Track Information

This circuit hosted its first major international event in 1975, a Formula 2 race won by rising French star Jacques Laffite. French drivers would win the event for the following two years, with Arnoux in 1976 and Pironi in 1977. F1 would not arrive at Estoril until the mid-1980's, when Cesar Torres, head of the Automovel Club de Portugal, began campaigning for a GP as a way to boost the local tourist industry. In 1984 the track played host to the climax of the F1 championship, with Lauda pipping Prost to win the title by half a point. The 1985 race saw Senna dominate the field in his JPS Lotus Renault, driving to his maiden F1 victory in torrential rain. The 1987 race will be remembered too as it marked Prost's 28th Grand Prix win, eclipsing Jackie Stewart's record. The 1997 race was cancelled due to a failure to address repeated FIA requests for improvements to the facility. Though improvements were eventually made, F1 hasn't returned since, though the circuit still plays host to a Moto GP race as well as a round of the A1 series.