New Direction for Algarve Classic Festival in 2025

Starting in 2025 Race Ready will take over the organisation of the Algarve Classic Festival.  First held in 2008 (then known as the Algarve Historic Festival) organised by Fransico Santos, Diogo Ferrão’s Race Ready organisation took over for a few years after the retirement of Santos before late circuit director Paulo Pinheiro brought the event ‘in-house’ to be organised directly by the circuit.  With the loss of Pinheiro last year,  the circuit has agreed a three-year deal with Race Ready to re-take the direction of the event.

The race programme has varied over the years, with Masters, Formula Junior, Peter Auto, Historic Motor Racing News, MRL, the HGPCA and other race series organisers taking part.  This year among the highlights will be the 300km Algarve Sportscars race.  This 120-minute or 300-kilometre endurance race will include mandatory refuelling stops and driver changes and will be open to prototypes built between 1963 and 1972, and GTs from 1966 to 1980.

The event will also feature racing for Race Ready’s own Iberian Historic Endurance, Carrera 80s, Group 1 Portugal, Single Seater Series, as well as the prestigious GT & Sports Car Cup, a series that has been a fixture at the event for over a decade.

Plans are being made for paddock entertainment, exhibitions, and classic car club parades.  In fact, Ferrão has big plans to develop the event.  “We are especially excited about launching the 300km Algarve Sportscars’ race, which we see as a forward-looking initiative with the ambition of making it one of the event’s signature highlights. We have several ideas we’d like to implement over the coming years to make this festival even more distinctive and memorable.”

Miguel Praia, CCO & Board Member Autódromo Internacional do Algarve of Parkalgar, added, “The Algarve International Circuit has great affection for the Algarve Classic Festival, which we consider to be one of the four major events of the year for us, alongside MotoGP, SBK, and ELMS.  For that reason, it was essential to choose a reliable partner capable of ensuring the event’s continued growth, and Race Ready meets all those criteria.  Without a doubt, everyone who visits us that weekend – drivers and loyal spectators – will enjoy a truly unique experience.  Together, we want to ensure that the Algarve Classic Festival remains, without question, one of the leading events in the sector across Europe.”