km from Neuquén city and close to Neuquén's own airport, making it one of the more accessible circuits on Argentina's domestic calendar for a Patagonian venue. A taxi from the airport to Centenario takes around 20-25 minutes; ride-share options and local buses also connect Neuquén city with Centenario for visitors without a rental car.
- Presidente Perón Airport (Neuquén) (NQN) · about 25 min drive
Parking
General parking areas operate around the circuit for race meetings; the short distance from Neuquén city and its airport makes driving straightforward outside peak arrival times.
Book a taxi or ride-share directly from Neuquén's airport to Centenario rather than routing through the city centre, since the circuit is roughly equidistant from both.
Hotels and camping near Autódromo Parque Provincia del Neuquén (Centenario)
Centenario itself has a small but growing range of hotels around its town centre, convenient for race weekends, while Neuquén city, a short drive away, offers a considerably wider choice of accommodation, restaurants and services for visitors combining a race visit with time in Patagonia's largest urban centre.
Where to look
Centenario town centre for proximity to the circuit; Neuquén city for a wider choice of hotels and amenities, around 15 km away.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
The circuit is owned and run by the Neuquén provincial government and 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turismo Carretera (outright) | 1:27.187 | Julián Santero | — | 2023 |
| TC2000 | 1:28.034 | Bernardo Llaver | Chevrolet Cruze | 2022 |
| TC Pick Up | 1:33.622 | Mariano Werner | Toyota Hilux | 2022 |
Spectator guide
Grandstands and general admission areas line the main straight and several corners, giving fans a view of the circuit's eight-turn layout. Patagonia's climate at Neuquén is dry with strong winds common, and temperatures swing widely between summer and winter race dates, so checking conditions before travelling is worthwhile.
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 circuit's braking zones give a good view of overtaking on the eight-turn layout.
Weather
- December-February: warm and dry, with highs commonly in the low 30s°C and strong winds possible
- June-August: cold, with highs commonly around 10°C and occasional frost
History of Autódromo Parque Provincia del Neuquén (Centenario)
A new circuit for Patagonia
Construction of the Autódromo Parque Provincia del Neuquén began in August 2007 on a large, 190-hectare site at Centenario, close to Neuquén city in Argentine Patagonia, as part of a provincial push led by project figure Julio Óscar "Lito" Holzmann to bring a modern, purpose-built racing facility to the region. The project took around 24 months to complete and cost more than 18 million pesos, a significant investment aimed at putting Patagonian motorsport on the national map.
Opening and early years
The circuit was presented in August 2009 and officially opened on 6 September 2009 with a TC2000 race. Turismo Carretera, Argentina's premier domestic stock-car category, followed with its first round at the venue in April 2010, and the circuit quickly became a fixture on the national calendar, also hosting Turismo Nacional, Top Race V6, TC Mouras and TC Pick Up over the following years.
Patagonia's flagship circuit
Turismo Carretera has returned to Centenario in most seasons since 2010, with occasional gaps including 2012 and 2021, and the circuit remains the principal purpose-built motorsport venue in Argentine Patagonia. Its short distance from both Neuquén city and its airport has helped it establish itself as a practical, well-attended stop on the domestic touring-car calendar, drawing crowds from across the wider Neuquén and Río Negro region for its Turismo Carretera weekends.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Centenario circuit?+
The main layout is 4.319 km (2.684 miles) with eight corners, though some sources give a slightly different figure of around 4.38 km for the same basic layout.
When did the circuit open?+
It opened on 6 September 2009 with a TC2000 race; Turismo Carretera followed with its first round in April 2010.
What racing series use the circuit?+
Turismo Carretera has been its most frequent tenant since 2010, alongside TC2000/Súper TC2000, Turismo Nacional, Top Race V6, TC Mouras and TC Pick Up over the years.
How far is the circuit from Neuquén city?+
About 15 km, roughly a 20-25 minute drive, and a similar distance from Neuquén's Presidente Perón Airport.
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 run by the Neuquén provincial government.
Other tracks nearby
- Autódromo Mar y Valle · 550 km · road course
- Autódromo Internacional de Codegua · 580 km · road course
- Autódromo Las Vizcachas · 621 km · dormant
- Circuito Parque La Pedrera (Autódromo José Carlos Bassi) · 622 km · street circuit
- Autódromo Rosendo Hernández (San Luis) · 634 km · road course
- Autódromo Jorge Ángel Pena (San Martín, Mendoza) · 645 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.