EVENT>> VINTAGE RACING ON THE STREETS OF PORTUGAL
Every two years, the city streets of Oporto in Portugal are shut down to create the Circuito da Boavista. Once used as an F1 circuit, this amazing harbour-front road course is now used by the WTCC as well as the Historic Grand Prix. Photographer Telmo Gil was on hand to bring you the report.
The Historic Grand Prix featured some amazing vintage cars, old formula racers and even some vintage bikes.
The people north of Portugal are known for being fanatical when it comes to motorsport, so seeing special cars like this Ford Capri RS 3.1l are major drawcards. What a a beautiful color and livery!
But the main weekend's action was the World Touring Car Championship, where the drivers had to thread the needle through this tight course lined with concrete walls.
Touring car legend Alain Menu was the winner of Race 1.
This year is looking like Chevrolet's season. Their Cruze 1.6 Turbo is supremely quick and they simply smoked the competition in Portugal.
During the weekend, the Ford Transit Trophy race was also one of the support races. It’s always quite the spectacle to watch; considering their size and weight they are surprisingly fast and agile.
But let's focus on the classic vintage cars. We have some passionate Escort owners here in Portugal, and there's no way they'd miss racing on a street circuit!
Looks at this mint interior, a wonderful work of art.
You might remember this Toyota Starlet from our Speedhunters coverage of the FIA GT weekend at Algarve. Oporto is its home town, so it was great to see it in the field…
…Along with his black and white brother too.
Love the minimalist dash!
However it certainly looks the best on the track where it belongs.
Just take a look at how happy Alves – the driver of the other Toyota – is as he laps the circuit, soaking up the atmosphere.
This Alfasud Sprint is really a breathtaking and good looking Italian car.
11 Datsuns were present, some of them with plenty of power under the hood.
Another rare car out racing was this beautiful Ford GT40 with the Gulf livery, being hunted down by a wide-body Escort.
I'll finish this report with some awesome moments of the WTCC in Oporto. Spanish driver Oriola was going all out, literally flying through the chicane with all four wheels in the air.
And lastly, Portuguese driver Tiago Monteiro, finished third in race 2. It was a special moment for him as this was the town he was born in.
Thanks for reading!
Words and photos by Telmo Gil
