Historic Endurance to field largest grid of 10th Estoril Classics

Iberian Historic Endurance returns to the Estoril Circuit from 18 to 20 September, reinforcing the international appeal of the magnificent programme for the 10th edition of the Estoril Classics. With the largest grid of the weekend, the series brings with it the genuine Iberian passion and enthusiasm for motorsport.

The race that brings the great Estoril Classics celebration to a close is supported by Liqui Moly for the fourth consecutive year. The partnership began at the 2023 Estoril Classics, was renewed in 2024 and continued in 2025, when all the GT cars and prototypes built up to 1976 competing in the prestigious historic racing series in southern Europe once again carried the German brand’s livery.

With 49 cars from 14 different marques and 75 drivers representing 11 nationalities, Historic Endurance once again underlines diversity as one of its defining characteristics. The 2026 grid, which will once again be at the circuit’s maximum permitted capacity, brings together cars from five categories – GDS, H-1971, H-1976, H-1965 and GTP & SC – lining up everything from the Ford GT40, a car synonymous with the legend of Le Mans, to the Datsun 1200, one of the models with the richest history in Portuguese motorsport.

New arrivals in the paddock

As a flagship event, the Estoril Classics always attracts new cars to the grid, while also bringing others back, as is the case with Alex Collins’ Ford GT40. The English driver is still taking his first steps in competition and made his Historic Endurance debut last season. The GT40 is one of the standout machines in the GTP & SC category and, historically, Estoril has been the scene of particularly intense battles involving these cars. One such example came in 2024, when Christian Oldendorff and Paulo Lima, both at the wheel of cars from the blue oval marque, fought out one of the most memorable battles in the history of Historic Endurance at the event.

Also in the GTP & SC category, Filipe Nogueira and Carlos Cruz are entered in a Lotus 23B brought over from the UK, a car that has never previously competed in Historic Endurance. The Best Lap Garage team will carry out one final shakedown of the British machine at Estoril; should it fail to show its full potential, the cockpit of the proven Ford Escort RS1600 awaits the duo.

Almost ten years on, Dutchman Rob Bergmans returns to the Historic Endurance grid this weekend with the same Iso Rivolta 300 IR that previously competed here. It is a very rare Italian car, with little racing history in its period, but with many kilometres under its belt on European circuits in historic racing events.

Also worthy of note are the returns of the Elva MK7, a small British-built prototype in the hands of Spanish driver Carlos de Miguel, who has made numerous appearances in the Race Ready-organised series, including victories with this very car, powered by a 2-litre BMW engine; and César Freitas’ Ferrari 308 GT4, a model inspired by the cars campaigned by the North American Racing Team (N.A.R.T.) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1974 and 1975.

Another point of interest is the debut of not one, but two Datsun 240Zs. Filipe Martins and João Diogo Lopes will finally make their spectacular Japanese car’s racing debut. The car has a strong Portuguese pedigree, having competed in Portugal in the hands of Carlos Peres and José Montes in rallying before being sold to Madeira, where it also has a history in circuit racing. Pedro Ramos and Filipe Carvalho, meanwhile, first on the Reserve List, are also expected to make their debut with a car that has just arrived from Denmark and has never previously competed in Portugal.

A look back at Portuguese motorsport history

Given the nature of the event, the grid features several names who have helped write the history of Portuguese motorsport over the past few decades. Manuel Ferrão brings with him the Lotus Elan S3, a car that once belonged to the historic Team Palma. It was driven at Vila Real by Ernesto Neves, but also passed through the hands of Mário Araújo Cabral, Manuel Atsoc and Vasco Pinto Basto, among others.

Aurora Motorsport, which is entering two Porsches, is the racing arm of the almost legendary Garagem Aurora, founded in 1946 by Manuel António Alves in Foz do Douro. The company made its name on the race tracks with Eduardo Santos at the wheel, the much-missed “Mestre Eduardo”. Today, still a benchmark for Porsche preparation and with his son Eduardo Santos at the helm, the company continues to make its mark on the national racing scene.

