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Portugal's ambition of returning to the Formula One world championship with an all-new circuit at Portimão on the Algarve took another step towards fruition this week with the official
presentation of the nascent facility - and the revelation that one F1 team has already booked testing time, despite earthworks still to be completed.
Although the planned 4.7km Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is not
due to be ready until October - when it is slated to open with a round
of the World Superbike Championship - circuit director Paulo Pinheiro
told Reuters
at Monday's presentation that one F1 team had already booked the venue
for a pre-season test next January, while talks were in progress with
other operations. The operators also revealed ambitions to bring A1GP
to the tourist region in coming seasons.
“Building works are on schedule," Pinheiro proudly announced at the
launch, as he surveyed the latest stage in a seven-year commitment to
the project, "In October, the circuit will be completed in order to
enable us to inaugurate it with the Superbikes competition. We are also
concluding negotiations to host A1GP within our technology park. We are
convinced that this project will constitute an asset, not only for the
Algarve region, but also for Portugal as a whole.”
The presentation was presided over by Portugal's minister of the
economy and innovation, Dr Manuel Pinho, the secretary of state for
youth and sport, Dr Laurentino Dias, and the mayor of Portimão, Dr
Manuel da Luz, who welcomed the initiative, which all hope will raise
the identity and economic prosperity of the Algarve.
“When this project is completed in late October, I'm certain the number
of visitors to our country will increase," Pinho commented, "Whereas we
recorded a record level of visitors in 2007, this number is certain to
increase in the future as a result of this new asset. This project will
have a significant impact on the local economy, and therefore also on
the national economy.”
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