Few fans are as passionate as the chanting, samba-drum-wielding Brazilian crowds that cram into Interlagos every year.

Having cheered Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna to championships in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, they expect great things from their modern day heroes Felipe Massa, Rubens Barrichello and now Nelson Piquet Jr.

The pressure seemed to jinx Barrichello, who had a series of disastrous Brazilian Grands Prix and has only once made the podium at home.

But in 2006 Massa ended the drought and dominated at Interlagos to the delight of his countrymen, and only the need to bolster team-mate Kimi Raikkonen's title bid prevented a repeat last year.

The Sao Paulo circuit was first used as a Formula 1 venue in the 1970s, but fell out of favour when the more exotic location of Rio pitched for the race.

While the city may have been more glamorous, Rio's circuit didn't match the challenge posed by mighty Interlagos, which returned to the calendar in shortened – but still demanding – form in 1990.

The track is famously bumpy, the ramshackle facilities somehow escape the kind of official criticism that circuits like Silverstone have received, and Sao Paulo itself can be a fearsome place for travellers.

But the fans' enthusiasm and Interlagos' own quirky charm seem to be sufficient to safeguard the race's place on the schedule.

For all its shortcomings, Interlagos is a superb location for a grand prix - especially a title decider.

The long run into its first corner is ideal for overtaking, and the unpredictable weather creates many memorable races, especially the bizarre 2003 event won by Giancarlo Fisichella.

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