Could F1 make a return to Portugal at the Algarve International Circuit?

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Riccardo Patrese won the 1991 Portuguese Grand Prix (C) Sutton

Guest writer Gerard Hetman looks at Portugal’s chances of returning to the F1 calendar via the brand new Algarve International Circuit and speaks exclusively to circuit director Paolo Pinheiro.

As new circuits have emerged to host Grands Prix in Asia and the Middle East, many traditional venues in Europe and elsewhere have either had their status as an F1 venue placed in jeopardy, or have been dropped from the calendar altogether.

But there are indications that a former Grand Prix host nation – Portugal – may have put together a venue that will attract an F1 return to the country in the near future: Algarve International Circuit.

A few slices of history

Portugal has not held an F1 race since the last running of the Portuguese Grand Prix, held at the Estoril circuit from 1984 to 1996. Before it’s demise, the race provided some noteworthy moments in F1 history, including Niki Lauda’s final world title win (1984), the first wins for Ayron Senna (1985) and David Coulthard (1995) as well as the infamous squeeze by Senna on Alain Prost down the start/finish straight in 1988.

Estoril also proved popular as a test spot, and the circuit played host to part of one of the biggest "What if?" scenarios in F1 history when Senna tested a Lamborghini-powered MP4-8 late in the 1993 season, before the Woking team chose to run Peugeot engines in their cars for 1994.

The Portuguese Grand Prix was the first of the European-based races to fall victim to the eastward expansion of the F1 calendar. Just three years after the last Grand Prix at Estoril, the first of a new wave of government-backed, Hermann Tilke-designed circuits would debut on the schedule in the form of Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit In the meantime, several European based venues would hold their last GPs, and a new era of F1 scheduling was underway.

Ecclestone’s latest playground?

Algarve International Circuit

Given this trend, many fans would think that Portugal would not be a prime candidate for a new Grand Prix. However, a development group in the country’s tourist-rich Algarve region may be in line to change that with the construction of a business and motor sports complex in the city of Portimao known as the Algarve International Circuit.

While the complex will feature professional and recreational developments relating to motor sports, the crown jewel will be the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, a multi-purpose racing circuit that will be able to be configured to accommodate a broad range of motor sport series including, yes, Formula 1.

With construction of the circuit expected to be completed in October, the venue is currently slated to host the final round of the Superbike World Championship on the weekend of November 2, and is also booked for the penultimate round of the upcoming A1 Grand Prix season in April.

While it may be early to start thinking of hosting an F1 race, circuit developer Paulo Pinheiro, according to Reuters reports, announced in a February news conference that a Formula 1 team- unnamed as of yet- has booked the circuit for a private test in early 2009, and that more F1-related events could follow.

In its potential F1 configuration, the 4.692km clockwise-running circuit consists of 18 turns and a number of hills, dips, and elevation changes, as can be seen in this home made video taken on the unfinished circuit recently.

Aside from the racing surface, the circuit will be capable of accommodating approximately 100,000 spectators, and will feature a Sakhir-style hospitality tower in the center of the action. All of the other facility requirements of a modern F1 venue- race control, medical center, and an extensive paddock complex- will also be present.

Finally, as the circuit hopes to become a centre for F1 testing, the track will also incorporate rain simulation technology that will allow teams to test and adjust to a wide range of wet conditions on the racing surface.

While it’s easy to be excited about the racing venue, the motor park will also incorporate a number of other supporting developments. A multiple-configuration karting track with It’s own support complex will also be featured, as will a business and technological development park that the administrators hope will attract multiple motorsport-related businesses to the complex.

Finally, no big-time circuit is complete without overnight accommodations, and the Motorsports Park will include both a permanent apartment complex and a Radisson-operated five-star hotel for event participants and guests.

More pictures of the circuit layout here

Boosts and hurdles

The developers of the Algarve International Circuit have put together an incredible package. And while it may not have all the glitz and glamour of Singapore or Yas Island, the venue is located in a tourism-rich area just miles from the southern coast of Portugal – a fact that circuit staff point out before describing the circuit itself in the promotional video featured on the motor park’s website. Looking at the whole picture, the Autodromo appears to have the perfect blend of facilities, access, and location to earn a spot on the Formula One schedule.

