Earlier this week, representatives from IndyCar took a trip to central Argentina to visit the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo to get a tour of the circuit.
Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles was at the track, as was Penske Vice President Michael Montri and Juncos Hollinger Racing co-owner Ricardo Juncos.
The group was given a tour of the facility by Argentina’s executive secretary of tourism Ricardo Sosa, and discussions took place regarding an IndyCar event possibly being held at the track in the future.
IndyCar has not raced in Argentina since 1971, but a renewed push to tap into the South American market has been underway with the successful growth of JHR and its hiring of Argentine driver Agustin Canapino this season.
Canapino is one of the most popular racers in Argentina, and drove an IndyCar around the track for a demonstration event last November. A large number of fans showed up to see the show runs, and their enthusiasm has helped to make a convincing argument towards holding an actual race in the country.
The Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo is a nearly three-mile long circuit with 14 corners, and sits directly next to a small international airport.
MotoGP has been visiting the track since 2014, except for the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to Covid pandemic, and will visit in early April for the Argentine round of the schedule.
The track currently holds an FIM Grade A certification, which allows full MotoGP events to be run, and until recently held an FIA Grade 2 certification.
IndyCar management has repeatedly said in recent years that they are looking into the idea of holding events in other countries, but no concrete plans have materialized outside of the continuing yearly visit to Canada for a race on the streets of Toronto.
