Algarve circuit gets thumbs up from F1 drivers

Main straight

Algarve is very hilly

A1GP

The new Algarve circuit, due to be hosting A1GP on 12 Apr, 2009, has been hailed as “fantastic" by Formula One drivers following their maiden test at the Portuguese track earlier this month.

Formula One made its debut at the Iberian track with a three-day test attended by the Ferrari and McLaren teams.

“It’s a fantastic track, it looks like a roller-coaster," McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa was quoted as saying by Autosprint magazine.

“It’s enjoyable, especially for a test driver who normally always runs on the usual two-three tracks.

“From a physical point of view it’s not very demanding: I’d say it’s about as demanding as Jerez. However it’s possible that when the grip will increase because of the rubber laid on it, then it will be more demanding."

Teammate Gary Paffett added: “This track is a constant challenge because it’s an alternation of uphill and downhill sections and it’s hard to find the braking point, just like it’s difficult to find the best line.

“With the track being slippery we didn’t make a big effort to find the optimal set-up, we used the settings used at Montmelo and Jerez, knowing that they would have worked fine."

Circuit director Juan Alvarez said, however, that the track was yet to make a profit.

“We’ve put a lot of effort to improve the track but, considering the permanent structure required by F1, you need at least 20 test days in order to begin making a profit," he said. “At the moment we have only eight testing days confirmed for 2009, and that’s not enough."

Construction on the new track was finished two months ago, and A1GP will be the circuit’s first international race meeting, occurring on April 12, 2009. Next year's GP2 season finale will also be held at the new Algarve International Circuit.