Still, modern facilities and great location don’t always add up to a coveted stop for the F1 circus. Developers at Imola have recently spent over $10 million for a Tilke-designed revamp of the paddock and track , yet the San Marino Grand Prix appears no closer to returning in the immediate future.

The usual criteria will likely determine weather or not Algarve will be the next stop for F1 – the backing to pay the fees required by Formula One Management, the availability of space on an ever-expanding schedule, and the profitability of the event itself in terms of sponsorship and attendance.

Sanctioning fees

Most F1 venues receive help from their governments – directly or indirectly – to cover the costs of hosting a Grand Prix, a significant part of which is the sanctioning fee. It would be a huge boost to the circuit if the regional or national government would get involved in paying the bill, no matter how deep Pinheiro’s pockets may be.

Portuguese deputy sports minister Laurentino Dias was quoted in the same Reuters statement as saying "The Government will do its best for Portugal to become part of the world’s main championships.” That doesn’t mean a cheque from Lisbon will magically appear at the London offices of Formula One Management, but the developers might be able to count on some support.

Marketability

In terms of combining an F1 venue with a great getaway destination, Portimao may be hard to beat. It’s sunny most of the year and is already a haven for tourists. And while there are no Portuguese drivers on the F1 grid since the departure of Tiago Monteiro, a number of young drivers from the country could find their way into F1 by the time a Portuguese Grand Prix rolls around. This might include A1GP star Filipe Albuquerque (who praised the new circuit in a recent interview), GP2 contender Alvaro Parente, and British F3 hotshot Jaime Algersuari.

Plus, with Spain just across the border, the Portuguese Grand Prix would almost surely draw in thousands of the Fernando Alonso faithful as long as their star is in the sport. All in all, while the Algarve circuit would surely make plenty of money with a Grand Prix, other new calendar developments lead us to the one fly in the ointment on this subject: calendar space.

Calendar congestion

In 2009 the F1 schedule will expand to 19 races. India and South Korea are already lined up for 2010, and there is a strong possibility that the United States could also return at or around that time. As a result, given the team’s concerns over the season length, finding space for a Portuguese Grand Prix may be very difficult in an already busy calendar. In terms of Portugal carving out a niche, things would be considerable easier if Spain had not started hosting two races this season.

Ask the circuit director

Circuit director Paolo Pinheiro kindly took our questions on the circuit and its chances at getting a spot on the F1 calendar:

Q: How did you come up with the idea to build the Algarve Motor Park? How have you been involved in the design and construction?

A: I had the idea back in 2000, because of our weather which is our biggest advantage, as well as our hotels and beautiful beaches. I did the racetrack design, but not the buildings and infrastructures – just the racetrack layout.

Q: You have said recently that a Formula 1 team has booked your circuit for a private test in early 2009 – can you offer any details on this?

A: We will have the FIA inspection next week, so until then, all we can say is that many F1 teams have shown interest in testing here. But until the racetrack is homologated, we can only wait.

Q: With team bosses wanting to limit the number of races on the F1 calendar, how dose your circuit plan to campaign for a spot on an already-crowded F1 schedule?

A: It is not part of our plans to have a F1 race. If it happens one day, excellent, but it is not part of our plans, because as you stated it is very difficult to receive an F1 race.

Q: With Formula 1 now holding two races across the border in Spain, do you think the sport’s controlling figures will consider adding a race in Portugal?

A: I do not know. We have built a top level racetrack, not only per its layout, but also the buildings and the entire infrastructure, so we can only wait and see what the authorities think about our racetrack, and hope that the level of our circuit may work as a bonus for us.

Q: What are some of the unique benefits of your circuit that will make it attractive to F1 teams and fans?

A: It is a unique racetrack, very challenging for the drivers with big slopes and blind corners, and at the same time, very safe. For the public, they will be very close to the track, and also will have a very wide view, being able to view about 80% of the racetrack from all the stands. And also the Algarve itself – this is a special tourist destination that will make everyone feel great about coming and racing here.

