Portimao [Sep 2009 ]

Portimão track day, September 2009

The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, better known as Portimão, opened in 2008 in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. It quickly became a favourite for track days and has hosted the Superbike World Championship and, more recently, MotoGP.

The circuit is famous for its dramatic elevation changes. Blind crests, steep drops and corners that tighten or open out on the far side of a hill give it a rollercoaster feel, and learning where the track goes over each brow is a big part of getting comfortable there.

Portimão rewards precise lines and trust in the bike. Once the layout is memorised it becomes one of the most enjoyable laps anywhere, with a mix of fast sweepers, heavy braking zones and a long, fast final corner onto the main straight. Its southern location gives mild weather for much of the year, so it is a popular early-season destination for riders from northern Europe, and its modern facilities and wide run-off areas make it a comfortable place to push even on a first visit.

The layout also includes several corners where the apex is hidden until the last moment, so good vision and trust in reference points are essential. Riders who take a few sessions to learn the circuit properly are rewarded with one of the most exciting and varied laps in Europe.