Portugal to build new venue
Posted by Locke Cole
SOURCE: ITV-F1.com
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Portugal is bidding to regain a place on the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since 1996 with the building of a new circuit in the Algarve holiday region.
The country, which last held a grand prix at the Estoril circuit 12 years ago, hopes a new 200 million euro (£149 million) track in Portimao will entice F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone into making a return.
Reuters reports that the new venue, which has already been certified by the FIA and is set for completion in October, says it has already secured one F1 team for a test at the circuit next January.
And a Portuguese government official has said the country is determined to regain a slot on the F1 calendar at the new circuit.
"The Government will do its best for Portugal to become part of the world's main championships," deputy sports minister, Laurentino Dias told the news agency.
"This circuit is prepared to host a range of motor races, from the most modest to Formula 1."
Portugal was axed from the 1997 season following safety concerns at Estoril, which had been a mainstay on the calendar since 1984.
The country had initially held three grand prix during the early years of the world championship, at Porto in 1958 and ’60 and Monsanto, near Lisbon, in ’59.
The new circuit in the port city of Portimao is already due to host the final round of the Superbike world championship in November.
It is set to cover 300 hectares of land between Portimao and the hills of Monchique, with a capacity for up to 100,000 spectators including a VIP tower.
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The reason I posted this is because I think it's a great story - a country building a Grand Prix circuit BEFORE they have been given a place on the calendar, which is IMHO how it should ALWAYS be. And they're not doing it to boost their automobile industry or make money necessarily, they just want to be a big name in motorsport.
And more importantly, there's not a single mention of Herman Tilke!! I wish all new circuits were like this story.
edit: Added source
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2008 06:28PM by Locke Cole.
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Portugal is bidding to regain a place on the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since 1996 with the building of a new circuit in the Algarve holiday region.
The country, which last held a grand prix at the Estoril circuit 12 years ago, hopes a new 200 million euro (£149 million) track in Portimao will entice F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone into making a return.
Reuters reports that the new venue, which has already been certified by the FIA and is set for completion in October, says it has already secured one F1 team for a test at the circuit next January.
And a Portuguese government official has said the country is determined to regain a slot on the F1 calendar at the new circuit.
"The Government will do its best for Portugal to become part of the world's main championships," deputy sports minister, Laurentino Dias told the news agency.
"This circuit is prepared to host a range of motor races, from the most modest to Formula 1."
Portugal was axed from the 1997 season following safety concerns at Estoril, which had been a mainstay on the calendar since 1984.
The country had initially held three grand prix during the early years of the world championship, at Porto in 1958 and ’60 and Monsanto, near Lisbon, in ’59.
The new circuit in the port city of Portimao is already due to host the final round of the Superbike world championship in November.
It is set to cover 300 hectares of land between Portimao and the hills of Monchique, with a capacity for up to 100,000 spectators including a VIP tower.
-----------------------------------------------
The reason I posted this is because I think it's a great story - a country building a Grand Prix circuit BEFORE they have been given a place on the calendar, which is IMHO how it should ALWAYS be. And they're not doing it to boost their automobile industry or make money necessarily, they just want to be a big name in motorsport.
And more importantly, there's not a single mention of Herman Tilke!! I wish all new circuits were like this story.
edit: Added source
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2008 06:28PM by Locke Cole.
Couldn't agree more with what you said 
exactly what I was thinking!
Maybe without Hermann Tilke, the track will have a lot more character. When you get the same person to design every track, they use the same ideas.
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You know you want to. [judgegrudge.mybrute.com]
exactly what I was thinking!Maybe without Hermann Tilke, the track will have a lot more character. When you get the same person to design every track, they use the same ideas.
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You know you want to. [judgegrudge.mybrute.com]
Looks like a government project even though the aim is to attract private investors?
[www.averdade.com]
Layout?
[www.averdade.com]
Layout?
yup that is the layout... it'll will have also an international karting circuit, hotels, etc etc... firts world race will be the Superbikes race, next season..
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Virtual-Games.com Racing Team: [racing.virtual-games.com]
I totally agree with both of you guys 
Let's hope Portugal will have another chance to host a F1 GP soon
Cheers!
MLE®
Let's hope Portugal will have another chance to host a F1 GP soon
Cheers!
MLE®
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Virtual-Games.com Racing Team: [racing.virtual-games.com]
Hooray!
