CHAMPION-FILLED GRID SET TO LAUNCH HISTORIC SEASON NEXT WEEKEND

The 2025 season of the Iberian Supercars, Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, and Supercars España gets underway next weekend with a record-breaking entry list, plenty of new developments, and the promise of thrilling, closely contested races.

Supercars Endurance – the umbrella name encompassing the three championships – has seen consistent growth since 2021. This season, the opening round is set to feature nearly fifty entries, an all-time record.

With such a packed grid, and given that the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is at its homologated capacity, Race Ready, together with FPAK and AIA, has decided to split the starting grid into two: one for the GT4 category and another for Touring Cars and GTC. The GT4 grid is expected to feature over twenty-five entries, while the Touring Cars and GTC grid will have more than twenty.

This exceptional measure – unlikely to be repeated due to scheduling constraints – is a testament to the success of the Iberian Supercars series, reflecting the confidence of drivers and teams and the enthusiasm of the fans.

29 GT4 Entries Battling for Glory

GT4 is the most represented category, with twenty-nine cars set to race in the Algarve. For 2025, the category has been restructured with the introduction of a new division, GT4 Pro-Bronze, allowing one Silver-ranked driver and one Bronze. Meanwhile, GT4 Pro is now reserved for two Silver-rated drivers, with the possibility of one being Gold or Platinum.

The other divisions remain unchanged: GT4 Bronze for one or two Bronze drivers, and GT4 Am for one or two less experienced Bronze drivers.

With six manufacturers represented – Aston Martin, BMW, McLaren, Mercedes, Porsche, and Toyota – the grid promises a spectacular mix of machinery, each with different handling characteristics but similar performance levels, ensuring races that will be decided by the finest of margins.

The GT4 Pro class features the largest number of cars, with eleven entries. Defending champion César Machado teams up with rookie Rafael Lobato in one of Speedy Motorsport's Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 entries.

The duo will face stiff competition, with most teams fielding at least one title-contending car. Lema Racing's Norwegian siblings Olav and Andreas Vaa will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT4, while NM Racing Team pairs Tomás Granzella and Max Huber in another Stuttgart machine. BMW España Motorsport retains Nerea Martí and José de los Milagros in their brand-new M4 GT4 Evo, while Racar Motorsport fields Mathieu Martins and Roberto Faria in an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4.

Other title contenders include Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal, with Francisco Mora and the returning 2023 champion Francisco Abreu in a Supra. Meanwhile, Abreu's former teammate from the title-winning campaign, José Carlos Pires, returns to Speedy Motorsport to share another Japanese machine with Tomás Guedes, last year's Italian GT4 champion.

Young talents are also expected to make an impact. Henrique Ventura Oliveira, a former FPAK Junior Team driver, partners with Romanian prospect Luca Savu in Racar Motorsport's Aston Martin. João Aguiar Branco, with experience in Caterham trophies, joins forces with former European Le Mans Series LMP3 driver Bernardo Pinheiro.

Two new teams enter the GT4 Pro fight: CV Performance x JP Motorsport and Tockwith Motorsports, each fielding a Mercedes-AMG GT4.

In GT4 Pro-Bronze, seven entries stand out, including Jorge Rodrigues and Patrick Cunha, the 2024 GT4 Bronze champions, now stepping up with a Porsche Cayman CS RS from Veloso Motorsport.

Several rival pairings promise fierce battles, including Orlando Batina and Sérgio Azevedo (Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, Batina Racing), Guillermo Aso and Filip Vava (Mercedes-AMG GT4, NM Racing Team), and Mark Kastelic, who partners with Bruno Pires in a Mercedes-AMG GT4 for Lema Racing.

The GT4 Pro-Bronze class sees exciting new developments, including the Iberian Supercars debut of the McLaren Artura GT4, entered by McLaren Barcelona – SMC Motorsport, with Portuguese duo José Cautela and Lourenço Monteiro at the wheel.

Another major newcomer is Gianfranco Motorsport, a historic Portuguese outfit returning to the big stage. They enter an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 and two Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2s, with one crewed by Nuno Afonso and Alexandre Areia, two drivers aiming for top results in GT4 Pro-Bronze.

In GT4 Bronze, the unpredictability remains high, with six strong entries. Araújo Competição has invested heavily, acquiring a new Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO for Vasco Oliveira and Francisco Carvalho, making them strong contenders.

Gianfranco Motorsport fields a Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 for brothers André and Miguel Nabais, who step up after winning the GT4 Am drivers' title in the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade.

Spanish squads NM Racing Team and McLaren Barcelona – SMC Motorsport also field entries, including a McLaren Artura GT4 for Álvaro Lobera and Gonzalo de Andres, both experienced GT racers.

Daniel Teixeira the Favourite in Touring Cars

The Touring Car class remains highly competitive, with Daniel Teixeira, the dominant force in recent seasons, the clear favourite in his Hyundai Elantra N TCR from JT59 Racing Team.

In the TC division, the three Ginetta G40s from the FPAK Junior Team will provide exciting battles as young hopefuls take their first steps in circuit racing.

GTC Expands

The GTC category has grown significantly from 2024, now featuring sixteen entries, nine in GTX and seven in the Cup class.

Tockwith Motorsports leads the GTX category with three Ginetta G55s, including one for reigning champion Simon Moore, now partnered with António Almeida.

Strong competition comes from young duos like Henrique Moura Oliveira and Rúben Silva in a BMW M4 GT4 (F82) for Monteiros Competições and Ángel Santos and Alejandro Iribas in a Ligier JS2R for Chefo Sport.

Experienced campaigners include Fernando Soares and Miguel Ferreira, who race an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for NGT Motorsport.

In the Cup class, 2024 champion Rui Miritta faces increased competition, with new teams like Art of Speed (fielding two Porsche 911 Cups) and Protech Motorsport (entering a Ferrari 430 Challenge).

How to Watch the Races

As usual, motorsport fans can follow all the Iberian Supercars, Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, and Supercars España races.

The Algarve round features four races, all on Sunday, with GT4 races at 11:50 and 16:00, and Touring Cars + GTC races at 10:40 and 14:50.

All races, lasting 50 minutes each, will be broadcast live on DAZN Portugal and DAZN España, as well as on the championship’s official social media channels, now also offering English-language coverage in 2025.