Automobilista 2: 5 South American Tracks That Might Have Flown Under Your Radar

Automobilista 2 Oreca 07 Ibarra.jpg
Automobilista 2 features a plethora of tracks, including several located in South America that sim racers might not give a closer look. Here are five examples that qualify as hidden gems.

As sim racers, we all know the legendary circuits around the world. Whether it's the Nürburgring, Le Mans, Indianapolis, Monaco, Spa-Francorchamps or any other of the venues that are firmly in the "legendary" tier of most fans' lists, they are all iconic for their history, their battles, or their high-profile events. Hence, it is no surprise that they tend to be quite popular in sim racing, too.

And while Automobilista 2 features all of the examples listed above, there is also a wealth of lesser-known tracks to be discovered, particularly in South America. Developer Reiza Studios is Brazilian, after all, which shines through in the track selection. Here are five racing circuits in South America that should be well worth your attention in AMS2.

Automobilista 2 Porsche Cup Brasilia.jpg

Brasilia - Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet​

Named after three-time Formula One World Champion Nelson Piquet, who actually owned the track between 1995 and 2006, this track was the inspiration for this list. Looking at the track map, you could be forgiven if the 5.476-kilometer circuit looked like a karting track to you, especially since there is hardly any elevation change. But a league race in the 3.8-liter version of the Porsche Cup cars quickly changed my mind.

Brasilia Track Map.jpg

Image: Google Maps

Instead of a tedious circuit, Brasilia's medium-speed turns are actually really good fun in a car with little downforce like the Porsche Cup. There are a few quite technical turns, such as turn 1, which is reminiscent of the Hockenheimring's Nordkurve before its 2002 renovation, or turn 11, which is can be taken flat-out under the right circumstances.

Due to its width, the track also lends itself well to door-to-door racing, although the two major straights are not quite long enough to facilitate drafting battles. However, pressuring your opponent into going into a turn slightly too fast can easily open the door to create an opportunity.

Automobilista 2 Oreca 07 Ibarra 2.jpg


Ibarra - Yahuarcocha (Ecuador)​

You may not have heard of the Autódromo Internacional José Tobar, but it sure qualifies as one of the most picturesque circuits in the world. Located in the north of Equador, the circuit is flanked by mountains on one side, as you can see in the header image of this article and the screenshot above, while on the other side, the Laguna de Yahuarcocha is located.

When the circuit originally opened in 1970, it actually ran around the lake, using a 10-kilometer layout using public roads that were constructed with hosting races in mind. This was used until 1983, and from 1984 onwards, the current 3.65-kilometer layout has been used.

Ibarra Track Map.jpg

Image: Google Maps

Even in this shorter version, track features interesting elevation change, flowing corners and an incomparable backdrop - and a reverse layout in AMS2.

Automobilista 2 BMW M1 Procar Velo Citta.jpg


Autodrómo Velo Città​

Speaking of elevation change: Velocitta is one of those rollercoaster tracks that will hardly become boring. After a challenging double-apex turn to open the lap, drivers plunge downwards through a quick right-left combination before another right-hander begins a steep ascent that culminates in Brazil's answer to Laguna Seca's Corkscrew.

The rest of the lap is slower and more technical, but that only means that it makes you hungry for more. Once you turn onto the start-finish straight and open up the throttle, you have most of that glorious 3.493-kilometer lap to look forward to again.

Velo Citta Track Map.jpg

Image: Google Maps

Located in the state of Sao Paulo, Velo Città is actually quite a new track, although the lack of asphalt run-off and barriers mostly consisting of armco do not really hint at that. The circuit was opened in 2010 in a short version that is mostly the final sector today. The rest of the track was finished in 2011, and today, it hosts national events throughout most of the year, incuding the Stock Car Pro Series.

Automobilista 2 Formula 3 Cascavel.jpg


Cascavel - Autódromo Zilmar Beux​

Opened in 1973 and having run the same layout ever since, Cascavel is one of those simple, yet addictive circuits. At just 3.302 kilometers, laps tend to fly by, and in a car with decent downforce like the Formula 3 shown above, the sweeping turns are actually quite fast. Flying downhill through the long turn one in fifth gear is tremendous fun.

The circuit is not exactly complicated, but those who are courageous about sending it into the uphill Esse can find some decent time there - wanting it too much can easily end in a trip into the armco, however.

Cascavel Track Map.jpg

Image: Google Maps

Brazilian Stock Cars, which have raced there on and off but do so again since 2023 or other not overly-fast classes tend to make for a fun time here. In fact, I had a lot of fun in VR randomly at Cascavel in a Caterham a while ago, which you can read about here in case you were wondering how well you can battle your opponents at this track.

