Autodromo do Estoril | Address: | Estrada Nacional No. 9, km6
Alcabideche
P-2765 Estoril
Portugal | | | | Telephone: | (+351) 1 469 1462 | | | | Fax: | (+351) 1 469 1202 | | | | Country: | Portugal  |
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Statistics
| Seasons: | 13 (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996) |
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Official name : Autódromo Fernanda Pires da Silva,generally refered to as Autódromo do Estoril (village near the turist hotspot of Cascais,although the circuit is actually located in Alcabideche).
Estoril was built in 1972 on a rocky plateau not far from Estoril, Portugal, the beach resort lending its name to the circuit. The course has two hairpin turns, noticeable elevation changes, and a long start/finish straight. Its first years saw many club races, as well as an occasional Formula 2 race. However, the course soon fell into disrepair, and a significant redevelopment effort was needed before international motorsport returned in 1984. Estoril became a popular event on the F1 calendar, the setting for many well-known moments including Jacques Villeneuve overtaking Michael Schumacher around the outside of the Parabólica in 1996, and Riccardo Patrese being momentarily launched onto two wheels after colliding with Gerhard Berger on the main straight in 1992.
Through the years, Estoril has had numerous problems with safety, failing safety inspections on more than one occasion. Estoril sometimes has high crosswinds, which remind many of its Spanish counterpart, the Circuit de Catalunya. Many teams were fond of using Estoril for winter testing.
Estoril was dropped from the F1 calendar for the 1997 season, though it continued to play host to top-level sportscar, Dallara World Series and DTM touring car events. On October 23, 2005, the Autódromo do Estoril hosted the third round of the first ever A1 Grand Prix racing season, with both races in the event being won by the French team.It also hosted a 2004 DTM championship race which was also a race in memory of Ayrton Senna.The last corner before the start/finish straight,formerly known as Curva Parabólica,is now called Parabólica Ayrton Senna.The three time brazilian World Champion won his first race and scored his first pole-position precisely in Portugal,in wet weather apaling conditions.
The circuit is the venue for the Portuguese Moto GP Grand Prix ever since 2000.
