The Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiania has once again come under intense scrutiny after new asphalt failures forced officials to announce another temporary closure for urgent repair work.
The latest concerns surfaced during a recent Stock Car race weekend, where sections of the newly resurfaced track began deteriorating again, particularly around Turn 5. The issues have renewed fears over the circuit’s long-term reliability just weeks after it reopened following major repairs earlier this year.
The Goiania circuit had already faced criticism during MotoGP’s Brazilian Grand Prix in March, when riders complained about severe surface problems across multiple sections of the track. Asphalt breakup was reported at Turns 11 and 12, while a pothole on the main straight and bumps at Turn 4 raised serious safety concerns.
In response, authorities closed the venue for roughly 45 days to carry out a complete resurfacing project. Several scheduled events, including a Porsche Cup round, were postponed while officials worked to resolve the issue.
Source: Motorsport.com
However, the latest problems suggest the original repairs may not have fully addressed the root cause.
Welington Peixoto, the State Secretary of Sports and Leisure for Goias, admitted the resurfacing process suffered from problems during the asphalt curing stage. According to Peixoto, the surface failed to stabilize properly, leading to the rapid deterioration now being seen again.
Despite the ongoing concerns, the circuit will remain operational for upcoming Moto1000GP and Marcas e Pilotos Centro-Oeste events before entering another shutdown period in June. Temporary safety measures are expected to be implemented to allow those races to proceed.
The repeated failures have also prompted stronger action from local authorities. The state government is preparing official notifications for Interpub, the company holding MotoGP’s commercial rights in Brazil, as well as JZ Engenharia, the firm responsible for the resurfacing work.
At the same time, officials have launched a broader technical investigation involving both Goinfra and an independent external company. The review aims to determine exactly why the new asphalt continues to fail and whether further accountability measures will follow.
The situation has become an embarrassing setback for one of Brazil’s most historic circuits, with growing pressure now mounting on officials to deliver a permanent solution before international motorsport confidence in the venue suffers further.
