The Circuito do Estoril or Autódromo do Estoril (Estoril Circuit), officially known as Autódromo Fernanda Pires da Silva, is a motorsport race track on the Portuguese Riviera, outside of Lisbon, owned by state-run holding management company Parpública. Its length is 4.182 km (2.599 mi). It was the home of the Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix from 1984 to 1996. The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 license.[1]
 | |
| Location | Alcabideche, Cascais, Portugal |
|---|---|
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) WEST (April-October, UTC+1) |
| Coordinates | 38°45′3″N 9°23′39″W / 38.75083°N 9.39417°W |
| Capacity | 45,000 |
| FIA Grade | 1 (Grand Prix) 3 (Tanque) |
| Owner | Parpública (February 2007–present) |
| Opened | 17 June 1972 |
| Former names | Autódromo do Estoril |
| Major events | Current: World SBK (1988, 1993, 2020–2022, 2024) Sidecar World Championship (2019, 2021–present) FIM JuniorGP (2017–present) Porsche Cup Brasil (2011–2012, 2014, 2019, 2024) Former: Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix (1984–1996) Grand Prix motorcycle racing Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix (2000–2012) FIM EWC (1987, 2000, 2020–2021) International GT Open (2006, 2008, 2015–2018, 2022) European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Estoril (2001, 2011, 2014–2016) DTM (2004) FIA WTCR Race of Portugal (2008, 2021) FIA GT (2000–2003) |
| Website | http://www.circuito-estoril.pt/ |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2000–present) | |
| Length | 4.182 km (2.599 miles) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:26.711 ( Andy Soucek, Panoz DP09, 2008, Superleague Formula) |
| Tanque Circuit (2018–present) | |
| Length | 4.163 km (2.587 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:35.895 ( Francisco Mora, Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup, 2023, Carrera Cup) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1994–1999) | |
| Length | 4.360 km (2.725 miles) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:22.446 ( David Coulthard, Williams FW16B, 1994, F1) |
| Superbike Circuit (1993) | |
| Length | 4.520 km (2.809 miles) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:52.186 ( Carl Fogarty, Ducati 888 SBK, 1993, World SBK) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1972–1993) | |
| Length | 4.349 km (2.703 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:14.859 ( Damon Hill, Williams FW15C, 1993, F1) |
| Perimeter Circuit (1972–1999) | |
| Length | 2.942 km (1.828 miles) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Race lap record | 0:59.350 ( John Lepp, Chevron B21, 1972, Group 5) |
History edit
Estoril, a vacation-destination beach town located 32 km (20 mi) west of the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon has had a motor racing dating back to the 1930s, with a 2.8 km (1.7 mi) street circuit used in 1937 for a local race. The current Estoril circuit was built and completed in 1972 on a rocky plateau near the village of Alcabideche, 9-kilometre (5.6 mi) from Estoril, the town lending its name to the circuit. The course has two hairpin turns, noticeable elevation changes, and a long 0.986 km (0.613 mi) start/finish straight.[2] Its original perimeter was 4.350 km (2.703 mi), and the maximum gradient is nearly 7%.[3] Monsanto Park, another street circuit in Lisbon hosted a variety of motor racing events in the 1950s, including the 1959 Portuguese Grand Prix, an event it shared briefly with the Boavista street circuit in Porto.
Its first years saw many national races, as well as an occasional Formula 2 race. However, the course soon fell into disrepair due to the owning company having been taken over by the state between 1975 and 1978, and a significant redevelopment effort was needed before international motorsport returned in 1984. In the 1980s, the Rally de Portugal also had a special stage at the circuit.[4][5]
Estoril became a popular event on the F1 calendar, the setting for many well-known moments including Niki Lauda winning the 1984 championship, his third and final, from McLaren teammate Alain Prost by just half a point by finishing second to Prost at the 1984 Portuguese Grand Prix; three-time world champion Ayrton Senna's first F1 win in 1985; Nigel Mansell's notorious black flag incident and subsequent collision with Senna in 1989; Riccardo Patrese being launched airborne in a near-backward flip after colliding with Gerhard Berger on the main straight in 1992; and Jacques Villeneuve overtaking Michael Schumacher around the outside of the final turn in 1996.
Throughout the years, Estoril has had numerous problems with safety, failing safety inspections on more than one occasion. After the death of Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, a chicane was added which increased the circuit length to 4.360 km (2.709 mi). Estoril sometimes has strong winds. Many teams were fond of using Estoril for winter testing.
Estoril was dropped from the F1 calendar for the 1997 season, though it continued to play host to top-level single-seater, sports car and touring car events, including the FIA GT Championship, the DTM and the World Series by Renault.[2] A new redesign of the parabolica turn which saw its length reduced to 4.182 km (2.599 mi) was implemented in 2000 in order to obtain FIM homologation.
