Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo
Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo at a glance
- Location
- Termas de Río Hondo, Santiago del Estero
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.805 km (2.986 mi)
- Turns
- 14
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2008
- Owner
- Government of Santiago del Estero Province
- Website
- autodromotermas.com
Track map and layout
Set on the shore of the Río Hondo reservoir in northern Argentina's thermal-spa town of the same name, the circuit runs 4.805 km (2.986 miles) over 14 corners on the current Grand Prix layout, with a shorter 11-turn configuration also available. Opened in 2008 and substantially reworked by Italian designer Jarno Zaffelli ahead of its FIA Grade 2 homologation, the track combines a long back straight favoured by MotoGP bikes with a technical, medium-speed infield that has produced consistently close, overtaking-heavy racing since it joined the world championship calendar. The circuit sits on largely flat land close to the reservoir, giving spectators unusually open sightlines across much of the layout from the surrounding grass banks.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix Circuit (2013-present) | 4.80 km | current layout, used by MotoGP and WTCC |
| Short Circuit (2013-present) | 4.43 km | 11-turn short configuration used for some domestic racing |
| Original circuit (2008-2012) | 4.35 km | 10-turn layout used before the pre-MotoGP rebuild |
Events and race weekends
The circuit is best known as the home of the MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina, which brought premier-class motorcycle racing back to the country from 2014 after a 15-year absence and has run most years since (2014-2019, 2022-2023, 2025), interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and, in 2021, a fire that destroyed the pit and paddock buildings ahead of the 2022 return. The track also hosted the FIA World Touring Car Championship's Race of Argentina from 2013 to 2017, and remains a regular stop for Argentina's domestic Turismo Carretera, TC2000/Súper TC2000, Turismo Nacional and Top Race championships.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MotoGP Gran Premio de la República Argentina | MotoGP | Varies (historically March-April) | Run most years 2014-2025 (gaps 2020-21 and 2024). No 2026 race; the Argentine GP moves to the Autodromo Oscar y Juan Galvez in Buenos Aires from 2027 |
| Turismo Carretera / TC2000 rounds | Turismo Carretera / TC2000 | Multiple dates |
Getting there and parking
Termas de Río Hondo has its own small local airport a few kilometres from the circuit, though most fly-in visitors use the larger airports at Santiago del Estero or Tucumán, both under two hours away by road, then continue by car or bus. Intercity buses connect Termas de Río Hondo with Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Buenos Aires, and are a practical option for domestic travellers without a rental car; on MotoGP weekends, shuttle and taxi services increase to cope with demand.
- Termas de Río Hondo Airport (RHD) · about 10 min drive
- Santiago del Estero Airport (Vicecomodoro Ángel de la Paz Aragonés) (SDE) · about 75 min drive
- Teniente Benjamín Matienzo International Airport (Tucumán) (TUC) · about 90 min drive
Parking
General parking areas operate around the circuit for race weekends; on MotoGP dates, arriving early is recommended as the small town's road network becomes congested.
Book flights and rental cars into Tucumán well ahead of a MotoGP weekend, since seats and cars sell out fast for what is a relatively small regional airport network.
Hotels and camping near Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo
Termas de Río Hondo is a long-established thermal-spa resort town in its own right, so it has a large stock of hotels built around its hot-spring baths, including the Hotel Termas Uno on the circuit grounds itself. Most visitors stay in town, a few kilometres from the track, rather than in Santiago del Estero or Tucumán; rooms across the town sell out well in advance and prices rise sharply for the MotoGP weekend, so early booking is strongly recommended.
