Plans to build a Formula 1 circuit in a Rio De Janeiro forest have been discarded, following criticism from environmentalists.
The Deodoro circuit, scheduled to be built on a former army base in Camboata Forest, would have required felling thousands of trees.
The Brazilian former military base served as a competition venue during the 2016 Olympics and plans to repurpose it have caused controversy locally.
(On the left: proposed track layout, photo taken by Divulgacao, Jan 1, 2019; on the right: Google Earth screenshot by Sochima Iroh, February 10, 2021).
Plans to build a Formula 1 circuit in a Rio De Janeiro forest have been discarded, following criticism from environmentalists.
The Deodoro circuit, scheduled to be built on a former army base in Camboata Forest, would have required felling thousands of trees.
The Brazilian former military base served as a competition venue during the 2016 Olympics and plans to repurpose it have caused controversy locally.
Rio’s environmental secretary, Eduardo Cavaliere, announced that the licencing process for the construction has been cancelled at the mayor’s request.
In a tweet on February 1, he said: "Under Mayor Eduardo Paes's leadership we have OFFICIALLY WITHDRAWN the construction's licensing process.
"Rio is racing for a sustainable future: Camboata Forest shall NOT be supplanted by Rio international racetrack.”
The project cancellation is one of the biggest decisions made by the new Mayor Eduardo Paes since taking office in January.
Camboata Forest SOS Collective Movement, a Brazilian environmental group and fierce critic of the project acknowledged the cancellation announcement.
In a statement, the group said: “One more step towards effective protection of #ForestryCamboata: archived licensing, let's work towards creating a conservation unit, a green polo in Deodoro.”
Formula 1 intended to replace Interlagos circuit with the proposed Deodoro circuit as the home of Brazilian GP from 2021.
However, with increased opposition to the project, Formula 1 abandoned plans for a potential 2021 race in Deodoro.
In December last year, Formula 1 announced that the Brazilian GP – officially named the Formula 1 Grande Prêmio de São Paulo – will continue to be held at the Interlagos circuit until 2025.