Automobilista 2 Super V8 Guaporé.jpg


Guaporé​

Another simple, yet nicely flowing track located in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, Guaporé, or the Autódromo Internacional Nelson Luiz Barro as it is officially called, has been around since 1969. It was originally conceived by incorporating two runways of an airfield located there, which means it is not as undulating as some of the other entries of this list.

However, that does not mean that you are in for an ultra-smooth and perfectly flat experience. Instead, some of its turns, notably turn 2 (Caetano Antinolfi), the following hairpin (Túnel) and the turn after that, Radiador, are slightly banked, so they are a bit faster than you would initially think.

Looking at the track map, what stands out is that there are no super tight, abrupt corners. Instead, the entire track flows very well, and its relative simplicity spread out over just 3.05 kilometers a lap make for a fun and engaging track.

Guaporé Track Map.jpg

Image: Google Maps

In a way, it reminds me of Australia's Hidden Valley, which overall has a similar shape. That is also why I chose the Super V8, a ficitionalized version of an Aussie Supercar, for the screenshot above. As Automobilista 2 only contains two Australian circuits, those being Bathurst and Adelaide, Guaporé works well as a stand-in.

Have you tried these South American tracks in Automobilista 2 or elsewhere yet? Which is your favorite lesser-known circuit that you would recommend to the OverTake community? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our AMS2 forum!
About author
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

Comments

Besides the obvious Potrero de Los Funes's mandatory mention, these are 3 argentine tracks I would love to see in game...

First, the very wide and very fast Toay, which always delivers great racing in most series:


Then, an all-time classic, the crazy "El Zonda":


A forgotten gem, Martin Güemes circuit:



Aldea Romana should be on the list, but unfortunately the revamping of the track to improve its safety killed its magnificent flow, just like Balcarce.

Honorable mention: 9 de Julio, our own "Watkins Glen" with some banked corners:



Finally, some trivia: did you know that Buenos Aires circuit, with its Circuito 12 layout available on AMS2, is the fastest permanent road course in the world? Porsche Cup cars raced there in 2017, on the same spec that raced at Monza (Supercup) and Le Mans (Road to LM) the same year, and it achieved an average speed of 215 km/h, while on the other two tracks they could not even reach 200. How about that? :)
I've been trying to find a decent track map and full lap onboard video for El Calafate / Enrique Freile. Do you happen to have any resources for that circuit?
 
I know this is an AMS2 article, but APVS modders did good versions of both Balcarce and Turismo Carretera cars for Assetto Corsa. They are paid but cheap, and quality is good.
Wow. I haven't thought about the GTS Torino pack before...until your tip. The sounds, the car details, the response...and with the AI updates pack from Rainmaker...well, this is wild...it's alive! (and off-topic). Already in my 4th GTS Torino Balcarce event this evening :D THANKS!
Reiza certainly have a huge task if they should be on lap with this combo...but I hope they take the challenge!
 
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Premium
The three layouts of the Autódromo Oscar Cabalén (i.e., Córdoba) in AMS2 are quite reminiscent of an airfield-converted race track that really suit the Caterhams or Ginettas.
 
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Premium
These awesome South American tracks are best raced in AMS1 and Stock Car Extreme IMO - the latter is arguably better. The FFB and feel is just amazing.
There is quite a bunch of cars in AMS1 that drive and feel better than most modern sim achieve nowadys.
Thanks to the physics work of Niels Heusinkveld.
 
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Sure, this isn't a hard ask, as it's active. Turismo Carretera raced there literally last Sunday!

View attachment 826903


Thanks, for both the large-size image of the course diagram and the onboard video.

Now, I just need to find someplace where I can watch full races from the last few seasons of TC.

(I'm guessing there have maybe been some new media rights agreements, as the ACTC Argentina channel no longer appears to have more than just the highlights reels.)
 
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"Did you perhaps not notice the content featured in the game"

Great bait there. Top-notch Reddit shitpost.
 
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Ibarra has been one of my favorite tracks since AMS1, it has a unique vibe, it is perfect for fast categories, with a great flow. Cascavel is my track to fastly test cars of any categories ; although short, it contains enough space to gain speed, especially with the banking in the first turns, any car feels great on that track. Taruma is a great short track to race with classic cars. Velopark is a simple and fun track and highly dangerous at high speed!
 
I know this is an AMS2 article, but APVS modders did good versions of both Balcarce and Turismo Carretera cars for Assetto Corsa. They are paid but cheap, and quality is good.
Indeed, I haven't paid attention to their tracks, they seem really detailed with many bumps and elevation changes. Impressive work.
 

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