Circuito Internacional de Vila Real

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Circuito International de Vila Real
Urban Circuit (2007–present)
LocationVila Real, Portugal
Time zoneWET (UTC+0)
WEST (April-October, UTC+1)
FIA Grade3
Opened15 June 1931; 92 years ago (1931-06-15) (re-opened 2007)
Closed1991
Major eventsCurrent:
Classic Endurance Racing (2024)
Former:
WTCR Race of Portugal (2018–2019, 2022)
WTCC Race of Portugal (2015–2017)
ETC (2016–2017)
Websitehttp://www.civr.pt/
Urban Circuit (2007–present)
Length4.785 km (2.974 miles)
Turns24
Race lap record1:57.929 (United Kingdom Robert Huff, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC, 2017, TC1)
Old Urban Circuit (1958–1991)
Length6.925 km (4.303 miles)
Race lap record2:19.920 (Portugal Carlos Gaspar, Lola T292, 1973, Group 5)
Original Urban Circuit (1931–1953)
Length7.200 km (4.474 miles)
Race lap record3:51.750 (Italy Giovanni Bracco, Ferrari 212 Export Vignale Barchetta, 1951, Sports car racing)

The Circuito Internacional de Vila Real is a 4.785 km (2.973 mi) temporary street circuit in Vila Real, Portugal. This circuit was used for car and moto races.

The circuit[edit]

1958 urban circuit layout of the Vila Real Circuit (1958–1991)

The circuit layout has suffered several changes through the times. Started as a 7.370 km (4.580 mi) street circuit in 1931, it was later reduced to a 6.925 km (4.303 mi) version in the 1950s, which lasted until 1991, with small chances in some corner, chicanes introduction and start/finish line being moved forward.[1][2]

After a deadly accident in 1991, no race would take place in this circuit until 2007, after a length reduction to a 4.785 km (2.973 mi) long renovated layout. From the original circuit, remains the up and downhill section, from turn 6 (Boque), until turn 19, that drivers used to turn left. This section also gives the track big elevation changes.[3]

It's considered one of the most challenging tracks, due to its corners, high speed and drivers being very close to the barriers.[4]

Lap records[edit]

As of July 2022, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuito Internacional de Vila Real are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Urban Circuit: 4.785 km (2007–present)
TC1 1:57.929[5] Robert Huff Citroën C-Elysée WTCC 2017 FIA WTCC Race of Portugal
TCR Touring Car 2:01.525[6] Robert Huff CUPRA León Competición TCR 2022 FIA WTCR Race of Portugal
GT4 2:02.852[7] Patrick Cunha Audi R8 LMS GT4 2023 Vila Real CPV round
Super 2000 2:04.903[8] Petr Fulín SEAT León Cup Racer 2016 Vila Real ETC round
Super 1600 2:19.656[9] Niklas Mackschin Ford Fiesta 1.6 16V 2016 Vila Real ETC round
Old Urban Circuit: 6.925 km (1958–1991)
Group 5 sports prototype 2:19.920[10] Carlos Gaspar Lola T292 1973 Vila Real International race
Group 5 sports car 2:27.240[11] Mário Cabral Porsche 917 K 1971 Vila Real sports car race
Group 4 2:28.900[12] Frank Gardner Lola T70 Mk.IIIB GT 1969 Vila Real 6 Hours
Formula Three 2:33.620[13] Manfred Mohr Tecno TF/68 1968 Vila Real European F3 round
Group 5 special production 2:40.900[14] Jorge Petiz Porsche 935 K2 1981 Vila Real Group 5 race
Sports car racing 2:55.000[15] Stirling Moss Maserati 300S 1958 Vila Real sports car race
Original Urban Circuit: 7.200 km (1933–1953)
Sports car racing 3:51.750[16] Giovanni Bracco Ferrari 212 Export Vignale Barchetta 1951 Vila Real sports car race

Winners[edit]

