‘Formula one is not a priority for Portugal’
Formula One racing may one day be a feature at the Algarve Motor Park but is not something fans should expect in the near future, according to Paulo Pinheiro.
Speaking exclusively to the Algarve Resident in December about the hectic first year at the track and plans for its future, the CEO of the racetrack said: “Formula One is a national commitment, with some countries having been working to receive it for more than five years. The Portuguese government is not working towards that for the time being; it has other problems so it is not a priority.”
Although Formula One has been placed on a back burner for the time being, construction of the karting track at the Motor Park was due to start before Christmas.
Kate McCann reaches out to Madeleine in Praia da Luz
Kate and Gerry McCann were in Praia da Luz on December 12 for the first time together since both were named as arguidos, or suspects, in the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine in 2007. Writing on the Find Madeleine website, Kate said: “I have longed to come back here for two years for personal and emotional reasons.”
It is not known whether the couple visited the apartment at the Ocean Club holiday apartment complex, from where Madeleine disappeared, during their two night stay in Praia da Luz. The couple spent the day catching up with friends before attending an evening mass at Nossa Senhora da Luz church led by Portuguese priest José Manuel Pacheco. The couple arrived in Praia da Luz from Lisbon where they attended a Civil Court hearing for the planned trial relating to the injunction on Gonçalo Amaral.
The trial was postponed until January because the former police chief’s lawyer has been quarantined with the A (H1N1) virus.
British woman faces court
A 58 year-old British woman facing criminal charges for making a complaint against a Lagos-based lawyer has said that she will come to the Algarve to face the court.
Serena Wylde, speaking exclusively to the Algarve Resident, said that she will face the judges if the case goes to trial, as it has already been postponed.
“I have already spent close to 20,000 euros and for two years, I battled this alone, writing to MPs, the Portuguese attorney general and many others to try and resolve this without embarrassing Portugal.”
The case is due to be heard at Lagos court but a date for this has not yet been set.