Q: Please tell us a bit about the circuit layout in F1 configuration – what are some of the challenges it will present for Formula 1 drivers who test and/or race there?

A: As I said, the slopes – up and down around the circuit – and the fact that the track has some very fast and flowing corners, as well as 32 different track layouts, some fast, some slow, and also the fact that all the circuit can be watered. All these features will ensure us that the teams and drivers will be happy to come to the Algarve.

So what are its chances?

While they may not be putting all of their eggs in one big basket labeled "Formula 1", Pinheiro and his staff are apparently serious about bringing F1 to their facility, even if it is just in a testing capacity for the next few seasons. While they may not be as far along in pursuing a race date as India or South Korea, their efforts- centered on a brand-new, purpose built circuit- can perhaps be viewed as more viable and realistic than projects in locations such as Mexico and Russia.

Also, while the teams may not welcome a bigger calendar, a race in Poritamo would be considerably easier in terms of logistics than another flyaway destination. And while the new circuit seeks to become a regular destination for F1 testing, it is ironic that perhaps the move that would most help it to land a GP would be banning in-season testing for teams, therefore perhaps opening up a few more calendar slots where Portugal could fit in.

A revival of the Portuguese Grand Prix may not be on the cards for the next few seasons, but don’t be surprised if you see F1 roaring into the south of Portugal sometime in the next five to ten years. The Algarve Circuit is set to become a major centre for intentional motor sport, and landing an F1 race is certainty in its crosshairs.

Special thanks to Mr. Pinheiro for taking time to answer our questions, as well as to his assistant Hugo Gomes for fielding and directing our initial inquiry.

This is a guest article by Gerard Hetman. If you want to write a guest article for F1 Fanatic you can find all the information you need here.

NB. The written before it was learnt that the Indian Grand Prix had been delayed until 2011 and the 2009 Canadian Grand Prix has been cancelled.

29 comments on “Could F1 make a return to Portugal at the Algarve International Circuit?”

  1. Great article and fantastic research, Gerard!

    My suggestion: F1 has to choose between Valencia and Barcelona. Whichever stays on the calendar becomes the full-time Spanish GP. Whichever one drops out gets replaced by Portimao/Algarve.

  2. dont like the track! for me it’s a mix between Aida and Jerez! i wouldnt even reckon it b good for motogp!

  3. even tho Valencia has a dull race, i’d still pick that ove barcelona!

  4. Well, it looks good on the paper. Fast corners both left and right, and no “artificial” Mickey Mouse section. Guess I actually watch the Suberbike round in November to see more of the track. As good as Barcelona is as an event (big crowd, good organization), I would like to see that track go away. But I fear that there are not room for the current number of European events on the calendar with India, Russia and South Korea on their way in. So if Algarve is added, two other have to go (hopefully France and Hungary).

  5. The track looks like a meld of Barcelona, Estoril and Valencia (the proper track, not the docks).

    Long start/finish straight, then lots of wiggles, then a fast final turn. I don’t think that’s really all that great.

    What makes it worse is that at a second glance, it also has a smattering of Bahrain about it, which has to be the worst track on the calendar.

    I still think they should take the Spanish Grand Prix to Jerez.

  6. If these images were made in a road car, it looks too narrow, and a bit Mickey Mouse, too. Plus the overall shape of the circuit resembles Estoril.

  7. few things have changed since this article was written – next year will feature only 18 races unless some miracle brings Canada back, and India is now scheduled for 2011.

    This might create some room for a new race to sneak in and stay :-) I am sure Algarve would be great for visiting fans with all the beaches and sunshine. But place that is always sunny gives us zero chance of wet races :-)

  8. To everyone who has negative comments: At least it’s not a TilkeDrome, people. ;)

  9. To everyone who has negative comments: At least it’s not a TilkeDrome, people.

    And that is precisely why it won’t be getting on the F1 calendar.

