An exciting month of July at the Portimão Motor Park was preceded by the tremendous news that local team Parkalgar Honda had taken over the lead of the World Supersport Championship on Sunday.
No1 rider Eugene Laverty recorded his fifth victory of the season at Misano in Italy to go three and 13 points clear of nearest rivals Kenan Sofuoglu (Ten Kate Honda) and Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) in the overall standings, while team mate Miguel Praia managed his best finish to date in ninth.
Back in the Algarve, the summer action gets under way as early as today (Friday) as the FIA World Touring Car Championship hits town.
Until Sunday afternoon, the new track hosts the Portuguese round of this 12-race showcase event which will have taken in three continents by its conclusion in November.
Another gourmet offering for motor sport fans will be on offer the following weekend (July 9, 10, 11) with the 2010 edition of the Algarve Classic Cars spectacular, so popular with enthusiasts and visitors alike in the past.
Supported by both the Portuguese Ministries of the Economy and Tourism and featuring the RTP Trophy among 16 competitive races, this Allgarve programme event has its ‘check-in’ at the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura on Friday evening before moving west to Portimão, where up to 150 ‘Old Timers’ can be admired.
If that was not already enough, the International Motor Park is then the venue for the Le Mans Series ‘1000kms of the Algarve’ night race for the second successive year over the third weekend (July 16 and17) of the month.
Spectators will be able to witness the local round of the by now legendary competition featuring famous pilots such as former Formula One aces Nigel Mansell, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jean Alesi and Oliver Panis trying to bring the best out of their machines which include Aston Martins, Ferraris, Audis and Peugeots.
The starting lights are planned to lock on green at 5pm on the Saturday afternoon while the victorious combination is expected to take the chequered flag some six hours later around 11pm that evening.
Tickets priced from 10 euros for what is perhaps the highest profile event this month are already on sale from the usual outlets and online at www.autodromodoalgarve.com.
Last but not least, the much talked about Kartodromo Internacional do Algarve (KIA) kart track is celebrating its official opening this weekend with the Portuguese debut of the WSK World Series.
Recognised as the top competition in the sport, this event sees 120 drivers from Europe, Africa and America taking each other on in the Super KF, KZ2, KF2 and KF3 categories on the currently most modern track around.
Among these is a 15-strong Portuguese contingent challenging established stars such as France’s Armand Convers, Belgian Jonathan Thonon, Ignazio D’Agosto from Italy and the only 15-year-old Dutch schoolboy Nyck de Vries who is already under contract to McLaren.
Free practice started on Tuesday, while qualification and races proper are continuing from 8.45am today until late tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon.
Further details are available at www.wskarting.com
