Single Seater Series Returns to Algarve Classic Festival for Decisive Races

The Single Seater Series, Portugal’s only single-seater racing championship, will add sparkle to the rejuvenated Algarve Classic Festival at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, from 24 to 26 October, with two decisive races.

Returning to Portimão – the venue that hosted the season-opening round earlier this year – the paddock is buzzing with excitement and new developments, as several drivers make their comebacks following September’s maiden outing in Spain.

Duarte Pires leads Division A, for winged cars, by a comfortable margin after winning four of the six races held so far – two of them at Portimão – at the wheel of his Tatuus FR 2000. The G Tech driver, a strong contender for victory, could seal the title this weekend and claim the PTR4 class crown.

João Silva, a last-minute absentee in Valencia, will also be one to watch, particularly as the House Racing single-seater has consistently shown strong pace around the Algarve circuit.

Another returnee is Rui Silva, continuing his learning curve in the Tatuus FR 2000, in what will be his third weekend racing the Italian car.

The versatile Nuno Caetano, known for appearances at Pikes Peak Hillclimb International and the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, will finally join the Single Seater Series grid, driving the Tatuus FR 2000 previously raced by André Pardal, who took victory in the opening race at Estoril and secured three more podium finishes this season.

Having already secured the FUN class title, Christopher Kirby-Higgs will switch from his usual Funspeed FS 2019 “Made in Portugal” to a newly-acquired Tatuus FR 2000. This first outing will serve as an adaptation to the car that was once the backbone of the Formula Renault 2.0 series. The Funspeed FS 2019 is expected to return later as part of another project, still run by Funspeed Racing Engineering.

Carlos Tavares, representing RodaClássica, will once again race his Chevron B47-Toyota Novamotor, a 1970s Formula 3 car from an era when technical regulations aimed to contain costs and limit power to 160 hp, using a 22 mm air intake restrictor that produced strong low-end torque.

Absent from the Spanish round, Fernando Laranjo, leader of the HTG class, returns with his Mygale PNC2001, a single-seater originally developed for the Fórmula Novis by Ford series, a key stepping-stone in Portuguese motorsport in the early 2000s.

In Division F, for non-winged cars, Francisco Olho Azul remains unbeaten, having won all six races and already secured the ZT (Zetec) class title, though he is keen to extend his winning streak.

Tiago Neves, who made his debut at the Estoril Summer Party, returns with his Mygale SJ99, aiming for podium finishes in both races. Also back is Carlos Gaspar, who will again race the Van Diemen RF04 of House Racing, following his motorsport debut in July.

Dalmo Pereira Jr, after his outing in Valencia, will race his Van Diemen 1600 (KT class) in the Algarve for the first time, with support from Speedy Motorsport.

Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday morning, followed by Race 1 at 15:05. Race 2 will take place on Sunday at 14:40.

Admission is free for children and young people aged 3 to 16. For more information about club parades or to purchase tickets, please visit the event’s official page at algarveclassicfestival.org.