    You think Bernie wants to go to a circuit which built itself, and not one that he specifically ordered? He has much less power and control in this situation, because the Portuguese have built a circuit with the intention of flourishing without F1. How can Bernie get any leverage there :-D

  10. AJOKAY: how can you compare it to valencia and bahrain? they are absolutely flat. this is not and is much better only for that reason

  11. So a hill or two is going to make that much of a diference to the actual track layout and design?

  12. Does that (what I assume is the) final part of the lap on the right of the aerial picture remind anyone else of the final part of Silverstone?

  13. It’s very similar to Estoril or Barcelona (I always liked Estoril, hated Barcelona) but all the changes in altitude look awesome.

  14. My fear about a Portuguese Grand Prix not taking place in the near future is based upon the fact we have 2 venues just next door in Spain. Then they must also ensure their mayors keep their enthusiasm in check. F1 is notorious for having strict formal procedures.
    I do miss hearing the name, Estoril, in present day F1.

  15. great news. i hope they came in here already this year for f1 testing.

  16. Show me the monies – Bernie Ecclestone
    Show him/CVC/FOM the monies and he will bring the circus to your Kids Birthday party.
    May sound bit brash, but unfortunately thats the fact. Traditions, Classic Circuits challenging driver skills, Circuits popular among fans. Well these are the last things on his priority list.
    Do the organizers have capability to lay the circuit with loads of Dollars/Pounds, then Bernie is all yours :D

  17. It looks like a very tight one line only circuit. Those slopes are quite scary, be cause at speed, the cars will just bottom out and make braking very difficult as they are very close to the corners. The track frightens me, and they will have to blast some sections of the natural walls away to meed F1’s over zealous safety criteria.

  18. The track was approved by FIA inspectors on last Monday and previously Ecclestone visited the track and was suitably impressed.
    Autosport reported that McLaren-Mercedes MP4/23 & Lewis Hamilton are testing on the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on November 17th – 19th ’08 in preparation for next year.
    I have personally been on the track and thought it very impressive including blind corners, significant elevation changes, with both fast & slow corners – and all with great visibility to the spectator.
    Finally, the infrastructure around the track is superb with direct motorway acess.Let’s see what the final round of the SBK championship makes of it on Nov 2nd.

  19. I’ve always liked the track. But I would have another thought and that would be to have 1-2 different or new tracks with dropping the same each year, maybe some to miss a year or two.

    My reasoning is that the real cream rises to the top when they run a new track or at least one the teams don’t have a ton of data on. Look how Alonso, Rosberg and ran in Singapore with supposedly inferior cars.

  20. Drop boring Montmeló and welcome Algarve. I love that region and the combination of sun, beach and F1 seems great to me.

  21. Finally a new circuit with some gradient!

    Overall I think it looks pretty good. Very similar layout to Estoril, but that’s not a bad thing. There’s a crest between turn 4 and 5 that seems quite severe. Same with the crest at the beginning of the main straight. I was under the impression that those sort of rises and crests were not really possible under the FIA regs. But if they are, that’s a good thing for F1, in my opinion. We just need track designers who will take advantage of it.

    I’d like to see Barcelona dropped for a year so F1 can give this track a go.

  22. As a Portuguese i believe that Mr Pinheiro is setting the bar too high. His hopes will be dashed. Being a test track doesn’t mean anything. Just look at Estoril (it kept going as a test track for a few years after leaving the calendar) and Jerez. Anyway i will be glad if he proves me wrong…

    First off all, Mr Ecclestone’s grand prix fees. They are too high already and without any hopes of falling in near future. At least as long as somebody is willing to pay like this to receive a GP. And since there are lots of them in the waiting line, fees are only to get higher. Portugal doesn’t have a lot of money. At least not oil money.
    Second, it is not designed by Tilke, who is the only ‘official’ circuit designer around. There aren’t many new circuits in the calendar which were not designed by him.
    Third, it is not flat. That seems, unfortunately, a shared characteristic in new circuits.
    Fourth, it is not an exotic place like Singapure, Valencia docks, Abu Dhabi, Bahrein, India or even Malaysia. F1 seems to change to exotic locations nowadays. Maybe Caraibean Grand Prix is only a few years away. Ecclestone will construct a venue there for his deep pocket friends that own an island nearby. Anyway, that should have more attendance than Bahrain.
    Fifth, Spain has already 2 GPs that are relatively close from Algarve. Unless that changes i do not see them do another GP in the same region. But, of course, if Ecclestone wants to call it Formula 1 Iberian Championship…
    Sixth, Portugal doesn’t have a world championship winner in F1 ranks. Today not even an F1 driver. And that, despite Alvaro Parente and Filipe Albuquerque, doesn’t seems to be changing any time soon.
    Last but not the least, it looks more like a karting venue than a big F1 circuit.

