Algarve Classic Festival 2025: A New Chapter Begins

From 24th to 26th October 2025, the Algarve Classic Festival returns to the Race Ready events calendar, under a new three-year strategic partnership with the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.

First held in 2010, the Algarve Classic Festival takes place in one of Europe’s sunniest tourist regions and on one of the world’s most exciting racing circuits, making it a favourite among drivers and their guests alike. It is also one of the largest and most significant historic racing events on the Iberian Peninsula, attracting over 300 cars and around 500 drivers from more than 20 countries each year.

With this renewed agreement, Race Ready brings its extensive experience and expertise in organising prestigious classic motorsport events back to the Algarve.

Among a packed weekend of racing action, the headline event will be the spectacular “300 km Algarve Sportscars”, making its Portuguese debut. This 120-minute or 300-kilometre endurance race will feature mandatory refuelling and driver changes, and is open to prototypes built between 1963 and 1972, as well as GT cars manufactured between 1966 and 1980.

Evoking the golden era of international, national and overseas endurance racing, this event is set to deliver a grid full of iconic machines — now revered as legends of motorsport — with high historical and competitive value. Expect to see the likes of Ford GT40s, Lola T70s, Chevron B16s and B19s, alongside GTs of the period such as the Porsche 911 RSR and BMW M1. Held late on Saturday afternoon, the race will conclude under headlights, in a fitting tribute to the great endurance races of the past.

This race is truly unique in today’s motorsport landscape, as there is currently no other event with this exact format dedicated to sportscars — though GT entries are also welcome. Furthermore, it shares a similar structure to the proven and successful "250 km of Estoril" run by Iberian Historic Endurance.

The refreshed Portimão classic motorsport festival will also feature some of the most exciting historic racing series on today’s scene, including:

• Iberian Historic Endurance, the leading series for pre-1976 GTs and Touring Cars

• Carrera 80, open to GT and Touring Cars up to 1993

• Group 1 Portugal, for Pre-1981 Group 1 specification cars

• Single Seater Series, the only single-seater competition in Portugal

• GT & Sports Car Cup, showcasing Pre-66 GTs and Pre-63 Sports Cars that competed in the World Sportscar Championship

Race Ready CEO Diogo Ferrão said: “We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with the Algarve International Circuit, allowing us to return to the Algarve Classic Festival. Our goal is to offer a unique experience that celebrates the true essence of classic motorsport. We don’t want this event to be merely a series of races, but rather a journey through time, where drivers and spectators can relive the charm and excitement of the great endurance races of the past. We are especially excited about launching the ‘300 km Algarve Sportscars’ race, which we see as a forward-looking initiative with the ambition of making it one of the event’s signature highlights. We have several ideas we’d like to implement over the coming years to make this festival even more distinctive and memorable.”

Miguel Praia, CCO & Board Member Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, added: “The Algarve International Circuit has great affection for the Algarve Classic Festival, which we consider to be one of the four major events of the year for us, alongside MotoGP, SBK, and ELMS. For that reason, it was essential to choose a reliable partner capable of ensuring the event’s continued growth, and Race Ready meets all those criteria. Without a doubt, everyone who visits us that weekend — both drivers and the loyal spectators who have supported the event since its first edition — will enjoy a truly unique experience. Together, we want to ensure that the Algarve Classic Festival remains, without question, one of the leading events in the sector across Europe.”

Further details on the event schedule and activities will be announced soon.