Algarve Classic Festival Crowns Its First Winners

The Algarve Classic Festival came to life in full splendour this Saturday with the first six races of the programme, on a day when the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve once again proved itself a true stage for pure emotion. The machines that once made history returned to the spotlight, dancing over the Algarve asphalt in a ballet of power and elegance, each lap rekindling the timeless magic of motor racing. In a day of celebration, the British duo John Emberson and James Bellinger, driving a Chevron B19, claimed victory in the inaugural edition of the “300 km Algarve Sports Car”.

The cars of the Iberian Historic Endurance 1 were lining up on the starting grid when heavy rain began to fall over the nearby Serra de Monchique. This unexpected morning shower caught the paddock off guard and changed the dynamics of the field of more than forty cars built before 1965 — the first to compete on the second day of the event. The Dutch pairing of Chris Chiles Jr and Bas Jansen (AC Cobra) mastered the treacherous conditions to take victory ahead of the Portuguese duo Paulo Lima and Ricardo Pereira (Ford GT40) and the British team Richard McAlpine and Nigel Greensall (Ford Falcon Sprint).

As the track gradually dried, the opening race of the Carrera 80 was dominated by British driver Rob Cull (Ford Escort), who delivered a superb performance to overcome Portuguese contenders Miguel Garcia (BMW 635 CSI) and Pedro Poças (Porsche 944) — both of whom staged remarkable comebacks to secure their places in the top three.

After the lunch break, it was time for the Iberian Historic Endurance 2 grid, featuring Touring and GT cars from the H-1971 and H-1976 classes, to contest the first of two races scheduled for Portimão. Pedro Bethencourt and Mário Silva, in their mighty Chevrolet Corvette L88, set the early pace, but a longer pit stop for refuelling changed the course of the race. Bruno Duarte and Filipe Jesus (Porsche 911 3.0 RS) emerged as deserving winners ahead of Robin Ellis (Porsche 911 2.8 RS). In third place, and best of the H-1971 runners, finished Filipe Nogueira (Ford Escort) — son of Joaquim Filipe Nogueira, a legendary figure of Portuguese motorsport in the 1950s and 1960s.

The day continued with the first race of the weekend for the Single Seaters Series, whose grid had already completed qualifying earlier that Saturday morning. João Silva (Tatuus FR2000) edged out Duarte Pires (Tatuus FR2000) by just 0.054 seconds to claim pole position. In the race, the pair traded places twice, with the pole-sitter ultimately securing victory in the only single-seater championship currently held in Portugal. The versatile Nuno Caetano (Tatuus FR2000) — a driver with entries in both the Pikes Peak Hillclimb International and the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix — completed the podium.

The schedule moved on with the second encounter of the Iberian Historic Endurance 1, and this time Paulo Lima and Ricardo Pereira (Ford GT40) made no mistake, clinching victory despite intense pressure from Chris Chiles Jr and Bas Jansen (AC Cobra). Olivier Muytjens and Brice Pineau (Ford GT40) claimed third place — a well-earned reward for the French-speaking duo after their earlier misfortune in the morning race.

With more racing to come on Sunday, both the GT & Sports Car Cup — featuring Pre-1963 Prototypes and Pre-1966 GTs that once competed in World Championship events, along with Pre-1966 Touring Cars — and Group 1 Portugal completed their qualifying sessions on Saturday. Kyle Tilley, Kane Tilley and Oliver Bryant (Lotus 15) secured pole position in the British-rooted competition, while André Pimenta and Rui Azevedo (Ford Escort) topped the timesheets in Group 1 Portugal.

The highlight of the day was reserved for the grand finale — the inaugural running of the 300 km Algarve Sports Cars, featuring prototypes built between 1963 and 1972 and GTs manufactured from 1966 to 1980.

In a race rich with excitement and drama, the Chevron B19 of Kyle Tilley, Oliver Bryant, and Kane Tilley seemed destined for victory, until, with just ten minutes remaining, a mechanical issue brought the English prototype’s charge to an abrupt end. John Emberson and James Bellinger, also in a Chevron B19, seized the opportunity to take the win in this first edition of the 300 km Algarve Sports Cars, while also triumphing in the H-1972 under 2000 class.

João Macedo Silva and José Monroy crossed the finish line in second place, claiming victory in the H-1972 over 2000 class, followed by the Chevron B8 of Joel Hopwood and Nigel Greensall, who took the honours in the H-1969 category.

The Algarve Classic Festival will conclude tomorrow with six more thrilling races, along with the traditional parades of classic car clubs, promising yet another day of spectacle and celebration for true enthusiasts of historic motorsport.

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