Algarve International Circuit (Portimão)

Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, commonly referred to as Portimão Circuit, is one of the best modern racing circuits in the world and a favourite of drivers and fans alike.
Developed to provide a comprehensive range of facilities to appeal to varied sectors of the motor industry on both two and four wheels, its undulating nature includes tight, slow speed to fast and flowing corners. There are multiple elevation changes throughout the lap and a difference of 24m between the lowest and highest points on track. The track characteristics of Portimão result in it producing a high sliding energy, therefore a high demand is placed on the tyres.

It has been home to all levels of championships from F1 to FIA WEC to FIA GT as well as MotoGP and World Superbikes.

Look back to 2023…

The first round on European soil for all of the FIA World Endurance Championship’s new competitors, and particularly the new Hypercar category, and the race ended with a dream scenario – three different manufacturers represented on the podium.

Brendon Hartley, Sébastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa drove the #8 Toyota to a conclusive victory, with the #50 Ferrari and #6 Porsche rounding out the top three – a first podium for the Porsche Penske Motorsport team. Technical dramas hit many of the new cars in the class, including the #51 Ferrari which had looked to be in position to fight for the podium before a brake problem and a switch off of its hybrid system saw it drop back to sixth at the chequered flag.
United Autosports took a much needed 1-2 victory in LMP2 to banish the memory of a difficult Sebring, the #23 heading its sister car by just 0.684s. It was a second consecutive victory in LMGTE for Corvette Racing ahead of AF Corse Ferrari and the Iron Dames and the podium featured no fewer than four female drivers, a new record in WEC history.