  23. Well Bernie will never approve it unless Ferrari tests on there and approves it, afterall Bernie is the Ferrari team boss, isn’t he?

  24. Looks too much like Magny or Catalunya, three sectors, fun to drive, and overtaking free.

    Like Catalunya, it looks like it’d be more fun on a motorcycle than in a car, and even in the motorcycles Estoril was probably the better venue.

    Not to be too negative. ;)

    I suppose we should reserve judgement for when there is actually a grand prix scheduled there, or for when a car takes a lap, since I thought Valencia was going to be awe-inspiring before I saw a car run on it.

  25. First, my thanks to all of you who have read and commented here- it is really amazing to see each of you from around the world take a few valuable moments to take a look at something I wrote!

    Journeyer- Good idea about forcing a choice between Barcelona or Valencia- make them do a Germany- style deal and share the event. However, as long as Fernando and Bernie are both in F1, we all know Spain is going to get their two GPs each season.

    Milos/aok- I wrote the article and completed my correspondence with Mr. Pinheiro before the FIA inspection and the dropping of Canada- my fault for not asking Keith to provide some updated info on the dates of my work. aok, very good inside info and it seems to be a great venue, so we will see how the first few events play out.

    Robert- Indeed I was very curious about who designed the track. I was kicking myself after sending the questions for not asking about it and got a hidden blessing when Mr. Pinheiro address it anyway. I don’t know how much that would factor into getting an F1 date, but the management are playing it smart by developing the circuit and offering a full schedule of events without basing it all around hopes for F1.

    DanielPT- As a native of Portugal, you obviously know a heck of alot more about the region than me. But on some of your points, I think the Algarve region appears very friendly to VIPs and tourists- for sure not a Magny-Cours. Also, it would be good for their causes to have a native driver, but many of the other new stops have never even had an F1 prospect, never mind a World Champion. Lastly, included in the development is a multi-configuration karting track that includes several tracks and a complete pits complex.

    Again, my thanks everyone :)

  26. Gman – Yes, i agree that it is very friendly to tourists and VIPs (after his 8 olympic medals, Phelps decided that it would be nice a few days in Algarve!), but also a few regions around the globe, Marocco or Thailand for instance, and they don’t have a GP. I also raised the driver point just because Spain and Germany (the more recent examples of new GPs because WDC). The new venues don’t need a driver, they have cash… Finally, thanks for making a post in a subject that i thought it was only “internal” to Portugal!

  27. I went to the Algarve Motor Park for the F1 test in January 2009. It’s a great facility with unique access for the fans to the teams and drivers. The weather may not have been the best but I saw the unveiling of the new Williams and Renault, as well as meeting several top drivers over the five days. For a fan of many years the highlight for me was being shown around the Renault pit garage and seeing their new car up close, just three days after it was launched.
    I hope it becomes a centre for F1 testing, because I would certainly go back next time they were in town. I was at another F1 event in summer 2008 and was talking with a Renault employee who was telling me of the increasing rumour in the paddock that Barcelona is to become only a testing venue for F1, the Spanish Grand Prix will move to the Valencia street track full time, and a Mediterranean Grand Prix will alternate between Jerez and Portimao. Whether this happens remains to be seen. I have also heard that Tony Texeria has bought some land around the track to build facilities for his A1GP winners F1 team, and USGPE may choose to have their European base in the area as well…
    Still, I have already planned my next trip to the Algarve circuit; I am going to watch the GP2 finale there in September.

    1. That should be a great end to the GP2 season – hope we see the title decide there!

  28. Roberto Almendra
    17th December 2011, 13:40

    would be great for the championchip.why should spain have 2 and portugal none.

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