Algarve International Circuit

The circuit

The circuit hosted the final round of the World Superbike Championship on 2 November 2008. 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. 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. A Formula One test session, with the McLaren and Honda teams participating, was scheduled for 15–17 December 2008. Ferrari also ran at Algarve. Toyota also tested at the circuit on 20 January 2009 in the first outing of their new TF109 chassis. The circuit also hosted the final round of the 2009 GP2 Series season in September 2009. From 2010 it hosted a round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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. 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. 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.

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.

In December 2025, it was announced that the circuit would return in 2027 and 2028 hosting the Portuguese Grand Prix, the circuit's first time on the Formula One calendar since 2021, replacing the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort.

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

| File:Autódromo de Algarve.svg | Grand Prix Circuit with Chicane (2008–2019) | File:Autódromo do Algarve F1 Sectors.svg | Grand Prix Circuit (2008–present) | File:Autódromo do Algarve moto.svg | Motorcycling Circuit (2008–present)

Events

; Current

• January: GT Winter Series, GT4 Winter Series, Prototype Winter Series, Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe
• February: Formula Winter Series, Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship, Eurocup-4 Spanish Winter Championship, Ultimate Winter Cup, 6h of Portimão
• March: Superbike World Championship, Supersport World Championship, FIM Women's Motorcycling World Championship, Sportbike World Championship
• April: International GT Open, Euroformula Open Championship, GT Cup Open Europe, Porsche Sprint Challenge Suisse
• May: Campeonato Portugal de Velocidade
• June: Eurocup-3, F4 Spanish Championship
• July: Ferrari Challenge Europe
• October: European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Portimão, GT World Challenge Europe, Le Mans Cup, GT2 European Series, GT4 European Series, Ligier European Series, McLaren Trophy Europe, Fun Cup
• November: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix, Ultimate Cup Series, Algarve Classic Festival

; Future

• Formula One
  • Portuguese Grand Prix (2020–2021, 2027–2028)

; Former

• 24H Series
  • 24 Hours of Portimão (2017–2020, 2022, 2024)
• A1 Grand Prix (2009)
• Acceleration 2014 (2014)
• Alpine Elf Cup Series (2020–2021, 2024)
• Auto GP (2009, 2012)
• British Formula 3 International Series (2009)
• British GT Championship (2023)
• Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2022)
• EuroBOSS Series (2009)
• FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2015)
• FIA Formula Two Championship (2010, 2012)
• FIA GT Championship
  • Algarve 2 Hours (2009)
• FIA GT1 World Championship (2010–2012)
• FIA GT3 European Championship (2009–2012)
• FIA World Endurance Championship
  • 6 Hours of Portimão (2023)
  • 8 Hours of Portimão (2021)
• FIM Endurance World Championship
  • 12 Hours of Portimão (2016)
• FIM JuniorGP World Championship (2014–2016, 2020–2024)
• FIM Moto2 European Championship (2014–2016, 2020–2024)
• Formula Le Mans Cup (2009)
• Formula One
  • Portuguese Grand Prix (2020–2021)
• Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup (2009)
• Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2009)
• GP2 Series
  • Algarve GP2 Series round (2009)
• Grand Prix motorcycle racing
  • Algarve motorcycle Grand Prix (2021)
• International GTSprint Series (2010–2011, 2013)
• Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final (2022)
• MotoE World Championship
  • Portuguese eRace (2024–2025)
• Porsche Carrera Cup France (2021, 2024)
• Porsche Cup Brasil (2012–2013, 2025)
• Radical World Finals (2023)
• Renault Clio Cup Europe (2024)
• Superleague Formula
  • Superleague Formula round Portugal (2010)
• Supersport 300 World Championship (2017–2025)
• Superstars Series (2009–2011, 2013)
• TCR Europe (2022–2023, 2025)
• TCR International Series (2015)
• TCR World Tour (2023)
• V de V Sports (2017)
• World Touring Car Championship
  • FIA WTCC Race of Portugal (2010, 2012)

Lap records

As of November 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Algarve International Circuit are listed as:

Notes

References

References

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2. (13 February 2008). "Algarve International circuit launched". worldsbk.com.
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5. (5 November 2008). "FIA GT 2009 calendar announced".
6. "McLaren vai estrear Portimão em Novembro". Autosport.pt.
7. (13 October 2008). "Portimão: autódromo recebe McLaren Mercedes".
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9. Noble, Jonathan. (24 October 2008). "McLaren confirm maiden Algarve test". [[Autosport]].
10. Noble, Jonathan. (24 October 2008). "Honda to join McLaren in Algarve". [[Autosport]].
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39. (17 July 2021). "2021 Spanish Formula 4 Algarve (Race 2)".
40. (12 February 2023). "2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe - Autódromo Internacional do Algarve - PSCSE - Sport Division - Final Result Race 2 (30 Min)".
41. (21 October 2023). "2023 Radical World Finals - 4 Hours of Algarve - World Final Race (35 Minutes) - Final Classification".
42. (15 October 2022). "2022 Ligier European Series - Portimão Heat - Race 1 - Final Classification by Category".
43. (21 January 2024). "Winter Series Portimao 2024 - Result GT4 Winter Series - Race 2 - Final Result Race 2".
44. (31 October 2020). "2020 Ligier European Series - Portimão Heat - Race 2 - Provisional Classification".
45. (24 October 2021). "2021 Alpine Elf Europa Cup - 4 Hours of Portimão - Race 2 - Final Classification".
46. (26 April 2025). "2025 Autodromo Int. do Algarve - TCR Europe - Race 1 - Provisional Results".
47. (26 April 2014). "FAcceleration 2014 - Event 1 - Portugal - MW-V6 Pickup Series - Race 1".
48. (28 April 2024). "2024 Autodromo Int. do Algarve - Clio Cup Series - Race 2 - Provisional Results".
49. (7 June 2025). "2025 Toyota GR Cup Spain - Round 3 - Portimão - Carrera 1 (25 Minutes +1 Lap) - Final Classification".
50. (30 March 2025). "Superbike - Pirelli Portuguese Round, 28–30 March 2025 - Results - Tissot Superpole Race". [[Dorna Sports.
51. (30 March 2025). "Supersport - Pirelli Portuguese Round, 28–30 March 2025 - Results Race 2". [[Dorna Sports.
52. (23 March 2024). "2024 MotoE Grande Prémio Tissot de Portugal - Race 2 - Classification after 7 Laps". [[Dorna Sports.
53. (10 August 2024). "FIM Women's Motorcycling World Championship - Pirelli Portuguese Round, 9–11 August 2024 - Results Race 1". [[Dorna Sports.
54. (29 March 2025). "Supersport 300 - Pirelli Portuguese Round, 28–30 March 2025 - Results Race 1". [[Dorna Sports.
55. (6 September 2015). "2015 FIA Formula 3 European Championship Algarve Race 2 Statistics".
56. (8 November 2009). "2009 WEC Formula Renault Portimao (Race 2)".