# Algarve International Circuit

The Algarve International Circuit (Portuguese: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve), commonly referred to as Portimão Circuit, is a 4.653 km (2.891 mi) race circuit located in Portimão, Algarve region, Portugal. The development includes a karting track, off-road track, technology park, five-star hotel, sports complex and apartments.
The circuit was designed by Ricardo Pina, Arquitectos. The construction was finished in October 2008 and the circuit was homologated by both the FIM on 11 October 2008 and the FIA two days later. The total cost was €195 million (approximately $250 million).

## 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.

## 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

* Grand Prix Circuit with Chicane (2008–2019)
* Grand Prix Circuit (2008–present)
* 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
* March: Superbike World Championship, Supersport World Championship, Supersport 300 World Championship
* April: International GT Open, Euroformula Open Championship, TCR Europe Touring Car Series, GT Cup Open Europe, Algarve Welcome Spring
* June: Ultimate Cup Series, Eurocup-3, Campeonato de España de GT, F4 Spanish Championship, Porsche Cup Brasil
* July: Ferrari Challenge Europe, Porsche Cup Brasil
* October: European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Portimão, Le Mans Cup, Ligier European Series, Fun Cup, Algarve Classic Festival
* November: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix, MotoE World Championship Portuguese eRace

### 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)
* Blancpain GT Series (2014–2015)
* British Formula 3 International Series (2009)
* British GT Championship (2023)
* Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2022)
* EuroBOSS Series (2009)
* Ferrari Challenge Europe (2009–2011, 2013–2014, 2022, 2024)
* 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)
* FIM Women's Motorcycling World Championship (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)
* GT2 European Series (2023)
* GT4 European Cup (2009–2010)
* International GTSprint Series (2010–2011, 2013)
* Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final (2022)
* Porsche Carrera Cup France (2021, 2024)
* Radical World Finals (2023)
* Renault Clio Cup Europe (2024)
* Superstars Series (2009–2011, 2013)
* 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 February 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Algarve International Circuit are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver/Rider | Vehicle | Event |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.653 km (2008–present) |||||
| F1 | 1:18.750 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance | 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix |
| LMP2 | 1:29.670 | Mikkel Jensen | Aurus 01 | 2020 4 Hours of Portimão |
| LMH | 1:30.919 | Nicolas Lapierre | Alpine A480 | 2021 8 Hours of Portimão |
| A1GP | 1:31.404 | Adam Carroll | A1GP Powered by Ferrari car | 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Portugal |
| Superleague Formula | 1:31.935 | Andy Soucek | Panoz DP09 | 2010 Portimão Superleague Formula round |
| LMP1 | 1:32.375 | Nicolas Lapierre | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP | 2010 1000 km of Algarve |
| LMDh | 1:33.077 | Earl Bamber | Cadillac V-Series.R | 2023 6 Hours of Portimão |
| Formula 3000 | 1:33.594 | Clivio Piccione | Lola B05/52 | 2009 Portimão Euroseries 3000 round |
| FA1 | 1:33.808 | Mirko Bortolotti | Lola B05/52 | 2014 Portimão Formula Acceleration 1 round |
| Formula Renault 3.5 | 1:34.472 | Jaime Alguersuari | Dallara T08 | 2009 Portimão Formula Renault 3.5 Series round |
| F2 (2009–2012) | 1:35.531 | Mathéo Tuscher | Williams JPH1 | 2012 Portimão Formula Two round |
| Euroformula Open | 1:36.493 | Louis Foster | Dallara 320 | 2021 Portimão Euroformula Open round |
