The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA) is one of the candidate circuits to host the next pre-season tests of the teams competing in the Formula 1 World Championship, in motorsport, admitted the circuit administrator in an interview with Lusa agency.
Paulo Pinheiro admits negotiations, with the answer to be known before the 25th of October, the date of the Grand Prix of Portugal.
“We are trying, but we already understand that this is not an easy process. On top of that, the number of tests will be reduced», lamented Paulo Pinheiro.
Traditionally, Barcelona is the circuit that hosts the tests and Paulo Pinheiro considers that it is the “easiest for the teams, because it means staying where they are already”.
“The most important part of testing is being able to extrapolate data and be able to compare it with the data you already had. The decision to move to a circuit where you don't have any references is a difficult decision. We are trying, let's see what we can achieve», he stressed.
Portimão is in the race with the Spanish circuits of Jerez de la Frontera and Barcelona, and with the French circuit of Paul Ricard.
The MotoGP world championship could continue in the Algarve until 2027.
Despite the fact that the last round of the World Cup will be held in 2020 on the Algarve circuit, whose calendar has been revised due to the covid-19 pandemic, Paulo Pinheiro reveals that there is a signed contract for three years with another two as an option, to come into force as of of 2022.
«It is what is signed. All DORNA contracts [company promoting the championship] are for three years plus two», he revealed.
However, the date has yet to be set.
“Calendars are very volatile things and have a series of factors that have to be analyzed. Preferably, we always want to race in September, October or November. I really like it being the last race in the championship, of course. Being in March, April or May is also a good date», he explained.
For Paulo Pinheiro “it doesn't make sense” to hold the competition “after Jerez (at the beginning of May) because the audience is almost the same”.
“If there is an alternation with Jerez, then that May date makes sense. Without this alternation, we have to move away from Jerez and move towards the end of the year. September, October, November will always be a more plausible date. If it's the last race of the year, it makes sense to us», he stressed.
The continuity of Formula 1 will be more complicated to guarantee.
“Right now, quite honestly, we didn't even think about it, it doesn't make sense. Our focus is to do the best we can. If everything goes well, we are in a privileged position to be a good bid for 2021 because nobody knows, honestly, what the future will be, said Paulo Pinheiro.
The administrator of the AIA understands that "it will be in the middle, that is, it will not be the same as 2020 but, also, it will not be a normal year".
"There is a significant window of opportunity to have both races and now we have to do a good job," he said.
The Superbike championship has a contract until 2022 and the objective «is to renew».
This year the AIA will host the Formula World Championship (25 October) and the MotoGP World Championship (November 22).
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