Season Edition Driver Car/Motor Class
1931 1st Portugal Gaspar Sameiro
Portugal Ercílio Barbosa
Ford A
1932 2nd Portugal Vasco Sameiro Invicta
1933 3rd Portugal Vasco Sameiro Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza
1934 4th Portugal António Guedes de Herédia Bugatti T35B
1935 Not held
1936 5th Portugal Adolfo Ferreirinha Ford V8
1937 6th Portugal Casimiro de Oliveira Jaguar SS100
1938 7th Portugal Vasco Sameiro Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza
1939-48 Not held
1949 8th Portugal José Cabral Allard K1
1950 9th Italy Piero Carini OSCA Sport
1951 10th Italy Giovanni Bracco Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta Sport
1952 11th Italy Antonio Stagnoli Ferrari 225 S Spider Sport
1953-57 Not held
1958 12th United Kingdom Stirling Moss Maserati 300S Sport
1966 13th United Kingdom John Miles Ford Cortina Lotus Touring car
United Kingdom John Fenning Brabham BT18 - Ford/Cosworth Formula Three
1967 14th United Kingdom Mike de Udy Lola T70 MkII Chevrolet Sport
United Kingdom Chris Williams Brabham BT21 - Ford/Holbay Formula Three
1968 15th United Kingdom Mike de Udy Lola T70 MkII Chevrolet Sport
Sweden Reine Wisell Tecno 68 - Ford/Novamotor Formula Three
1969 16th United Kingdom Chris Craft
United Kingdom David Piper
Porsche 908/2 6 hour/Endurance
1970 17th Belgium Teddy Pilette
Belgium Gustave Gosselin
Lola T70 MkII Chevrolet 500 km/Endurance
1971 18th Spain Jorge Bagration Porsche 908/2 Sports
1972 19th France Claude Swietlick Lola T290 Ford Sports
1973 20th Portugal Carlos Gaspar Lola T292 Ford Sports
1979 21st Portugal Robert Giannone Porsche 935
1980 22nd Portugal António Barros Porsche 935
1981 23rd Portugal Robert Giannone Porsche 935
1982 24th Portugal Mário Silva Ford Escort RS 1800 Mk 2
1983 25th Portugal António Taveira BMW M1
... ... ... ... ...
2007 40th Portugal Francisco Carvalho SEAT Leon Supercopa PTCC
Portugal César Campaniço BMW 320si
Portugal Pedro Salvador Juno SSE Sports prototypes
2008 41st Portugal César Campaniço BMW 320si PTCC
Portugal Francisco Carvalho SEAT Leon Supercopa
Portugal Pedro Salvador Juno SSE GT & Sports prototypes
Portugal Pedro Salvador Juno SSE GT & Sports prototypes
2009 42nd Portugal César Campaniço BMW 320si PTCC
Portugal João Figueiredo Peugeot 407 S200
Portugal Francisco Martins Porsche 997 GT & Sports prototypes
Portugal Francisco Martins Porsche 997
2010 43rd Portugal José Monroy Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX PTCC
Portugal José Monroy Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
Portugal Pedro Salvador Juno SSE Sports prototypes
Portugal César Campaniço

Portugal João Figueiredo

Audi R8 LMS GT
2014 44th Portugal Pedro Salvador

Portugal Carlos Vieira

Tatuus PY012 Sports prototypes
Portugal Pedro Salvador

Portugal Carlos Vieira

Tatuus PY012
2015 45th Argentina José María López France Citroën WTCC
China Ma Qing Hua France Citroën
2016 46th Netherlands Tom Coronel United States Chevrolet WTCC
Portugal Tiago Monteiro Japan Honda
2017 47th Morocco Mehdi Bennani France Citroën WTCC
Hungary Norbert Michelisz Japan Honda
2017 48th
2018 49th France Yvan Muller South Korea Hyundai WTCR
Slovakia Mat'o Homola France Peugeot
Sweden Thed Björk South Korea Hyundai
2019 50th Portugal Tiago Monteiro Japan Honda WTCR
Spain Mikel Azcona Spain CUPRA
Hungary Norbert Michelisz South Korea Hyundai
2022 51st Uruguay Santiago Urrutia Sweden Lynk & Co WTCR
United Kingdom Robert Huff Spain CUPRA
2023 52ª Portugal José Carlos Pires
Portugal Francisco Abreu
BMW M4 GT4 (G82) Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade
Portugal Patrick Cunha
Portugal Jorge Rodrigues
Audi R8 LMS GT4
  International Event

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "História - Circuito Internacional de Vila Real". Circuito de Vila Real (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Vila Real". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Circuit Internacional de Vila Real - The Heart of Racing in Portugal". SnapLap. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. ^ Rodgers, Richard (15 June 2018). "Race preview: Vila Real deal Ehrlacher leads the WTCR charge to the home of the joker lap". FIA WTCR | World Touring Car Cup. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  5. ^ "WTCC 2017 » Vila Real Round 10 Results". Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  6. ^ "WTCR 2022 » Vila Real Round 10 Results". Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  7. ^ "2023 Vila Real Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade Race 1 - Final Ranking" (PDF). 15 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  8. ^ "ETC Cup 2016 » Vila Real Round 8 Results". Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  9. ^ "ETC Cup 2016 » Vila Real Round 7 Results". Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Vila Real International 1973". Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Vila Real 1971". Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Vila Real 6 Hours 1969". Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  13. ^ "XV Gran Premio de Vila Real". Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Vila Real 1981". Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Vila Real 1958". Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Vila Real 1951". Retrieved 6 January 2023.

External links[edit]