| LMP3 | 1:36.881 | Matt Bell | Ligier JS P320 | 2020 Portimão Le Mans Cup round |
| LM GTE | 1:38.757 | Miguel Molina | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | 2021 8 Hours of Portimão |
| Formula Three | 1:38.904 | Jules Bianchi | Dallara F309 | 2009 Portimão British F3 round |
| Formula Regional | 1:39.696 | Valerio Rinicella | Tatuus F3 T-318-EC3 | 2025 Portimão E3 Spanish Winter Championship round |
| LMPC | 1:40.048 | Jérôme d'Ambrosio | Oreca FLM09 | 2009 Algarve Formula Le Mans Cup round |
| GT3 | 1:40.795 | Julien Andlauer | Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 R | 2020 Portimão Le Mans Cup round |
| GT1 (GTS) | 1:41.828 | Alex Müller | Maserati MC12 GT1 | 2009 FIA GT Algarve 2 Hours |
| Lamborghini Super Trofeo | 1:42.790 | Loris Spinelli | Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo2 | 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final |
| Ferrari Challenge | 1:42.997 | Luca Ludwig | Ferrari 296 Challenge | 2024 Portimão Ferrari Challenge Europe round |
| SRO GT2 | 1:43.875 | Pierre Kaffer | Audi R8 LMS GT2 | 2023 Portimão GT2 European Series round |
| Formula 4 | 1:43.894 | Noam Abramczyk [fr] | Tatuus F4-T014 | 2021 Portimão F4 Spain round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:44.582 | Robert de Haan | Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup | 2023 Portimão Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe round |
| Radical Cup | 1:45.145 | Indy Al Miller | Radical SR10 XXR | 2023 Radical World Finals |
| JS P4 | 1:45.462 | Gillian Henrion | Ligier JS P4 | 2022 Portimão Ligier European Series round |
| GT2 | 1:47.198 | Martin Ragginger [de] | Porsche 911 (997 I) GT3-RSR | 2009 FIA GT Algarve 2 Hours |
| GT4 | 1:49.932 | Jamie Day | Aston Martin Vantage GT4 | 2024 Portimão GT4 Winter Series round |
| JS2 R | 1:51.490 | Natan Bihel | Ligier JS2 R | 2020 Portimão Ligier European Series round |
| Alpine Elf Europa Cup | 1:51.868 | Ugo de Wilde | Alpine A110 Cup | 2021 Portimão Alpine Elf Europa Cup round |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:52.319 | Mikel Azcona | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 2023 Portimão TCR World Tour round |
| Super 2000 | 1:54.542 | Yvan Muller | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Portugal |
| Pickup truck racing | 1:57.396 | Elon Murray | MWV6 Pick Up | 2014 Portimão MW-V6 Pickup Series round |
| Renault Clio Cup | 2.04.323 | Adrian Schimpf | Renault Clio R.S. V | 2024 Portimão Renault Clio Cup Europe round |
| Motorcycling Circuit: 4.592 km (2008–present) |||||
| MotoGP | 1:38.685 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati Desmosedici GP24 | 2024 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix |
| World SBK | 1:39.826 | Toprak Razgatlıoğlu | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 2023 Portimão World SBK round |
| Moto2 | 1:42.221 | Fermín Aldeguer | Boscoscuro B-24 | 2024 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix |
| World SSP | 1:43.246 | Yari Montella | Ducati Panigale V2 | 2024 Portimão World SSP round |
| MotoE | 1:46.313 | Oscar Gutiérrez | Ducati MotoE | 2024 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Moto3 | 1:46.985 | David Alonso | CFMoto Moto3 | 2024 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix |
| World WCR | 1:53.691 | Sara Sánchez | Yamaha YZF-R7 | 2024 Portimão World WCR round |
| Supersport 300 | 1:54.862 | Matteo Vannucci [it] | Yamaha YZF-R3 | 2024 Portimão Supersport 300 round |
| Grand Prix Circuit with Chicane: 4.684 km (2008–2019) |||||
| GP2 | 1:32.113 | Diego Nunes | Dallara GP2/08 | 2009 Algarve GP2 Series round |
| Formula Three | 1:42.077 | Felix Rosenqvist | Dallara F315 | 2015 Portimão F3 round |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 1:45.648 | Albert Costa | Tatuus FR2000 | 2009 Portimão Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup round |