The Algarve will be represented, by Algarve Pro Racing, on the starting grid of the mythical race of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in France, scheduled for the 17th of June. The Algarve team, which was born in 2010, took the region's name to the highest place on the podium at the Asian Le Mans Series – which earned it entry into the French competition – but, in Portugal, few have noticed.
Samantha Cox, who runs the team alongside Stewart Cox, told Sul Informação that “we arrived in the Algarve in 2010 to retire. Stewart is a former Formula 1 mechanic and was approached by a gentleman interested in racing. That's when we decided to create Algarve Pro Racing».
After starting at World Series by Renault, Megane Trophy Championship, where he participated for two years, the team, based in Guia, municipality of Albufeira, progressed to the Le Mans Series (Asian LeMans Series e European Le Mans Series).
After participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, last year, due to the withdrawal of another team, in 2017, with the victory conquered, in January, in Asia, where Algarve Pro Racing finished first and third in the championship, the invitation came. direct to participate in the historic French race.
But not everything has been rosy on this route, according to the founders of Algarve Pro Racing, especially given the lack of support from the region. «We chose the name Algarve because we thought the Algarve would be interested in the team. We live here, we love living here and that's why we named it. However, there was not much interest», regrets Samantha Cox.
The official thinks that «people don't know that this team exists here in the Algarve», something that doesn't happen in England: «last year, we had Chris Hoy [ex-Olympic cyclist], a great celebrity, racing with us, and he was made a television programme, which was broadcast on the BBC. Therefore, there are more people who know the team in England than here in the Algarve or Portugal».
For his part, Stewart Cox adds that “if you fly a long-haul flight on Emirates, this documentary called “Chris Hoy Road to Le Mans", which was broadcast on prime time and had nine million viewers. This documentary is about him, but it's also about our team. You can see everything: our car, the Portuguese flag at the end of the race… The entities of Turismo do Algarve spend millions on promotion and this film, all shot in the Algarve, was seen by nine million people».
Therefore, the team founder thinks that «all the Algarve Tourism Region had to do was ask to print a photograph of the Algarve on the car body», but this did not happen and Stewart Cox sees a reason for this lack of support: «we are not Portuguese and people do not see us as a Portuguese team».
Although they say they don't need "recognition", they consider it "disappointing the lack of support from the region" and, with the exception of a restaurant that provides free meals, Algarve Pro Racing has no Portuguese sponsors.
“If there was someone who wanted to sponsor, we would be happy. We would be happy to promote a Portuguese pilot, with the help of Portuguese companies, but nobody sponsors. We tried with wine producers, but they weren't interested either», explains Samantha to Sul Informação.
Stewart Cox goes even further: “Give us two million euros and we'll win the race [24 Hours of Le Mans]. This is a business. I could have Álvaro Parente, Filipe Albuquerque and Félix da Costa, if they give me the money. That's the question. Algarve Pro Racing pays taxes in Portugal, employs Portuguese, is a Portuguese team and we want to win, but we don't have the money and that's what we need to win races».
The lack of Portuguese interest is more incomprehensible to Stewart Cox, because «Algarve Pro Racing was sponsored by Nissan, in a decision of the Board of Directors in Japan».
In addition to the visibility they give the “Algarve” brand, Stewart Cox adds that “we bring people with money to the region. To drive these cars, you have to be rich. They come, spend money, stay in hotels… we bring money to the Algarve because we are based here».
Despite admitting that, "if we were in England, life would be easier and managing the team would be cheaper", Samantha and Stewart do not plan to leave the region, "because we like to live here".
American Matthew McMurry, French Andrea Pizzitola and Italian Andrea Roda are the Algarve Pro Racing drivers, who will compete in the European Le Mans Seriess. The championship starts on the weekend of April 14th and 15th, at the Silverstone circuit (England), and ends in October, at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.
Mark Patterson and Vincent Capillaire will join Matt McMurry in the line-up for the Le Mans 24 Hours race, as Roda and Pizzitola will be involved in the ELMS races.
Comments