Portimao has met the challenge: 'Had to meet enormous demands'

Formula 1 has not been there for an official Grand Prix for 24 years, but in 2020 F1 will finally return to Portuguese soil. The Autodromo do Algarve circuit is ready for it and has laid a new layer of track for the Grand Prix.

"We have laid a new layer of asphalt and installed new signage, bridges and kilometers of cables," said Paulo Pinheiro in an interview with the Portuguese A Bola. This is the first time that the F1 has raced at Portimao for a Grand Prix, having already tested it on the Portuguese circuit.

Difficult situation

Because the circuit was never completely closed, preparing for the GP became a lot more difficult for Pinheiro. "We never completely interrupted the activity on the circuit, so the operation became a lot more complicated."

"The current situation has meant that we have had to meet enormous demands imposed on us by the organization of Formula 1. In 2019, the occupancy rate was 326 days," concludeed Pinheiro.