Paulo Lima wins the Classic Cup by Cuervo y Sobrinos

The Classic Cup by Cuervo y Sobrinos once again delivered a superb spectacle, with strategy, reliability and consistency proving to be decisive factors throughout 60 minutes of intense motor racing at the Autódromo do Estoril.

In the end, it was Paulo Lima, driving the Ford GT40 run by RP Motorsport, who came out on top in the third edition of the summer race organised by Race Ready during the Estoril Summer Party by NAPA weekend, which attracted 4,000 spectators.

After narrowly missing out on victory in last year’s edition, Paulo Lima arrived determined to claim the top step of the podium. During the morning qualifying session, the driver confirmed his status as pre-race favourite by securing pole position, with the Porsche 911 3.0 RS of Carlos Brízido/João Pina Cardoso lining up second, renewing a familiar battle well known among Iberian Historic Endurance fans.

The second row of the grid was occupied by Eduardo Costa in a Porsche 911 2.8 RS and Filipe Nogueira in a Ford Escort RS1600. Just behind, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 of Rui Moura/João Nascimento and Manuel Ferrão’s Ford Escort MkII RS1800 completed the leading group.

Following the ever-popular grid walk, one of the signature features of the Estoril Summer Party by NAPA, the race got underway. The front two runners quickly pulled clear in the opening laps, while further back an entertaining battle developed between José Filipe Nogueira and Eduardo Costa for third place. The Escort driver initially came out on top in that early phase, before both contenders saw their hopes ended by technical issues.

The first major twist came shortly before the opening of the mandatory pit stop window, when José Filipe Nogueira’s Ford Escort stopped on track, bringing out the Safety Car.

The neutralisation completely changed the complexion of the race, splitting the field between teams that chose to take their mandatory stop immediately and those who opted to extend their stint on track.

Once the pit stops had been completed, including driver changes in some cases, Paulo Lima kept the Ford GT40 firmly at the head of the field. Despite the different strategies and the intense activity in the pit lane, the RP Motorsport driver managed his advantage with authority all the way to the chequered flag, completing 28 laps and securing a commanding victory. As a reward for his deserved success, he was also presented, through an initiative promoted in partnership with Importempo, with an exclusive timepiece from prestigious Swiss watchmaker Cuervo y Sobrinos.

In the battle for the remaining podium positions, Carlos Brízido and João Pina Cardoso delivered a flawless performance at the wheel of the MR Auto-prepared Porsche 911 3.0 RS. Running consistently on the same lap as the winner, the duo secured a strong second-place finish without ever compromising their pace or consistency.

It initially looked as though Manuel Ferrão would comfortably secure the final podium spot, but a Stop & Go penalty, caused by a pit stop shorter than the minimum required time, dropped him down the order and reopened the fight for third place overall.

Rui Moura and João Nascimento seized the opportunity to bring the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 into podium contention, but a mechanical issue in the closing laps ended their challenge. Manuel Ferrão eventually recovered third place, completing the overall podium.

António Posser took the Hyundai Accent to a fourth-place finish after a consistent performance throughout the race. Making his debut in the event, he was involved in one of the race’s most entertaining battles alongside the other Hyundai Accent driven by Nuno Martins and the Toyota Starlet of João Neves/José Gonçalves, with the trio exchanging positions repeatedly in a closely matched fight.

Although both Hyundai entries were handed Stop & Go penalties for a refuelling procedure infringement, Posser managed to hold on to fourth place, finishing ahead of the Keep on Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1.

Classic Cup – Winners’ List

2026 Paulo Lima (Ford GT40)

2025 Cláudio Vieira / Lucas Vieira (Porsche 911 RSR)

2024 Cláudio Vieira (Porsche 911 3.0 RS)