On 3 September 2000, the Autódromo do Estoril held its first Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix, an event held annually. On 23 October 2005, the circuit hosted the third round of the first ever A1 Grand Prix racing season, with both races in the event being won by the French team. The track hosted Superleague Formula series events in 2008 and 2009.
In 2020, due to rescheduling of major international sport series due to COVID-19 pandemic, Estoril hosted the final race of 2020 Superbike World Championship (after hosting the series in 1988 and 1993) and the final race of 2019–20 FIM Endurance World Championship (after hosting the series in 1987 and 2000).
Layout history edit
Grand Prix Circuit (1972–1993)
Grand Prix Circuit (1994–1999)
Grand Prix Circuit (2000–present)
Lap records edit
As of February 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuito do Estoril are listed as:
Events edit
- Current
- January: GT Winter Series
- February: Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe
- May: FIM JuniorGP World Championship, FIM CEV Moto2 European Championship, European Talent Cup
- June: Porsche Cup Brasil
- July: Campeonato de España de Superbike, Estoril Summer Festival, Racing Sound Fest, TCR Spain Touring Car Championship
- September: Campeonato de España de Superbike
- October: Superbike World Championship, Supersport World Championship, FIM Women's Motorcycling World Championship, Classic Endurance Racing Estoril Classics
- November: Sidecar World Championship, Caterham Festival
- December: Estoril Season Finale
- Former
- 24H Series
- 12 Hours of Estoril (2023)
- A1 Grand Prix (2005)
- Auto GP (2004, 2014)
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2004)
- Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (1999, 2001, 2005, 2007–2008, 2016)
- Eurocup Mégane Trophy (2005, 2007–2008)
- Eurocup-3 (2023)
- Euroformula Open Championship (2001–2007, 2015–2018, 2022)
- European Formula Two Championship (1975–1977)
- European Le Mans Series
- 4 Hours of Estoril (2011, 2014–2016)
- European Touring Car Championship (1977–1978, 1985–1988, 2001–2003)
- European Touring Car Cup (2006)
- European Truck Racing Cup (2003)
- F4 Spanish Championship (2017, 2023)
- Ferrari Challenge Europe (2023)
- FIA GT Championship (2000–2003)
- FIA Sportscar Championship
- FIA Sportscar Championship Estoril (2002–2003)
- FIM Endurance World Championship
- 12 Hours of Estoril (1987, 2000, 2020–2021)
- Formula Chrysler Euroseries (2001)
- Formula 3 Euro Series (2004)
- Formula One
- Portuguese Grand Prix (1984–1996)
- Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup (1987, 1999, 2001, 2008)
- Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2005, 2007–2008)
- French Formula Three Championship (1972)
- Grand Prix motorcycle racing
- Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix (2000–2012)
- IMSA European Le Mans Series
- Estoril 1000km (2001)
- International Formula 3000 (1985, 1994–1996)
- International GT Open (2006, 2008, 2015–2018, 2022)
- International Touring Car Championship (1995–1996)
- Italian Formula Renault Championship (2001)
- Porsche Supercup (1994, 1996)
- Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (2007–2008, 2011–2012)
- Renault Sport Trophy (2016)
- SEAT León Eurocup (2008, 2015–2016)
- Stock Car Brasil (1982)
- Superleague Formula (2008–2009)
- Supersport 300 World Championship (2020, 2022)
- TCR International Series (2016)
- Ultimate Cup Series (2019, 2021, 2023)
- V de V Series (2007–2018)
- World Series by Nissan (2001, 2004)
- World Touring Car Championship
- FIA WTCC Race of Portugal (2008)
- World Touring Car Cup
- FIA WTCR Race of Portugal (2021)
Major event winners edit
Motorcycling - Portuguese Grand Prix edit
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ "LIST OF FIA LICENSED CIRCUITS" (PDF). FIA. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ a b "The New Tracks". race-game.org. 2006. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
- ^ Seara.com. "TRACK DATA - Circuito Estoril - Portugal". www.circuito-estoril.pt. Archived from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Estoril - Racing Circuits". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ Seara.com. "History - Circuito Estoril - Portugal". www.circuito-estoril.pt.
