PEDRO SALVADOR SET FOR GT4 RETURN AT VILA REAL

Pedro Salvador will return to the wheel of a Speedy Motorsport Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 for the next round of the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, held as part of the 55th Circuito Internacional de Vila Real.

The Supercars Endurance event, which counts exclusively towards the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, marks the return to competition for the Trás-os-Montes driver. Salvador will combine his duties as Team Principal with those of driver, partnering reigning Portuguese Champion César Machado.

Having focused primarily on leading Speedy Motorsport in recent seasons, Salvador will once again don his race suit to replace Tomás Teixeira, bringing to the team his vast racing experience and extensive knowledge of a circuit where he has claimed several victories. The most recent came at last year's event, when he teamed up with José Carlos Pires to take Speedy Motorsport's Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 to victory.

For Salvador, however, this is about far more than simply returning to the track. Racing at Vila Real represents a homecoming, and his connection to both the circuit and the region remains the main reason behind his return.

"Rather than asking why I'm returning to Vila Real, the real question is why I always come back," said Salvador. "Above all, it's because of the passion, which has never disappeared. The passion for driving, for competing at the circuit where my love of motorsport was born, and for racing at home.

"My life began in Vila Real and, later on, I moved to Oura, a beautiful village in the municipality of Chaves, near Vidago. Trás-os-Montes is my home region, so racing at Vila Real will always have a very special meaning for me.

"It's a circuit that gives me immense enjoyment behind the wheel and one where I truly love competing. Returning there is always a tremendous privilege.”

Despite his emotional attachment to the iconic street circuit and the wealth of experience he has built up around its challenging layout, Salvador is approaching the weekend with realistic expectations. Having devoted much of his recent time to developing Speedy Motorsport, he knows he will need to readapt quickly to the competitive pace of the current season.

"The objective is to be as competitive as possible," he explained. "I'm fully aware that my track time has been limited in recent years, as I've been concentrating mainly on running the team. Even so, my competitive spirit remains intact and I'll be giving it everything I've got."

His return also serves a clear collective objective. Alongside securing a strong result for Speedy Motorsport, Salvador is determined to help Machado continue his Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade GT title defence.

"At the same time, I hope I can support César in his championship campaign and help him achieve the result he's aiming for at Vila Real. Ultimately, it's all about passion, the enjoyment of racing and the desire to be competitive. I hope to head home on Sunday afternoon with the satisfaction of a job well done and the privilege of having once again taken part in an event that will always be incredibly special to me.”

The 55th Circuito Internacional de Vila Real takes place from 10–12 July, with both races broadcast live on DAZN in Portugal and Spain, as well as on the Race Ready social media channels.