Circuito San Juan Villicum
Circuito San Juan Villicum at a glance
- Location
- San Juan, San Juan
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.276 km (2.657 mi)
- Turns
- 17
- Direction
- counter-clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2018
- Website
- circuitosanjuanvillicum.ar
Track map and layout
One of the newest permanent circuits in South America, Villicum sits on desert terrain in the Albardón department north of San Juan city, alongside National Route 40. The Grand Prix layout runs 4.276 km (2.657 miles) anti-clockwise over 17 corners, seven to the right and ten to the left, while a shorter Turismo Carretera configuration cuts the lap to 4.254 km (2.643 miles) and 14 corners; further short circuits of around 3.5 km and 2.5 km are also available. Designer Leonardo Stella moved more than 700,000 cubic metres of earth to sculpt undulating elevation changes into an otherwise flat desert site, giving the track a rolling, up-and-down character that is unusual for a modern purpose-built circuit.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix Circuit | 4.28 km | 17-turn full layout used for WorldSBK and international events |
| Turismo Carretera Circuit | 4.25 km | 14-turn configuration used for TC and TC2000 |
| Circuit No. 2 | — | shorter alternative layout of roughly 3.5 km |
| Circuit No. 3 | — | shortest alternative layout of roughly 2.5 km |
Events and race weekends
Villicum opened in October 2018 with a round of the World Superbike Championship, which returned to the venue in 2019, 2021 and 2022, making it one of only a handful of South American circuits to host a motorcycle world championship round. On four wheels the circuit is a regular fixture for Argentina's domestic Turismo Carretera, TC2000/Súper TC2000 and Turismo Nacional championships, which have raced there since the track's first automobile meeting in November 2018.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turismo Carretera / TC2000 rounds | Turismo Carretera / TC2000 | Multiple dates |
Getting there and parking
Villicum sits around 20-22 km north of San Juan city on National Route 40, roughly a 30-40 minute drive from the provincial capital and its airport. There is no dedicated public transport route to the circuit gate, so most visitors travel by rental car, taxi or remise from San Juan city, or via organised shuttles laid on for the biggest race weekends; long-distance buses connect San Juan's terminal to Mendoza, Córdoba and Buenos Aires for onward travel.
- Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Airport (San Juan) (UAQ) · about 35 min drive
Parking
General parking areas operate around the circuit for race meetings; given the venue's rural setting, arriving with your own transport or a pre-booked transfer is advisable.
Base yourself in San Juan city and drive or arrange a transfer out to the circuit, since there is no regular public bus service directly to the venue.
Hotels and camping near Circuito San Juan Villicum
Almost all visitors stay in San Juan city, around 20-22 km south of the circuit, which has the region's main concentration of hotels, restaurants and services. The city centre and areas close to Av. Libertador General San Martín offer the widest choice; San Juan's wine-country surroundings also make it a popular base for combining a race weekend with vineyard visits.
Where to look
San Juan city centre, particularly around Av. Libertador General San Martín, for the widest choice of hotels and restaurants.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Villicum is a purpose-built professional racing facility used primarily for domestic and international championship events rather than public track days. There is no established, publicly advertised programme allowing private car or motorcycle owners to drive the circuit outside race weekends, and team test sessions are not generally open to spectators.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WorldSBK (Grand Prix Circuit) | 1:37.277 | Jonathan Rea | — | 2022 |
Spectator guide
The circuit's rolling, sculpted terrain gives spectators elevated vantage points over several sections of track from general admission hillside areas, alongside grandstands near the pit straight. San Juan's desert climate means hot, dry conditions for much of the year with intense sun, so sun protection and water are essential for a day at the track.
Seating
Grandstands run along the main straight and start-finish area, with general admission banking giving views over multiple corners elsewhere on the lap.
Best places to watch
The elevated general admission areas overlooking the circuit's undulating middle sector give a good sense of the track's sculpted terrain.
Weather
- October-November (WorldSBK window): warm and dry, with highs commonly in the high 20s°C and strong sun
History of Circuito San Juan Villicum
A modern circuit for San Juan
Circuito San Juan Villicum broke ground in October 2016 on desert land in the Albardón department north of San Juan city, part of a provincial push to bring international motorsport to the region. Designer Leonardo Stella oversaw a large earthworks programme, moving more than 700,000 cubic metres of soil to create rolling elevation changes across an otherwise flat site, a deliberate effort to give the new circuit character beyond a simple flat layout.
Opening with a world championship
The circuit opened on 14 October 2018, and rather than starting with domestic racing, its first event was a round of the World Superbike Championship, an unusually high-profile debut for a brand-new South American venue. A first automobile meeting followed a month later, in November 2018, with Argentina's Turismo Carretera and Súper TC2000 championships. WorldSBK returned to Villicum in 2019, 2021 and 2022, cementing the circuit's place as one of the few South American venues on a motorcycle world championship calendar, while TC2000 and Turismo Carretera have continued to visit through the mid-2020s.
Present day
Today Villicum remains one of the newer permanent circuits on the international calendar, valued for its distinctive rolling layout and desert setting alongside National Route 40. It continues to host Argentina's domestic touring-car and stock-car series on a regular basis, and remains a candidate venue for the return of international motorcycle or touring-car racing to South America.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Villicum circuit?+
The Grand Prix layout used for WorldSBK is 4.276 km (2.657 miles) with 17 corners; a shorter 14-turn Turismo Carretera configuration and two further short circuits are also used.
When did the circuit open?+
It opened on 14 October 2018 with a round of the World Superbike Championship, followed by its first automobile race the following month.
Does WorldSBK still race at Villicum?+
WorldSBK visited in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022; it has not been a permanent annual fixture on the calendar.
How far is the circuit from San Juan city?+
About 20-22 km north of San Juan city on National Route 40, roughly a 30-40 minute drive.
Can the public drive on the track?+
There is no regular, publicly advertised track-day programme; the circuit is used mainly for professional race meetings and team testing.
Other tracks nearby
- Autódromo Jorge Ángel Pena (San Martín, Mendoza) · 185 km · road course
- Autódromo Rosendo Hernández (San Luis) · 297 km · road course
- Circuito Internacional Potrero de los Funes · 299 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Autódromo Las Vizcachas · 306 km · dormant
- Autódromo Internacional de Codegua · 351 km · road course
- Circuito Parque La Pedrera (Autódromo José Carlos Bassi) · 385 km · street circuit
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.