MAY 3, 2003

Portimao plans racing facility

The town of Portimao, in the Algarve in southern Portugal, is planning to build an FIA specification racing facility. It is not yet clear whether the organizers of the new track plan to bid for a Grand Prix.

The town of Portimao, in the Algarve in southern Portugal, is planning to build an FIA specification racing facility. It is not yet clear whether the organizers of the new track plan to bid for a Grand Prix - which is unlikely given the current costs involved and the competition from government-backed schemes such as those in China, Bahrain, Turkey and Russia. The facility however could end up as a major F1 testing venue although Bahrain has also said that it wants to attract that business.

The Portimao track is about 30 miles by motorway from the international airport of Faro.

The plans could have a dramatic effect on the existing circuits at Estoril and Jerez both of which enjoy decent revenues from F1 teams each winter.