As one would expect, the grid also features several drivers who were national champions in their day. João Pina Cardoso was Portuguese national speed champion (Category 2) exactly 20 years ago, while Alcides Petiz, who will share an Alfa Romeo GT Am with Jorge Santos, was national speed champion (Group N2) in 1997 and, in 1992, won the highly competitive BMW Trophy. Rui Bevilacqua, meanwhile, enjoyed numerous successes during his long career, particularly in historic racing, and was Portuguese national rally champion in 1979, when he competed as José Pedro Borges’ co-driver.

That winning feeling

Although it is not a championship and there is no podium for overall victory, the truth is that everyone wants to be the first to take the chequered flag. The large crowds, who never miss the opportunity to attend one of Portugal’s biggest historic racing events, together with the many guests in attendance, make this unique 50-minute race, including a pit stop, even more special.

Last year’s winner, young Briton Tom Canning, returns to drive Feathers Motorsport’s Ginetta G10. For those who may have missed it, this is the same car that won one of the two races on the programme at this event in 2018, then in the hands of James Guess and James Hilliard.

Among the contenders for overall victory is, naturally, Paulo Lima, who will share RP Motorsport’s Ford GT40 in the GTP & SC category with experienced Spaniard Jordi Puig. The duo arrive at Estoril with a strong case: Lima won the Classic Cup by Cuervo y Sobrinos at Estoril in July 2026 at the wheel of the same GT40, having previously dominated both races at Jarama with the car, and he had already won this race in 2024.

Also worthy of attention is Olivier Muytjens’ Shelby Cobra Daytona, a serious contender for victory in H-1965. Muytjens is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid: he was Belgian Belcar Silhouette champion in 2003 and 2004 and Touring Car champion in 2005. He has also just won the 400 km of Paul Ricard in 2026, together with Brice Pineau, driving this very car prepared by Belgian team HY Racing.

The Porsche contingent in the H-1976 category is particularly strong. Pedro Bastos Rezende, driving the Porsche 911 3.0 RS prepared by Aurora Motorsport, is an established name in the category and boasts an extensive record on Iberian circuits. Most recently, and with this same car, he won the 250 km of Estoril in 2023 and 2024.

With identical machinery and proven credentials are Carlos Brizido and João Pina Cardoso, in Dr. Bayard/MRauto’s 911 3.0 RS, and Bruno Duarte and Filipe Silva Jesus, in Garagem João Gomes/LCSS’s 911 3.0 RS. There are two further examples: one for Gerardo Garcia and José Antonio Zorrilla, and another which Frenchman Brice Pineau will drive solo.

The most important victory

While each of the five categories will crown its own winner, the biggest winner of the weekend will be the driver who takes home an exclusive Cuervo y Sobrinos watch, awarded to the highest-placed competitor in the Index of Performance. Unlike the overall classification, this is not simply about finding the fastest car. The assessment takes factors such as age, engine capacity and body type into account, allowing more modest machinery to beat considerably more powerful cars. The Swiss brand, regarded as the sole and genuine custodian of an authentic Latin heritage, will therefore not necessarily see its watch go to the overall race winner, or even to the winner of any of the five classes.

In a classification where the class itself does not influence the final result, but rather the characteristics of the cars, the Porsche 356 and 911 SWB, Alfa Romeo Giulia Super, Datsun 1200 and Lotus Elan all have particularly strong claims. Fabiano Vivacqua Jr, driving his elegant Porsche 356 B (H-1965), starts as one of the favourites, having been the winner of the Index of Performance at the 2025 Estoril Classics. João Neves and Francisco Gonçalves, in the Datsun 1200 (GDS), and Nuno Nunes, in the Porsche 911 SWB (GDS), also fit the philosophy of the classification particularly well, as does Sweden’s P-A Forsvall in his Lotus Elan (H-1965).

How to attend

Tickets for the 2026 Estoril Classics are available through BOL and FNAC, continuing the strong demand that has characterised recent editions. Weekend passes, which traditionally sell out before the event gets under way, are already close to reaching their capacity. Admission is free for children aged 15 and under, provided they are accompanied by an adult, with a maximum of two children or young people per adult.

Parking in the unpaved car park will be free for Paddock ticket holders, subject to availability, while access to the main straight grandstand will remain free for all spectators.