One of the biggest racing weekends on the International Autodrome of the Algarve (AIA) calendar will take place next weekend.
The high profile 2012 World Touring Car Championships (WTCC) are coming to Portimão on June 2 and 3 for two days of top competition also featuring Portuguese Circuit and AutoGP Championship rounds.
Local support during the main event will undoubtedly be behind 2011 inaugural Algarve winner Tiago Monteiro who will again have a favourite’s chance following the arrival of his new Renault motor.
This will be a rare opportunity for local racing fans to witness a truly world class event first hand (see competition on this page).
At the same time, Motor Park administrator Paulo Pinheiro is aware of the fact that money is tight at the moment and the track has announced a special ‘Three for One’ deal offering free entry to the July 6 to 8 FIA GT1 weekend as well as the September 21 to 23 World Superbike Championship round highlight with every ticket purchase for the forthcoming WTCC event.
“Under the current economic conditions, the majority of the Portuguese people have problems finding the spare cash to spend on leisure activities”, he commented. “This is one of several initiatives in the pipeline designed to enable motor sport fans to visit our circuit. We don’t want the cost factor to act as a barrier to enjoying the AIA.”
Please note that even if you do not take advantage of the current offer an ongoing 25% discount applies to entry to all 2012 events scheduled for the track.
The Estoril Historic Festival is another victim of the current economic climate and has been moved to Jerez de la Frontera. The Spanish circuit which hosted the first ever F1 Grand Prix in that country will now stage contemporary and historic racing featuring the penultimate round of the domestic GT Championships and the concluding FIA Historic F1 event side by side between October 12 and 14 preceding the Algarve Classic Festival a week later (October 18-21).
WIN tickets to the WTCC!
There is still chance to win FREE TICKETS to the WTCC event! Simply answer the following question:
Which F1 driver has a road named after him in Quinta do Lago?
a) Michael Schumacher b) Ayrton Senna c) Graham Hill
Email your answer, including your full name, address and telephone number, to [email protected] by Monday, May 28, noon. Winners will be notified on the phone that day. Normal Algarve Resident rules apply – visit www.algarveresident.com for competition Terms and Conditions.
