Biker fans only have two weeks to wait for the next FIM Endurance World Championship race, entitled ’12 Hours of Portimão’, to be held over the Bank Holiday June 10-11 weekend at the Algarve International Autodrome for the first time and expected to attract thousands.
Taking place over the course of 12 hours, the event will mark the return of the Parkalgar Racing Team to competitive racing.
The team includes top Portuguese riders Miguel Oliveira and Miguel Praia – both of whom are going all out to return it to its former glory.
“This race is extremely important for us,” said Paulo Pinheiro, CEO of managing company Parkalgar.
“It was very difficult to bring it to Portimão as it will cost our organisation a lot of money,” he told reporters at the event’s official presentation.
But he says he believes the race will be successful enough to pay all the investment back.
Pinheiro also said “large investment” was needed to revive the Parkalgar race team.
“A project like this is only possible with sponsors,” he explained. “As we now have Miguel Oliveira with us, one of Portugal’s top riders, we have the visibility we needed to have brands investing in us and allowing us to prepare for this race with all the necessary conditions.”
Regional tourism boss Desidério Silva has added that these races help “promote the Algarve abroad”.
He says that as the Algarve has “one of the most fantastic racetracks in the world, it has to be used and valued”.
Tickets for the race cost €9.
For more information, visit www.autodromodoalgarve.com
Investment in Racing School
Paulo Pinheiro also revealed plans to develop the racetrack’s Racing School, which allows people to get behind the wheel of a dream car – not just on the racetrack, but also using the site’s go-kart circuit.
Pinheiro believes the school could become an important tourist attraction as people do not need to book ahead. They can just turn up whenever they want to.
“Many people don’t know this, but our go-kart circuit welcomes 30,000 people every year,” he told Barlavento newspaper, adding that some even travel from as far as America to try out the cars and services.
“These are the kind of things that make the Algarve famous abroad,” he said.
Photo: Riders Miguel Oliveira and Miguel Praia of the Parkalgar Racing Team
Photo by: BRUNO FILIPE PIRES/OPEN MEDIA GROUP
