Portimao - anyone done it?

[Mr MXT]

I'm thinking of getting a few friends together next year and trailering our cars (mostly Westfields, some not road legal if that matters)

The very vague idea at the moment is

Day 1: Portsmouth to Santander ferry
Day 2: Drive Santander to Portimao (650 miles 9.5 hours - say 12 leisurely with a trailer)
Day 3: Track day
Day 4: Portimao to Santander
Day 5: Santander to Portsmouth

As this is very much in the ideas stage - has anyone done it and able to offer advice?

I have a number of questions:

Which TDO organises the days here?
Is not speaking Portugese and having UK licences an issue (who knows post Brexit?)
Any tips on where to stay?

I know its a jam packed few days - although once I drove from my house to the ring, did some laps and came home within 24 hours. It stopped being fun on the way home though.

[AdamIndy]

I can’t advise on using a car or organisers but I have done Portimao on a bike. It’s an incredible circuit. In a Westfield/caterham/seven it would be good fun. Blind crests/corners everywhere.

The facilities themselves are second to none. Garages are huge, a toilet in every garage, cafe open whenever the circuit is, security is good(can’t get into the circuit without a pass). Circuit staff were all helpful and friendly. And the best thing, virtually no noise limits!

I don’t speak a word of Portuguese and I never had any issues. The staff/locals even said they love having us over as it helps with their economy.

The main strip in portimao is a sthole. We got offered coke/weed/E’s etc 4 times within 100yds, even within earshot of the local plod.

That’s a small blot on what was an awesome few days though!

[deggles]

Haven't done Portimão (would love to) but have driven to track days in France. The 650 miles each day, either side of a full day on circuit, sounds ambitious. I would be absolutely knackered. Maybe consider making a full week of it and have a leisurely day either side?

[LaSource]

Have done Portimao a couple of times...however we had the cars transported there and flew in to Faro the first time. The second time we flew in to Malaga, picked up the cars there and then drove up to Ascari for a couple of days there...before onward drive to Portimao.

We stayed at the higher end Vila Vita resort - though many people also brought partners/family out to make it more of a vacation.

Circuit is great - undulating. In fact a bit of a roller coaster. Some of the group suffered from motion sickness in the driver's seat!

It is pretty aggressive on tyres (especially front left) so make sure you have plenty of wear left.

A lap in a 997 GT3RS from the first visit:
https://youtu.be/_5cZYxoQubg

A few laps in a friend's 991 GT3 from the second trip:
https://youtu.be/fUplMG2qVEg

[ginettajoe]

Mr MXT said:

I'm thinking of getting a few friends together next year and trailering our cars (mostly Westfields, some not road legal if that matters)

The very vague idea at the moment is

Day 1: Portsmouth to Santander ferry
Day 2: Drive Santander to Portimao (650 miles 9.5 hours - say 12 leisurely with a trailer)
Day 3: Track day
Day 4: Portimao to Santander
Day 5: Santander to Portsmouth

As this is very much in the ideas stage - has anyone done it and able to offer advice?

I have a number of questions:

Which TDO organises the days here?
Is not speaking Portugese and having UK licences an issue (who knows post Brexit?)
Any tips on where to stay?

I know its a jam packed few days - although once I drove from my house to the ring, did some laps and came home within 24 hours. It stopped being fun on the way home though.

Well, I was over at Portimao two weeks ago, and stayed in the apartments at the circuit, which are fabulous and provide everything you could possibly want, except loose women!!

Looking at your itinerary, you talk of day 1, and day 5, as though it is a roll on, roll off ferry, but I think you need to account for 20 hours each way, and the cost including a cabin is around £300 each way, possibly more towing a trailer. Fuel, which is very expensive in Portugal, but cheaper in Spain needs to be considered, as do the tolls on the Autoroutes. To think you can drive from Santander to Portimao and return in the same way is more than ambitious, especially towing trailers. The roads are good, but I reckon you estimate needs a few hours adding to it. I split the journey into two sections, Portimao to Salamanca, then the next day Salamanca to Santander. I was in a 981 Boxter S and I'm used to driving 500 miles in a day, but as I said, I think you need to reassess you itinerary.

Regarding trackdays, they do have a reasonable number, some run by themselves, some by independent TDO's. If you google Portimao Race Circuit, you should find information regarding days on there. Language is not a problem, many of the Portuguese speak reasonable English, and you can get by!

It is a fabulous circuit, but quite honestly, I feel you would need closer to ten days to do it, and expense may be a limiting factor taking everything into account. HTH

[Mr MXT]

Thanks Joe - good food for thought.

[nickfrog]

Fantastic circuit to drive and spectate at, having done both. Plenty of nice and cheap places to stay at off peak, which I would suggest as very hot June to September.
For me though the size and cost of the logistics involved wouldn't make sense for just a track day, compared to a comparatively simpler Ring and/or Spa trip. Or a Laon Autodrome trip when that's open in 2021 if you need a new circuit.

[Mr MXT]

Thanks Nick. I’ve done the ring to death, but not spa. It was drawn by the epic road trip / nice weather!

I’ve not heard of Laon?

[nickfrog]

Laon is MSV's first non UK circuit.

I strongly recommend Spa if you've never been.

I'll be booking a TD there with either Javelin or Circuit Days for early spring ads they become available.