Autódromo Internacional do Algarve-Portimão Circuit
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve-Portimão Circuit Notes:
The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is an FIA Grade 1 road course paved in 2008 on the rolling hills of the Algarve region, 22 km north of Portimao, Portugal. The 2.89-mile (4.65-km) trajectory of Algarve features impressive ups and downs, making drivers feel like riding on a rollercoaster at full speed and creating several blind corners along the way. The design of the circuit is a work of the Portuguese engineering firm Ricardo Pina Arquitetos, incorporating the latest safety innovations to comply with the most stringent FIM and FIA standards. The climate at the circuit location is the Mediterranean, with pleasant temperatures and moderate rainfall year-round.
Races in the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve start in the middle of the main straight, going clockwise from there into the Primeira turn, where racers need to downshift heavily to get from 260 km/h (160 mph) to 150 km/h (93 mph). The speed goes even lower at Lagos, where racers need to get down to 70 km/h (43 mph). A fast acceleration stretch comes between corners four and five, getting to 230 km/h (142 mph) and slowing down at Torre VIP, the tightest corner in Algarve. Racecars start going uphill from this point on, getting to the hilltop right after exiting Samsung. The downhill drive through Craig Jones is exhilarating, but Portimao regulates the speed down with a short climb on a 90-degree turn. Corners 12 and 13 are spectacular to go through, with the ups and downs of the terrain restricting front visibility to a few meters. The last turn combination includes Sagres, a wide right-hander going downhill at full throttle to re-enter the main straight at 230 km/h (142 mph).
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