The circuit opened in 1974, named Autódromo Emilio Medici after the country's president at the time, and was built to provide a permanent home for motor racing in the relatively new city of Brasília.

[3] Following Emilio Medici's succession in the 1974 presidential election, the circuit was renamed to Autódromo de Brasília and continued to host a variety of national-level series for the following two decades.

the circuit underwent refurbishment, involving the installation of gravel traps, tyre barriers and lighting in order to bring the venue up to modern safety standards and allow it host international events again.

The event, held on 16 December 1996, was called the 2 Hours of Brasília and was won by the BMW Motorsport entry consisting of Nelson Piquet and Johnny Cecotto.

[7][8][9] On 19 August 2013 it was announced that the circuit would host a round of the MotoGP World Championship from the 2014 season onward, with the inaugural event scheduled for 28 September.

In January 2015 it was decided that, due to a lack of funding, the changes would be scaled back, with the pit lane remaining in its existing location, and just four corners being modified.

[16] After the lack of progress with construction and restructuring, on 13 May 2022, Banco de Brasília (BRB) signed an agreement with the Government of the Federal District, that transferred ownership of the circuit and its facilities from previous owners Terracap.