Finally a GP might be back in PT... When I went to Portugal in October last year, the first thing I said when I landed was, Where's Estoril
Glad to hear this
and no Tilke!!!! YAY!
Finally a GP might be back in PT... When I went to Portugal in October last year, the first thing I said when I landed was, Where's Estoril
Glad to hear this
and no Tilke!!!! YAY!
Yeah I see what you mean gav, there are definitely some similarities in the layout...especially the last corner and that "B" section in the infield which folds back on itself. Looks like promising news though we need a break from Tilke's stuff...some fresher ideas.
Circuit Thermalito
Liverpool Waterfront Circuit (WIP)
we need a break from Tilke's stuff...some fresher ideas.Circuit Thermalito
Liverpool Waterfront Circuit (WIP)
Bears more than a passing resemblance to both old and new Estoril IMO. But that last corner looks like it's not got enough run-off. They'll be doing that at around 150 mph. With a failure, that's gonna sting.
Everyone knows that million-to-one chances happen 9 times out of 10; indeed, it's a common requirement in fairy tales. If the human didn't have to overcome huge odds, what would be the point? Terry Pratchett - The Science Of Discworld
GPGSL S5 Race driver for IED.
Everyone knows that million-to-one chances happen 9 times out of 10; indeed, it's a common requirement in fairy tales. If the human didn't have to overcome huge odds, what would be the point? Terry Pratchett - The Science Of Discworld
GPGSL S5 Race driver for IED.
looks like a good track, the last corner though is damn big, they could've added more shortcuts there for more layout solutions (maybe a good test place for the future, like Paul Ricard?) or make it more twisty rather than a long boring corner. It annoys me because its so big that given the aero efficiency in modern F1, they will just floor the throttle there meaning that it will be like a curved version of Fuji straight :S
And yeah, I agree with Gav, looks like a greener Estoril :P I also think that the old Estoril was pretty similar to Barcelona.
TBH I dont see anything wrong with Estoril. Its still a great track for F1 afaik. With a few changes, adapting to this proposed layout Estoril could be back, instead of building it in another place...
And yeah, I agree with Gav, looks like a greener Estoril :P I also think that the old Estoril was pretty similar to Barcelona.
TBH I dont see anything wrong with Estoril. Its still a great track for F1 afaik. With a few changes, adapting to this proposed layout Estoril could be back, instead of building it in another place...
Valencia is not similar.
I'd say that its the natural characteristic of a country. Have a look at our brazilian tracks, for example. Chicanes are a rare piece in them. :P
That's why I dont like when Tilke is building tracks around the world - they just dont represent properly the country where it is built.
I'd say that its the natural characteristic of a country. Have a look at our brazilian tracks, for example. Chicanes are a rare piece in them. :P
That's why I dont like when Tilke is building tracks around the world - they just dont represent properly the country where it is built.
The first sector looks a bit mickey mouse tbh, although the last half looks very old school. Lets hope that if F1 does go here, that they don't include the chicane on the last corner!
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You know you want to. [judgegrudge.mybrute.com]
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You know you want to. [judgegrudge.mybrute.com]
doesnt need to be a chicane - just wanted it to be a bit more interesting and twisty.
Bruninho Wrote:
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> I'd say that its the natural characteristic of a
> country. Have a look at our brazilian tracks, for
> example. Chicanes are a rare piece in them. :P
>
> That's why I dont like when Tilke is building
> tracks around the world - they just dont represent
> properly the country where it is built.
I am 300% in agreement with this statement. It's a Portuguese track, no doubt about it, and not one that's been designed by an international architect which could be anywhere in the World. Don't get me wrong, I like (most of) Tilke's tracks, but I do feel that they lack national character which makes places like Spa, Silverstone and Monza so special.
K*bots UK, specialist providers of 'fun science' Curriculum Enhancement days for Primary and Secondary schools in Britain.
Please find us on [en.wikipedia.org] for more information.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'd say that its the natural characteristic of a
> country. Have a look at our brazilian tracks, for
> example. Chicanes are a rare piece in them. :P
>
> That's why I dont like when Tilke is building
> tracks around the world - they just dont represent
> properly the country where it is built.
I am 300% in agreement with this statement.
It's a Portuguese track, no doubt about it, and not one that's been designed by an international architect which could be anywhere in the World. Don't get me wrong, I like (most of) Tilke's tracks, but I do feel that they lack national character which makes places like Spa, Silverstone and Monza so special.
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