Where to look
The town of Termas de Río Hondo itself, close to the circuit and its thermal baths; Hotel Termas Uno sits directly on the autódromo grounds.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
The Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo is a provincially owned racing facility used mainly for professional domestic and international events rather than for public track days. There is no established, publicly advertised programme letting private car or motorcycle owners drive the circuit outside of organised race meetings, and team test days are not open to spectators. Visitors wanting to experience the track are best served by attending a race weekend.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MotoGP | 1:38.243 | Marc Márquez | — | 2025 |
| IndyCar | 1:29.88 | Agustín Canapino | — | 2022 |
Spectator guide
The circuit's relatively flat, open setting beside the Río Hondo reservoir gives spectators good sightlines across much of the lap from grass banking and general admission areas, alongside grandstands along the main straight. MotoGP weekends draw large, enthusiastic crowds who combine race-watching with the town's thermal baths; the region's climate is warm to hot for most of the year, so sun protection is worth planning for.
Seating
Grandstands run along the main straight and start-finish area, with general admission grass banking around much of the rest of the lap.
Best places to watch
General admission areas around the back-straight braking zones and infield give a good view of both bike speed and racing action.
Weather
- March-April (typical MotoGP window): warm, with highs commonly in the high 20s to low 30s°C
History of Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo
A new circuit for a thermal-spa town
The Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo opened on 10 May 2008 in Santiago del Estero Province, built on flat land beside the Río Hondo reservoir next to the long-established thermal-spa resort town from which it takes its name. Construction had begun the previous year as part of a provincial push to put the town on the international motorsport map, and the circuit quickly became a fixture of Argentina's domestic racing calendar, hosting Turismo Carretera, TC2000 and other national championships.
Rebuilt for world championship racing
Ahead of a push for international events, the circuit underwent a significant redesign overseen by Italian track designer Jarno Zaffelli, reworking the layout into the current 4.805 km, 14-turn Grand Prix configuration and earning FIA Grade 2 homologation in 2013. That upgrade paid off immediately: the FIA World Touring Car Championship's Race of Argentina ran at the venue from 2013 to 2017, and in 2014 the circuit brought premier-class Grand Prix motorcycle racing back to Argentina for the first time in fifteen years, hosting round three of the MotoGP world championship.
Fire, recovery and MotoGP's return
MotoGP became an annual fixture through 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellations in 2020-2021. The setback deepened in February 2021, when a major fire destroyed the circuit's pit buildings, press room and conference facilities, though the on-site museum and control tower survived. The paddock was rebuilt in time for MotoGP's return in 2022, and the race has continued intermittently since, including a 2025 edition, cementing the venue's status as Argentina's flagship motorcycle-racing circuit even as its calendar slot has occasionally shifted. Today the track remains busiest with Argentina's domestic Turismo Carretera, TC2000 and Turismo Nacional series between international dates.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Termas de Río Hondo circuit?+
The current Grand Prix layout used by MotoGP is 4.805 km (2.986 miles) with 14 corners; a shorter 11-turn configuration is also used for some events.
Does MotoGP still race at Termas de Río Hondo?+
MotoGP has raced there most years since 2014, including 2022, 2023 and 2025, though the pandemic and a 2021 fire caused some gaps; scheduling has not always been annual.
What is special about the location?+
The circuit sits beside the Río Hondo reservoir next to the town of Termas de Río Hondo, a long-established thermal-spa resort, so visitors can combine race weekends with hot-spring bathing.
What is the closest airport to the circuit?+
Termas de Río Hondo has its own small local airport (RHD) only a few kilometres away, though most visitors fly into Santiago del Estero (SDE) or Tucumán (TUC) and drive from there.
Can the public drive the track?+
There is no regular, publicly advertised track-day programme for private cars or motorcycles; the circuit is used almost exclusively for professional race meetings and team testing.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuito San Juan Villicum · 559 km · road course
- Circuito Internacional Potrero de los Funes · 649 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Autódromo Rosendo Hernández (San Luis) · 663 km · road course
- Circuito Parque La Pedrera (Autódromo José Carlos Bassi) · 689 km · street circuit
- Autódromo Jorge Ángel Pena (San Martín, Mendoza) · 707 km · road course
- Autódromo San Nicolás Ciudad · 795 km · road course & oval
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.