National Supporter
RACE SCHEDULE – RIO DE JANEIRO
Saturday, 08 May | QUALIFYING
09:00 Doors Open
10:00 Pre Show & Entertainment
12:00 Qualifying 1
13:00 Qualifying 2
16:00 Doors Close
Sunday, 09 May | RACE DAY
09:00 Doors open
10:00 Pre Show & Entertainment
11:15 RACE STARTS
11:15 Wild Card Session
12:10 Top 12
12:50 Super 8
13:25 Final 4
14:20 Award Ceremony
16:00 Doors close
WELCOME TO RIO DE JANEIRO
It’s known as the “Marvellous City”, and for a reason. Dramatically squeezed between massive rocks, the rainforest and the blue ocean, Rio de Janeiro offers views and landscapes unlike any other major metropolis in the world.
And a major city it is, with nearly 14 million people spread all over its metropolitan area, 6 million of them in Rio proper. They form a diverse and vibrant population, famous inside Brazil for its irreverence and fun-loving character, traits normally associated with Brazil as a whole. In that sense, one can say that Rio is Brazil, a city that defines the national character.
It does so with sights such as the worldclass Carnival parade at the Sambadrome, the surfers at Arpoador beach, the hang gliders taking off from Pedra da Gavea, and the obsessively-maintained bodies parading down the classic Ipanema and Leblon beaches.
Its variety of natural terrain makes Rio a hub for sports, as the upcoming 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games testify. The native “Cariocas” love sporting activities, and proved so by swarming the Botafogo beach in the 2007 Red Bull Air Race, attended by over 1 million people. For 2010, the Air Race switches to larger Flamengo beach to accommodate such a crowd.
TRANSPORTATION
TAXI:
Identified by their yellow-and-blue paint scheme, taxis are plentiful in Rio. They’re relatively inexpensive, but preference should be given to the ones in Taxi Stations, usually located outside the major hotels.
Cooparioca taxis offer city-wide service and usually arrive within 10 minutes after a phone call to 2158-1818
BUSES:
Bus service is abundant in the “Zona Sul”, the southern area comprising the major boroughs of the city. The bus fare costs only R$ 2.20, and route information can be found at every bus station. http://www.rioonibus.com/ offers a guide for all the routes in the city.
METRO:
The Rio subway is safe and clean, but its reach is limited to downtown and “Zona Sul”. The fare costs R$ 2,80. http://www.metrorio.com.br/, available in English, offers line information. The Flamengo station is located within walking distance of the RBAR complex.
DISTANCES:
From the Sofitel Copacabana media hotel to:
International Airport (Galeão): 25km
RBAR Airport (Santos-Dumont): 11km
RBAR compound (Aterro do Flamengo): 7km
ONLINE TRAVEL INFO LINK:
Rio Tourism Authority (available in English):
http://www.riodejaneiro-turismo.com.br/
Official City Guide (gives up-to-date information on events and activities happening in the city):
http://www.rioguiaoficial.com.br
EMERGENCY CONTACT NOs:
Police: 190
Hospital Samaritano (closest to event location): 2537 9722
Hospital Copa d’Or (closest to media hotel): 2545.3600
Dentist: Odonto Leblon / 24-hour dentists:
2274-4542 / 9657-5049 www.odontoleblon.com.br
Pharmacy: Drogarias Pacheco, 24-hour delivery service: 3112 9999
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Where to Eat:
Gula Gula Ipanema
Self-defined as “Bossa Nova food”, the Gula Gula chain is the gastronomic symbol of the typical Rio laid-backness. To enjoy this atmosphere, nothing better than the original Gula Gula in Ipanema.
Address: 57 Henrique Dumont
Phone: 2259-3084
Bar d’Hotel
Sexy, star-filled hangout for the beautiful people with a beautiful view of the ocean - not that much use is made of it. Fusion food and the potent Caipirinhas are the highlights.
696 Delfim Moreira
(Marina Hotel)
Telephone: 2540 4990
Juice Co.
Rio is fruit juice capital of the world. Juice Co. is fruit juice capital of Rio. Enough said.
889 General San Martin
Leblon
2294 0048
Where to shop:
Garcia d’Ávila Street
Located in the heart of charming Ipanema borough, this street concentrates some of the top fashion and luxury stores in Rio.
Fashion Mall São Conrado
The latest in Brazilian and international fashion has its home at Fashion Mall São Conrado.
899 Estrada da Gávea
Phone: 2111-4444
www.scfashionmall.com.br/
Fórum Ipanema
The latest shopping trends in Rio emerge from Forum Ipanema.
351 Visconde de Piraja
www.forumdeipanema.com.br/
Districts
Lapa
The heart of Rio’s alternative/indie nightlife, where the city never sleeps. Circo Voador offers some of the best live music in town.
www.circovoador.com.br/
Leblon
Rio’s trendiest bars and restaurants are concentrated in the Leblon district. Check out the dining options at Dias Ferreira street.
Copacabana
Rio’s most traditional beach is a hub for people from all walks of life. Have a drink at the bar of the city’s most famous hotel, Copacabana Palace.
Ipanema
The song Girl of Ipanema has such a name for a reason. Posto 9 (Lifeguard Post #9) is the place to see beautiful people.
Santa Tereza
This artsy district can be reached by taking the classic Santa Tereza cable car in the Arcos da Lapa (Lapa Arches) in Lapa district.
GENERAL VISITORS INFO
Phoning - international calls
Dial 00 21, then country code and number for international calls.
Shopping hours: Usually from 9am to 7pm. Shopping malls stay open until 10pm.
Banking hours: 10am to 4pm.
Tipping etiquette:
Restaurants include 10% automatically in the bill. For taxi drivers, 10-15% is adequate.
Tax: always already included in all prices.
NIGHTTIME NAVIGATOR
Nightclubs:
Nuth
Two options, both certain bets: Nuth Lounge at Barra district (899 Armando Lombardi, 3575-6850) and Nuth Club in Lagoa (1244 Epitácio Pessoa, 3258-9590)
www.nuth.com.br
Baronneti
Where Ipanema’s finest gather at night.
354 Barao da Torre
2227 1354
www.baronetti.com.br
Melt
Live music and frantic action in Leblon district
47 Rita Ludolf
7899 6414
www.meltbar.com.br/
Bars:
Veloso
A classic bohemian hangout in Leblon
44 Aristides Espínola
2274-9966.
www.barveloso.com.br/
Bar da Praia
Young carioca bohemians, over 30 creative drinks and a spectacular view of the Leblon beach are all you need in a bar.
5 Joao Lira
2540-5212
Devassa Ipanema
Devassa (or “Kinky”, in a loose translation) is a Rio-brewed beer with its own chain of bars. The one in Ipanema offers the finest crowd.
416 Prudente de Morais
2522-0627
www.devassa.com.br
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil