Autódromo Internacional do Algarve


Configuration for FIA sanctioned events

Configuration for FIM sanctioned events
LocationPortimão, Algarve, Portugal
Time zoneWET (UTC+0)
WEST (April–October, UTC+1)
Coordinates37°13′55.2″N 8°37′55.2″W / 37.232000°N 8.632000°W / 37.232000; -8.632000
Capacity100,000
FIA Grade1
Broke groundFebruary 2008; 16 years ago (2008-02)
OpenedOctober 2008; 15 years ago (2008-10)
Construction cost€195 million
ArchitectRicardo Pina
Major eventsCurrent:
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix (2020–present)
Algarve motorcycle Grand Prix (2021)
World SBK
(2008–2015, 2017–present)
ELMS 4 Hours of Portimão (2009–2010, 2017–present)
Ferrari Challenge Europe (2009–2011, 2013–2014, 2022, 2024)
Former:
Formula One
Portuguese Grand Prix (2020–2021)
FIA WEC 6 Hours of Portimão (2021, 2023)
TCR World Tour (2023)
DTM (2022)
WTCC Race of Portugal (2010, 2012)
FIM Endurance World Championship (2016)
GT2 European Series (2023)
A1 Grand Prix (2009)
FIA GT (2009)
Websitehttps://autodromodoalgarve.com
Grand Prix Circuit (2008–present)
Length4.653 km (2.891 miles)
Turns15
Race lap record1:18.750 (Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W11, 2020, F1)
Motorcycling Circuit (2008–present)
Length4.592 km (2.853 miles)
Turns15
Race lap record1:38.685 (Enea Bastianini, Ducati Desmosedici GP24, 2024, MotoGP)
GP Circuit with Chicane (2008–2019)
Length4.684 km (2.911 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record1:32.113 (Diego Nunes, Dallara GP2/08, 2009, GP2)
BMW Z4 (E89) in Portimão
B09/60 Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 driven by Stefan Mücke in the 1000km do Algarve Race of the Le Mans Series 2009

The Algarve International Circuit (Portuguese: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve), commonly referred to as Portimão Circuit, is a 4.653 km (2.891 mi) race circuit located in Portimão, Algarve region, Portugal. The development includes a karting track, off-road track, technology park, five-star hotel, sports complex and apartments.[1]

The circuit was designed by Ricardo Pina, Arquitectos. The construction was finished in October 2008 and the circuit was homologated by both the FIM on 11 October 2008 and the FIA two days later.[2] The total cost was €195 million (approximately $250 million).[citation needed]

The circuit

Algarve International Circuit.
This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (November 2010)

The circuit hosted the final round of the World Superbike Championship on 2 November 2008.[1] On 9 June, the track was confirmed to host a round of the 2008-09 A1 Grand Prix season. The race was set for the weekend of 12 April 2009. On 10 October 2008, the Le Mans Series announced a 1000 km night race to be held at Algarve on 2 August 2009.[3] On 5 November 2008, the FIA GT Championship announced and 7th round of the 2009 season will be held at Algarve on 13 September 2009.[4] A Formula One test session, with the McLaren and Honda teams participating, was scheduled for 15–17 December 2008. Ferrari also ran at Algarve.[5][6][7][8][9] Toyota also tested at the circuit on 20 January 2009 in the first outing of their new TF109 chassis.[10] The circuit will also host the final round of the 2009 GP2 Series season in September 2009.[11] From 2010 it hosted a round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship.[12]

On 4 April 2009 Max Mosley stated that based on the quality of the circuit it could integrate the Formula One championship under the guise of the Portuguese Grand Prix, as long as a commercial agreement with the Formula One Management was achieved.[13] Due to changes to the 2020 Formula One season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Algarve International Circuit has by way of exception hosted the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix.[14]

The circuit resembles old Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps, mainly because of its constantly undulating nature. A1 Team Portugal's driver Filipe Albuquerque observed that there are big downhill slopes and right-hand turns after the main straight. He also commented that the track is good for overtaking because of the circuit width. A1 Team New Zealand's driver Earl Bamber observed that there are many special turns with personality. He commented that the new circuit is a little bit dangerous like the old school circuits with a roller coaster ride. A1 Team France's driver Nicolas Prost commented that the asphalt was new and the circuit has little grip.

The first episode of The Grand Tour, "The Holy Trinity" was shot here in 2016.

At the 2022 Supersport 300 World Championship, Victor Steeman died causing fatal accident at this circuit while racing in the Race 1 Portimão round.[15]

After COVID-19 pandemic

In July 2020 it was announced that the circuit would host the Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix from 23 to 25 October, as part of a revised calendar arising from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This marked the first time a Portuguese Grand Prix had been held since the 1996 race, which had taken place at the Autódromo do Estoril. The circuit hosted the Portuguese Grand Prix again in 2021 from 30 April to 2 May.[16]

In August 2020 it was announced that the circuit would host the MotoGP Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix from 20 to 22 November, as part of a revised calendar arising from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On 10 August 2020, MotoGP announced that the coronavirus-hit season would end with the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimão.[17] The circuit hosted the Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix again in 2021 from 16 to 18 April, and hosted a second event named the Algarve Grand Prix from 5 to 7 November.

In January 2021 it was announced that the circuit would host the FIA World Endurance Championship 8 Hours of Portimão instead of 1000 Miles of Sebring on 4 April due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] However, on 5 March 2021; the round was postponed into the original date of 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans, 13 June in order to increase the possibility of fans being able to attend the race.[19]

For 2022, it was planned that the circuit would not host F1 and WEC races, but it would continue to host MotoGP, World SBK, and ELMS races. Besides them, it would host DTM, TCR Europe and Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final for the first time in 2022. In September 2022, it was announced that the circuit returned to the 2023 WEC calendar.

Craig Jones memorial

The circuit is the site of a statue in tribute to Craig Jones, representing Jones on his motorbike after passing the finishing line. This statue will be the main part of a monument, already partially built, which also includes the architectural arrangement of the main access roundabout to the racetrack, created by Paula Hespanha and Portuguese architect Manuel Pedro Ferreira Chaves. This monument is a landscape sculpture, representing the main straight of a racing circuit, which extends up to the car park of the main grandstand. It has been confirmed that one of the corners of the circuit was named after former World Supersport rider Craig Jones who was killed in a motorcycle crash at Brands Hatch in 2008.

Layout configurations

Events

Current
Future
Former

Lap records

As of April 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Algarve International Circuit are listed as:

Category Time Driver/Rider Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 4.653 km (2008–present)
F1 1:18.750 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix
LMP2 1:29.670[20] Mikkel Jensen Aurus 01 2020 4 Hours of Portimão
LMH 1:30.919[21] Nicolas Lapierre Alpine A480 2021 8 Hours of Portimão
A1GP 1:31.404 Adam Carroll A1GP Powered by Ferrari car 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Portugal
Superleague Formula 1:31.935 Andy Soucek Panoz DP09 2010 Portimão Superleague Formula round
LMP1 1:32.375[22] Nicolas Lapierre Peugeot 908 HDi FAP 2010 1000 km of Algarve
LMDh 1:33.077[23] Earl Bamber Cadillac V-Series.R 2023 6 Hours of Portimão
Formula 3000 1:33.594[24] Clivio Piccione Lola B05/52 2009 Portimão Euroseries 3000 round
Formula Renault 3.5 1:34.472[25] Jaime Alguersuari Dallara T08 2009 Portimão Formula Renault 3.5 Series round
F2 (2009–2012) 1:35.531[26] Mathéo Tuscher Williams JPH1 2012 Portimão Formula Two round
Euroformula Open 1:36.493[27] Louis Foster Dallara 320 2021 Portimão Euroformula Open round
LMP3 1:36.881[28] Matt Bell Ligier JS P320 2020 Portimão Le Mans Cup round
LM GTE 1:38.757[21] Miguel Molina Ferrari 488 GTE Evo 2021 8 Hours of Portimão
Formula 3 1:38.904[29] Jules Bianchi Dallara F309 2009 Portimão British F3 round
LMPC 1:40.048[30] Jérôme d'Ambrosio[31] Oreca FLM09 2009 Algarve Formula Le Mans Cup round
GT3 1:40.795[28] Julien Andlauer Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 R 2020 Portimão Le Mans Cup round
GT1 (GTS) 1:41.828[32] Alex Müller[33] Maserati MC12 GT1 2009 FIA GT Algarve 2 Hours
Lamborghini Super Trofeo 1:42.790[34] Loris Spinelli Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo2 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final
SRO GT2 1:43.875[35] Pierre Kaffer Audi R8 LMS GT2 2023 Portimão GT2 European Series round
Formula 4 1:43.894[36] Noam Abramczyk [fr] Tatuus F4-T014 2021 Portimão F4 Spain round
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:44.582[37] Robert de Haan Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2023 Portimão Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe round
Ferrari Challenge 1:44.600[38] Doriane Pin Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo 2022 Portimão Ferrari Challenge Europe round
Radical Cup 1:45.145[39] Indy Al Miller Radical SR10 XXR 2023 Radical World Finals
JS P4 1:45.462[40] Gillian Henrion Ligier JS P4 2022 Portimão Ligier European Series round
GT4 1:49.932[41] Jamie Day Aston Martin Vantage GT4 2024 Portimão GT4 Winter Series round
JS2 R 1:51.490[42] Natan Bihel Ligier JS2 R 2020 Portimão Ligier European Series round
Alpine Elf Europa Cup 1:51.868[43] Ugo de Wilde Alpine A110 Cup 2021 Portimão Alpine Elf Europa Cup round
TCR Touring Car 1:52.319[44] Mikel Azcona Hyundai Elantra N TCR 2023 Portimão TCR World Tour round
Super 2000 1:54.542 Yvan Muller Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Portugal
Renault Clio Cup 2.04.323[45] Adrian Schimpf Renault Clio R.S. V 2024 Portimão Renault Clio Cup Europe round
Motorcycling Circuit: 4.592 km (2008–present)
MotoGP 1:38.685[46] Enea Bastianini Ducati Desmosedici GP24 2024 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix
World SBK 1:39.891[47] Toprak Razgatlıoğlu Yamaha YZF-R1 2023 Portimão World SBK round
Moto2 1:42.221[48] Fermín Aldeguer Boscoscuro B-24 2024 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix
World SSP 1:43.627[49] Stefano Manzi Yamaha YZF-R1 2023 Portimão World SSP round
MotoE 1:46.313[50] Oscar Gutiérrez Ducati MotoE 2024 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix
Moto3 1:46.985[51] David Alonso CFMoto Moto3 2024 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix
Supersport 300 1:55.113[52] Dirk Geiger [de] KTM RC 390 R 2023 Portimão Supersport 300 round
Grand Prix Circuit with Chicane: 4.684 km (2008–2019)
GP2 1:32.113 Diego Nunes Dallara GP2/08 2009 Algarve GP2 Series round
Formula 3 1:42.077[53] Felix Rosenqvist Dallara F315 2015 Portimão F3 round
GT3 1:44.937[54] Laurens Vanthoor Audi R8 LMS ultra 2015 Portimão Blancpain GT Sprint Series round
Formula Renault 2.0 1:45.648[55] Albert Costa Tatuus FR2000 2009 Portimão Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup round

Notes

References

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