The Algarve International Circuit, also known as Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, sits in the hills just inland from Portimão on the south coast of Portugal. It opened in 2008 and quickly became a favourite with motorcycle and sports car racers, while Formula 1 first raced here in 2020, when the circuit was added to the calendar at short notice during a season disrupted by the pandemic. The sport returned the following year, and the track has stayed popular with fans and drivers ever since.
Its big appeal is the landscape. Instead of being flat, the track rises and falls across the hillside, so many corners are blind and the lap feels like a roller coaster.
The Algarve International Circuit Track
The lap starts with a main straight of roughly one kilometre, which leads into a right-hander at Turn 1 and then climbs through the quick left and right sequence that follows. Because of the steep gradients, drivers often cannot see the exit of a corner until they are on top of it, so they have to trust their memory of the track.
The middle of the lap is a flowing mix of medium-speed corners and tight changes of direction, with a long run through the infield before the cars head back toward the coast side of the circuit. Late in the lap, a long, sweeping right-hander at the final corner leads onto the straight, and a good exit from it gives a big advantage down the straight.
The most realistic place to overtake is at the end of the main straight, so cars that get a strong run out of the last corner often attack there. Overall, the Algarve International Circuit is 4.653 kilometres (2.891 miles) long with 15 corners, and the race runs for 66 laps.
Algarve International Circuit Fast Facts
| Algarve International Circuit Fast Facts | |
|---|---|
| Detail | Information |
| Grand Prix | Portuguese Grand Prix |
| Circuit | Algarve International Circuit (Autódromo Internacional do Algarve) |
| Location | Portimão, Algarve, Portugal |
| Lap Length | 4.653 km (2.891 miles) |
| Number Of Laps | 66 |
| Race Distance | Approximately 307 km (191 miles) |
| Number Of Corners | 15 |
| First Grand Prix | 2020 |
Conclusion
The Algarve International Circuit is best known for its rollercoaster elevation changes and blind crests, which reward drivers who commit to the corners. If you want race times, session times, results and official notices, head to our Formula 1 section, or check the Formula 1 website and the FIA website.
Questions People Ask
Where Is the Algarve International Circuit?
It is just inland from Portimão on the south coast of Portugal, in the Algarve region.
How Long Is the Algarve International Circuit?
One lap is 4.653 km (2.891 miles), so a 66-lap race adds up to roughly 307 km (191 miles).
How Many Laps Does the Portuguese Grand Prix Have?
The cars run 66 laps, which covers roughly 307 km (191 miles) in total.
How Many Corners Does the Algarve International Circuit Have?
The lap has 15 corners, including a long, sweeping right-hander before the main straight.
When Did Formula 1 First Race at the Algarve International Circuit?
Formula 1 first raced here in 2020, after the circuit joined the calendar at short notice.
Why Is the Algarve International Circuit Called a Roller Coaster?
The track climbs and drops across the hillside, so there are blind crests and big elevation changes throughout the lap.
Is It Easy to Overtake at the Algarve International Circuit?
It is possible, and the end of the main straight into Turn 1 is the best place to try.
