Grand Prix of Portugal of F1 Motonáutica runs at sunset in the Arade estuary

The Grand Prix of Portugal/Algarve of F1 Motonáutica, scheduled for the weekend of the 19th and 20th of May, will take place this year, and for the first time, at sunset, again in the Arade estuary, opposite Portimão.

Thus, the race that, this year, marks the beginning of the 2018 World Championship calendar, and which will count with the participation of 19 of the best riders in the specialty, will have its presentation lap at 17:50 on Sunday, the 20th, starting the race 10 minutes later at 18pm.

Spectacle and emotion are two of the ingredients of this sporting competition that Portimão will host, along with cities like London (United Kingdom), Evian (France), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) or Sharjah (also in the UAE), an event followed live, or deferred, around the world.

This championship provides two sporting shows; in the mode of F4 and F1. There are nine participating teams and 19 great drivers from 11 different countries. The F1 specialty is the oldest and most successful of the International Motornautics Union.

For the ninth time in the 36-year history of the World Championship, the opening of the season will take place in Portimão, at the 17th Grand Prix of Portugal/Algarve.

From there, the championship heads to London, on the banks of the River Thames, where the London Grand Prix will take place in mid-June, followed by Evian, France, the French Grand Prix on the banks of Lake Leman, where it will take place at the end of June.

This is followed by competitions in Southwest Asia and the United Arab Emirates, where the sport is passionately followed by thousands of people.

After the two Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled for the end of August and September, in cities yet to be announced, the UAE Grand Prix will take place in December – first, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and, a few days later, the Sharjah Grand Prix.

«Portimão in general and the River Arade in particular offer excellent conditions for holding sports events of this nature», stresses the City Council.

This municipality «has been the stage, in the last decade, of multiple large events, so it has a vast amount of accumulated know-how, which allows the best logistical support to be offered to the organizers of this Grand Prix».

On the other hand, the Rio Arade allows for a «race of great spectacularity, in a very technical circuit of almost two kilometers, set up between the road bridge and the Convento de São Francisco».

Last year, a very competitive race resulted in the final victory of French driver Philippe Chiappe, and the rise to the podium of Portuguese representative Duarte Benavente, in third place.

This event is organized by F1h20/UIM, with local organization in charge of the Municipality of Portimão, with the local support of the Port Authority of Portimão, Administration of the Ports of Sines and Algarve, EMARP and Algarve Tourism, with the support technician of the Portuguese Federation of Motornautics and of the Clube Naval de Portimão, and also the sponsorship of the Interpass, Autorent and Delta Cafés group.

Paddock visits open to the public

Along the Portimão Riverside Zone, the public will be able to see the entire track, all the maneuvers, breathe the international atmosphere that exists in this race, and visit what is considered the best Paddock on the entire international circuit, where the “ boxes” of each team, and where the technicians and drivers make the settings and the last tests before practice and the big race.

Registration is free and limited to 20 people per visit.

Visits last 15 minutes and registration must be done at the entrance to the event, according to the following times:

Saturday, May 19:
10:00am » 10:15am » 10:30am » 10:45am » 11:00am » 11:15am » 11:30am » 11:45am » 12:00pm
14h30» 14h45» 15h00» 15h15» 15h30» 15h45» 16h00

Sunday, May 20:
10:00am » 10:15am » 10:30am » 10:45am » 11:00am » 11:15am » 11:30am » 11:45am » 12:00pm
14h30» 14h45» 15h00» 15h15» 15h30» 15h45» 16h00

Busy weekend in Portimão

This edition of the Grand Prix, takes place in parallel with the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the Portimão Museum, which promises to make this weekend unique.

The highlight goes to the schedule of May 19, with the 18th Photographic Race in Portimão, between 09:00 am and 23:00 pm.

At 16:00 pm, the exhibition “Gentes da Terra e do Mar” will be inaugurated, followed by the spectacle of light and color on the façade of the former canning factory that now houses the museum and the contemporary dance performance “petingas en network” , by Dancenema, with an invitation to discover the Guitars of the Conservatory of Music in Portimão and the other side of the Museum with a lantern in hand.

PROGRAM*
Friday May 18th
17:00-19:00 – Free Practices F1

Saturday, May 19
10:00-12:00 Demonstration Boat F1
15:00-16:00 Free Practice F1
16:10-16:30 Free Practice F4
16:40-17:00 Timed Practices F4
17:10-17:30 Grand Prix of Portugal F4 – 1st Race
18:00-19:00 F1 BRM Trophy Preliminary Qualification
19:00-19:15 F1 BRM Trophy Qualification

Sunday May 20th
10:00-12:00 Demonstration Boat F1
15:00-16:00 Free Practice F1
16:10-16:30 Free Practice F4
16:40-17:00 Timed Practices F4
17:10-17:30 Grand Prix of Portugal F4 – 2nd Leg
17:50 pm Presentation Return
18:00-19:00 GRAND PRIZE OF PORTUGAL F1
19:10 F1 and F4 Podium Ceremonies
19:30 pm Press Conference

Location: Arade River Estuary
'*time subject to change