INSIDE THE PADDOCK: FIVE STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

The on-track battles during the opening round of the Iberian Supercars, Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, and Supercars España were thrilling – but there was plenty happening behind the scenes too, with a few stories that flew under the radar at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve .

Autoworks Motorsport’s Rollercoaster Weekend

Spanish team Autoworks Motorsport had a bittersweet outing at the season opener. The Madrid-based outfit returned with the same BMW M4 GT4 (F82) that featured last season in the GT4 Bronze class, now fielding it in the ultra-competitive GTX class for Spaniards Borja Hormigos and Héctor Hernández. The duo showed strong pace, finishing second on the road in Race 1 – only to be demoted to fourth in class due to a time penalty for exceeding the pit lane speed limit.

Their second race was plagued by misfortune, with a snapped engine belt on the formation lap forcing Hernández to pit before the green lights, resulting in a DNF.

Still, the weekend wasn’t a total loss for Autoworks. Their technical support for Batina Racing helped the Portuguese team secure two podium finishes in the GT4 Pro-Bronze category, claiming a pair of third places with Sérgio Azevedo and Orlando Batina. It was a weekend full of ups and downs – fitting for the undulating Algarve rollercoaster.

Daniel Teixeira’s Double Scare

Daniel Teixeira took a commanding win in one of the combined Touring Cars + GTC races, but the weekend was far from smooth for the JT59 Racing Team driver in his Hyundai Elantra N TCR.

In Race 1, an electrical gremlin in the gearbox left the Portuguese TCR driver stranded in the pits before the start, costing him two laps. Nevertheless, he rejoined and still managed to clock the fastest lap of the race – a testament to the car’s pace.

Race 2 brought fresh drama, as a failed windscreen wiper severely compromised visibility in wet conditions. Despite the setback, Teixeira pressed on to take the win – a tense moment that ultimately ended well. The reigning Iberian and Portuguese Touring Car champion plans to contest all four scoring rounds of the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade this season.

Vítor Costa’s Promising Debut

Vítor Costa impressed in his maiden outing in the Iberian Supercars and Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 Cup.

The Monteiros Competições driver, who only recently began his motorsport journey through historic racing – notably in the Iberian Historic Endurance – has now stepped up to the pinnacle of Iberian circuit racing, entering the GTC class and Cup division for the 2025 season.

Despite tricky wet conditions in both races, Costa brought the car home in fifth in class each time – a solid debut that lays a strong foundation as he targets the remaining five rounds of the Supercars Endurance calendar.

NGT Motorsport Debuts with a Head-Turner

NGT Motorsport made their GT racing debut with one of the most eye-catching cars on the grid – an original-spec 2008 Aston Martin Vantage GT4, the British marque’s first-ever GT4 machine.

Driven by Portuguese well known drivers Fernando Soares and Miguel Ferreira, and led by Team Manager Afonso Ferreira, the team took their first steps in the CPV, gradually getting to grips with the aging yet characterful machine over the Algarve weekend.

After experimenting with setup changes throughout the event, the team scored a podium finish in the GTX class in Race 1. However, an overly aggressive setup in Race 2 made the car twitchy and unsettled, prompting a tactical retirement.

Despite its age, the burly V8-powered Aston Martin proved it still has potential to challenge at the sharp end of GTX.

Monteiros Competições Fields the Biggest Line-Up

Portuguese team Monteiros Competições brought the largest contingent to the season opener, fielding six cars.

The northern outfit entered two Porsche 911 Cup cars in the Cup division – one for Vítor Costa and another for Rui Miritta – and also ran the FPAK Junior Team’s fleet of Ginetta G40s, which this year includes Martim Romão, João Faria, Rodrigo Vilaça, Tomás Martins, Diogo Castro, and Tomás Gomes.

New for 2025 is a BMW M4 GT4 (F82), formerly raced by Batina Racing, now shared by former FPAK Junior Team members Henrique Moura Oliveira and Rúben Silva.

The duo had a strong showing, crossing the line first in Race 1 before being relegated to tenth overall due to a penalty incurred during a Safety Car procedure. They bounced back to finish sixth overall (fourth in GTX) in Race 2 – a clear sign they’ll be contenders for the class crown as the season unfolds.