In its next season, Formula E, the electrifying new series, will race on a street circuit in Santiago, the capital of Chile.
This made me think. What is the history of Chile in motor racing? Does it have much of a domestic following? I can recall one Chilean driver who reached as far as F1, Eliseo Salazar, but I can think of no others who have ever troubled the motor racing record books. Nor in rallying, come to that.
Chile seems to have a few race tracks. Codegua seems to be current, as it was used for the Argentinian TC2000 series in 2014. Then there are Chinquihue, Huachalume & Quilaco which look operational but judging from the photos have little or no real infrastructure. There is Temuco which may be in use, and San Pedro which looks defunct from the aerial view.
Nobody can question the place of Brazil or Argentina in world motor sport, yet how is it that Chile, arguably the third or fourth wealthiest and developed nation in Latin America has little or not place?
Edited by BRG, 01 November 2017 - 17:58.