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Algarve: FIA says McLaren can race in Portimão

Date: 22/10/2008

So far, the only certainty is that McLaren-Mercedes will be performing winter testing at the circuit in Portimão.

On Saturday, the FIM, who govern motorcycle races, approved the track for racing, allowing the November 2nd race venue to proceed as planned.

But with the FIA’s approval, Portimão appears set to ‘steal’ back Portugal’s status as a top winter testing circuit more than a decade after Estoril lost this title. As revealed in recent weeks by The Portugal News with 325 days of sunshine a year, Portimão has become an obvious choice for Formula 1 teams to conduct testing and along with a state-of-the-art race track, rival Barcelona is now hard-pressed to hold on to its current title as the top winter testing track in Europe, while the foundations could also be laid for Portimão to become a Formula 1 race venue.

While McLaren have declared themselves willing ‘guinea-pigs’ the remaining nine Formula 1 teams could be travelling to the Algarve in January and February for official winter testing. This will largely depend on the report McLaren will be asked to compile by the FIA, and which will subsequently be handed over to their Formula 1 rivals. If no opposition is voiced, Ferrari, BMW, Williams and company will be in Portimão early next year.

Favourable verdicts from these teams will not only serve to cement Portimão’s position as the winter testing venue of choice, but could also pave the way for Portimão being handed a permanent spot as one of the 18 venues on the Formula 1 racing calendar. Source: The Portugal News

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