Algarve Classic Festival Ends in Style

After twelve thrilling races at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, the 2025 edition of the Algarve Classic Festival came to an end, leaving behind the echo of engines and the lingering sense of a resounding success. It was a weekend filled with emotion, nostalgia, and a celebration of speed, as drivers and machines from another era once again came to life on one of the world’s most acclaimed circuits.

The day began with the opening 40-minute race for Group 1 Portugal, in which Bruno Lima (Ford Escort RS200) claimed a comfortable victory, finishing ahead of André Pimenta and Rui Azevedo (Ford Escort) and the British duo Ryck Turner and Bill Solis (Mini 1275 GT).

Next came the two-hour race of the GT & Sports Car Cup, a British-based series that brings together Pre-1963 Prototypes and Pre-1966 GTs that once competed in the World Championship, alongside Pre-1966 Touring Cars. In a thrilling contest that went down to the final lap, the Dutch trio of Chris Chiles Snr, Chris Chiles Jr and Bas Jansen (AC Cobra 289) edged out pole-sitters Kan Tilley, Kyle Tilley and Oliver Bryant (Lotus 15) by less than a second. Portuguese drivers João Macedo Silva and José Monroy (AC Cobra 289) capped their weekend with another podium, taking third place.

The morning concluded with another excellent Carrera 80 race, decided only at the chequered flag. Saturday’s winner Rob Cull (Ford Escort) dominated the first half of the race, building a solid lead. However, after the pit stops and handicap adjustments, Miguel Garcia (BMW 635 CSI) moved into the lead. On the final lap, the Briton managed to close the gap and overtake him on the main straight. Pedro Poças (Porsche 944) completed the podium in third place.

After a well-deserved lunch break — during which several classic car clubs took to the track to parade their elegant machines around Portimão’s “rollercoaster” circuit — the venue came alive again for three more races.

The Single Seater Series, the only championship dedicated to single-seaters, was first on track in the afternoon. Second on Saturday, Duarte Pires (Tatuus FR2000) took the win, capitalising on a spin by João Silva (Tatuus FR2000), the previous day’s winner, who recovered to finish second. With Nuno Caetano (Tatuus FR2000) forced to retire early to avoid contact with Silva, Fernando Laranjo (Mygale PNC2001) secured third place.

The final race of the Iberian Historic Endurance 2 produced a surprise winner: Frenchman Jean-Jacques Renaut (Porsche 911 2.8 RS), followed by Saturday’s victors, Portuguese duo Filipe Jesus and Bruno Duarte (Porsche 911 3.0 RS), with Britain’s Robin Ellis taking third.

The weekend’s action concluded with the second 40-minute Group 1 Portugal race, which saw the morning’s top two swap positions — victory went to André Pimenta and Rui Azevedo (Ford Escort), ahead of Bruno Lima (Ford Escort RS200) and Rui Ribeiro (Ford Escort RS200), who completed the podium.

The previous day had already seen six other races, headlined by the first-ever 300 km Algarve Sports Cars, open to Prototypes built between 1963 and 1972 and GTs from 1966 to 1980. The inaugural win went to the British pair John Emberson and James Bellinger in a Chevron B19.

The Algarve Classic Festival will return next year, on a date yet to be announced.

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