A Portimão track day with Stratos is a car event, not a motorcycle one: the whole Algarve circuit hired for up to 15 drivers, a GT car supplied and a coach in the car with you.
In short: The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, near Portimão in Portugal, is 4.684 km in its Formula 1 configuration, with 16 corners and a 12% downhill drop. Stratos hires the whole circuit for two full days for up to 15 drivers, with three nights at the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa above Praia da Rocha.
Stratos at Portimão
Stratos hires the whole circuit for up to 15 drivers. See upcoming events for dates and availability.
The circuit
The circuit sits at Sítio do Escampadinho, Mexilhoeira Grande, about 4.5 km north of the A22 motorway and a 15-minute drive from Portimão and Lagos.
It is known for crests and drops. The circuit itself lists a maximum rise of 6.2% and a maximum fall of 12.0%. Drivers compare it to the old Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps because it never stops rising and falling.
| Length | 4.684 km, FIA Formula 1 configuration |
|---|---|
| Corners | 16 (9 right, 7 left) |
| Main straight | 969 m |
| Track width | 14 m, 18 m on the main straight |
| Maximum rise and fall | 6.2% up, 12.0% down |
| Configurations | 32, from 3.465 km to 4.684 km |
| Opened | 2008 |
Some sources, including Wikipedia, list the circuit as 4.653 km. The figure above is the circuit's own, for the Formula 1 version.
A short history
Construction finished in October 2008, and the circuit was homologated by the FIM and the FIA that month. It cost €195 million. It hosted the World Superbike final in November 2008, then Formula 1 testing, GP2, the World Touring Car Championship and the Le Mans Series. In 2020 it hosted the Portuguese Grand Prix, the first since 1996, and returned in 2021. MotoGP raced here from 2020. The site also has a karting track, a five-star hotel and apartments.
The lap: crests and blind corners
Corner notes from the circuit's racing school:
- Turn 1. A complicated approach and heavy braking, taken downhill.
- Lagos corner. The slowest on the lap. Delay the turn-in so you do not miss the apex.
- Portimão 2. Delay the turn-in as long as possible for a straight exit on the right side of the track.
- Craig Jones corner. Take it from the right side of the track with a smooth, steady throttle.
- VIP Tower corner. Hard to approach, with downhill braking that needs extra attention.
- Portimão corner. A blind corner and one of the most difficult. Center the car, brake hard and turn in late.
- Sagres. A delayed turn-in in third gear, then widen the line under power.
- South corner. A blind entry. Take it as late as possible for a fast exit onto the main straight.
The first day here is about references. Over a blind crest you cannot see the apex, so you learn the marker that tells you where it is. That is why private coaching matters more at Portimão than almost anywhere else.
What it's like to drive
In a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, the car goes light over the crests, so you brake and turn before or after them, not on top. The long downhill braking zones load the front tires, and the 969 m main straight is the one place to breathe. The Ferrari F8 Tributo and Lamborghini Aventador SVJ use their power on the straight; the Porsches reward a tidy line through the blind sections.
Ways to drive Portimão
The circuit runs its own car track days, where you bring your own car and share the circuit with everyone else booked that day. Motorcycle days also run here, so check that a date is for cars. With Stratos, the whole circuit is hired for up to 15 drivers, with the car, private coaching and hotel arranged.
Public track day or Stratos
| Public track day | Stratos | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic | Participant and on-track limits depend on the organiser and format | Up to 15 drivers, and the circuit is yours |
| Track time | Scheduled sessions or open pit lane, depending on the organiser | Two track days with unlimited kilometers; sessions, breaks and car sharing apply |
| Who's there | Entry requirements and experience groups depend on the organiser | A group by invitation, founders and tech leaders under 45 |
| Cars | Your own road car, or a rental if one is allowed | Porsche GT3 and GT3 RS, Ferrari or Lamborghini, prepared and run by our team |
| Coaching | Availability varies; some organisers offer personal coaching | Private coaching from professional instructors, in your car |
| Data | Personal recording or organiser services, depending on the event | Onboard video and lap data, reviewed with your coach after each session |
| Accommodation | You find and book your own | Three nights at a hand-picked hotel near the circuit, with transfers included |
| Food | Catering arrangements depend on the event | Catered lunches at the circuit and dinners at the region's best restaurants |
How Stratos runs it
Two full days of private circuit hire, with marshals, a medical team and safety crew. Unlimited kilometers.
Each event runs over four days and three nights:
- Arrival in the Algarve. Airport transfer, hotel check-in and time to settle in. A welcome dinner, with a briefing from the coaching team.
- Track day one. Find your rhythm. Start beside your coach, learn the crests and braking points, then take the wheel. Lunch at the circuit and an evening together on the coast.
- Track day two. Put it together. Same car, same coach. Refine your lines with data and video and build consistency. Closing dinner.
- Departure. Breakfast, check-out and airport transfers. Photos, film and coaching notes follow.
Where you stay
Three nights at the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa, a five-star Relais & Châteaux hotel with 38 rooms above Praia da Rocha in Portimão, with a pool and a spa. Each driver has a private room. The hotel's Michelin-starred Vista restaurant is a possible setting for the group dinner. Hotel subject to availability.
Getting there
Routes per the circuit:
- Faro (FAO). 81.8 km via the A22, about 53 minutes.
- Lisbon (LIS). 290 km via the A2, about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Airport and circuit transfers are included. Flights to and from Portugal are not.
FAQ
Can you do a Portimão track day by car?
Yes. The circuit runs public car track days, and Stratos hires the whole circuit for its group, with the car supplied.
How long is the Portimão circuit?
4.684 km in the Formula 1 configuration, per the circuit, with 16 corners. Some sources list 4.653 km.
Is Portimão hard to learn?
It is one of the harder circuits on the calendar, because of blind crests and steep drops. A coach sits beside you and gives you the references.
How far is Portimão from Faro airport?
81.8 km, about 53 minutes on the A22. Transfers are included.
Where do Stratos drivers stay?
At the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa above Praia da Rocha, subject to availability.
Can a guest come?
Yes. A non-driving guest can join, with three nights sharing your room, meals, circuit hospitality, hot laps with a professional coach, pit lane access and transfers.
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