- ^ "2007 Formula Renault 3.5 Estoril Race 2 Statistics". 21 October 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "2004 Formula Nissan Estoril (Race 1)". 22 April 2001. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "2022 EuroFormula Open Estoril (Race 3)". 1 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "2014 4 Hours of Estoril - Auto GP - Race 1 (24 laps, 100.4 km.) - Final Classification" (PDF). elms.alkamelsystems.com. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "2011 6 Hours of Estoril - Race Final Classification by Class" (PDF). elms.alkamelsystems.com. 25 September 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Estoril 1000 Kilometres 2001". 15 July 2001. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "2008 Estoril Formula Master - Round 7". Motor Sport Magazine. 12 July 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "Estoril 4 Hours 2018". 3 November 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "2004 F3 Euro Series Estoril Race 2 Statistics". 2 May 2004. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Estoril Classics 2021 - Classic GP - Pre-1986 F1 Estoril Classics Race 1 Fastest Lap Sequence" (PDF). 9 October 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "2023 Eurocup-3 Racing Weekend Estoril Carrera 2 (30 Minutos +1 Vlt) Clasificación Provisória" (PDF). 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Autódromo do Estoril International GT Open Race - 1 Provisional Classification by Driver Fastest Lap" (PDF). 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "DTM 2004 » Estoril Round 2 Results". 2 May 2004. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "World SBK Estoril Round, 20-22 May 2022 Results Race 1" (PDF). World Superbike. Dorna. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ "FIA Sportscar Championship Estoril 2002". 14 April 2002. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ a b "FIA GT Championship Estoril 2003". 5 October 2003. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ "2008 WEC Formula Renault Estoril (Race 1)". 28 September 2008. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "2001 FC Euro Series Estoril - 20th-21st October Race 1". 20 October 2001. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ "2023 Formula 4 Spain Racing Weekend Estoril Carrera 3 (30 Minutos +1 Vlt) Clasificación Provisória" (PDF). 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe - Estoril Circuit - Sport Division Race 1 (30 Minutes+1 Lap) - Official Classification" (PDF). 3 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "12 Hours of Estoril 2021 Race - Final Ranking". 17 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- ^ "2023 Trofeo Pirelli Estoril Race 2 (30 Minutes) Final Classification" (PDF). 16 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "2016 4 Hours of Estoril - Renault Sport Trophy Endurance Race 1 (70' +1 lap) - Final Classification" (PDF). 22 October 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "2014 4 Hours of Estoril - Race Final Classification by Class" (PDF). elms.alkamelsystems.com. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "FIM Junior GP World Championship Estoril Moto2 Race 1 Classification". 8 May 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "World SSP Pirelli Estoril Round, 16-18 October 2020 Results Race 1" (PDF). World Superbike. Dorna. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "CPV - SuperCars Endurance Caterham Racing Festival 18, 19 e 20 Novembro 2022 Corrida 2 (45 Minutes) Official Classification" (PDF). 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "2005 Round 6: Estoril Eurocup Megane Trophy Race 2 Final Classification" (PDF). 28 September 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "2021 Moto3 - FIM CEV Repsol Circuito do Estoril - Race Classification" (PDF). 25 April 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "European Super Touring Championship 2001 » Estoril Round 19 Results". 21 October 2001. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "WTCR 2021 » Estoril Round 4 Results". 27 June 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "ETCC 2003 » Estoril Round 18 Results". 5 October 2003. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
- ^ "2016 Autodromo do Estoril - SEAT León Eurocup - Race 1 - Classification". 23 April 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "2022 ESBK CIRCUITO DO ESTORIL 13 a 15 MAYO 2022 SBK JUNIOR - CARRERA 2 (13 Vlts., 54,4 km.) Clasificación" (PDF). 15 May 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Winter Series Estoril 2024 - Result GT Winter Series - Race 1 Final result Race 1" (PDF). 13 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "List of FIA Licensed Circuits" (PDF). 17 April 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge Iberica Cascais Racing Weekend 29 e 30 Jul Corrida 1 (28 Minutos +1 Vlt.) Classificação Provisional" (PDF). 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ a b "CPV/Iberian Supercars - Estoril Caterham Festival - 24 a 26 Novembro 2023 - Corrida 1 (45 Minutos) - Classificação Oficial" (PDF). 26 November 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ a b "CPV/Iberian Supercars - Estoril Caterham Festival - 24 a 26 Novembro 2023 - Timekeeping Sectors" (PDF). 26 November 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "1994 Estoril F3000". Motor Sport Magazine. 24 September 1994. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "1999 Eurocup Formula Renault Estoril". 7 November 1999. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "ITC 1995 » Estoril Round 8 Results". 6 August 1995. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ a b "1993-10-15 to 1993-10-17 World Superbike Portuguese Round Race 2". 17 October 1993. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ "1985 Estoril F3000". Motor Sport Magazine. 20 April 1985. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "1977 Estoril F2". Motor Sport Magazine. 2 October 1977. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "1977 Estoril 400Kms". Motor Sport Magazine. 10 July 1977. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "1985 Estoril ETCC". Motor Sport Magazine. 13 October 1985. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "1988 Estoril World SBK Race 2 Statistics". 11 September 1988. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Estoril 4 Hours 1977". 16 October 1977. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ "Estoril [Sports] 1972". 12 November 1972. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "1972 Taca Joao Ortigao Ramos". 18 June 1972. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "European GT Championship Estoril 1973". 8 July 1973. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
External links edit
