SUPERCARS ENDURANCE RETURNS TO THE LEGENDARY VILA REAL STREET CIRCUIT

The Supercars Endurance-powered Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade returns this weekend to the legendary Circuito Internacional de Vila Real for the second round of the season, as part of the 55th edition of the iconic street race in Portugal.

One of the highlights of the Portuguese motorsport calendar, the event will feature the championship's largest Vila Real grid in recent years, with 25 cars entered across the GT4, GTC and Turismo categories. Set against the backdrop of one of Europe's most demanding street circuits, the weekend promises another spectacular showcase in front of tens of thousands of passionate fans.

Following an outstanding season opener at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve and another action-packed meeting at Circuito de Jarama, which also counted towards the Campeonato de España de Supercars, the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade arrives in Vila Real with the title fights already finely poised. The opening races have delivered constant lead changes, incredibly close margins and victories decided only in the closing laps, producing some of the most competitive GT racing seen in Portugal in recent years.

Few venues have such a deep-rooted connection with GT racing as Vila Real. During the 1960s and 1970s, the city streets welcomed some of the world's finest GT machinery and internationally acclaimed drivers, establishing the Circuito Internacional de Vila Real as one of Europe's landmark road races. More than half a century later, the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade continues to honour that heritage, bringing modern GT machinery back to the streets each summer.

As ever, the daunting street circuit remains one of the greatest challenges on the calendar. Concrete walls line almost every metre of the lap, leaving no room for mistakes and demanding total commitment from every driver. Iconic sections such as the spectacular Descida de Mateus continue to produce breathtaking racing, while the unique atmosphere created by thousands of knowledgeable spectators makes Vila Real one of the championship's signature events.

One of the major talking points this weekend will be the introduction of a single grid featuring GT4, Turismo and GTC machinery. On a circuit where overtaking opportunities are naturally limited, traffic management, strategy and racecraft are expected to play an even greater role, adding another layer of excitement to two races that promise to be fiercely contested from lights to flag.

GT4: Championship contenders arrive in force

The GT4 Pro field once again features several of the leading names in Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade champion César Machado opened the season with victory at Algarve alongside Tomás Teixeira. For Vila Real, Pedro Salvador joins the Speedy Motorsport line-up in the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, returning to race in front of his home crowd with the ambition of repeating last year's victory, when he shared the car with José Carlos Pires.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal's Francisco Mora and Mozambique’s Rodrigo Almeida arrive looking to build on their strong Algarve performance, while SMC Motorsport once again fields Rafael Rajani and Luís Aguiar after the pair claimed victory in one of the Jarama races.

Germany's Hendrik Still teams up with former Portuguese rally champion Carlos Vieira in the Veloso Motorsport Porsche Cayman CS RS GT4, combining international experience with local knowledge in a pairing capable of fighting at the front.

GT4 Pro-Bronze promises another closely fought contest between three of the championship's standout teams: Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal, Batina Racing and Gianfranco Motorsport.

Championship leaders José Carlos Pires and Francisco Abreu arrive full of confidence following victory at Algarve and another podium finish, while Orlando Batina and Sérgio Azevedo reunite for Batina Racing after both enjoyed class success at Vila Real last year. Gianfranco Motorsport's Alexandre Areia and Nuno Afonso, winners earlier this season, are equally expected to feature prominently.

Five crews will battle for GT4 Bronze honours. Vasco Oliveira returns in the Racar Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO after taking victory at Algarve, while Ricardo Costa and Bruno Pires begin a new chapter with Speedy Motorsport aboard a Porsche Cayman CS RS GT4.

Miguel and André Nabais return in the Gianfranco Motorsport Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 after winning earlier this season, while Luís Calheiros and Paulo Macedo hope to turn around their fortunes in the Veloso Motorsport Porsche Cayman CS RS.

Among the most eagerly awaited returns is Patrick Cunha, back behind the wheel of the Veloso Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT4 that carried him to victory in Vila Real two years ago. This time he shares driving duties with António Veloso, a driver already familiar with the unique challenge of the famous street circuit.

GT4 Am features a solo entry from Rúben Vaquinhas, who faces one of the toughest assignments of the weekend in the Gianfranco Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4.

GTC: Experience meets new talent

Gabriel Caçoilo and Angel Santos have established themselves as the benchmark in GTX with the Chefo Sport Ligier JS2 R. Caçoilo has already claimed victories at Algarve and Jarama this season and, despite both drivers making their Vila Real debut and sharing the same car for the first time, they will undoubtedly be among the favourites.

Standing in their way is last year's dominant force, Pompeu Simões. Driving the Speedy Motorsport Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport and now partnered by local ace Pedro Alves, Simões returns to the circuit where he completed a clean sweep twelve months ago.

TRS Team newcomers Stephanie Hobeika and Will Hunt will tackle Vila Real for the first time aboard one of the team's McLaren 570S GT4s, while António Duarte also makes his debut on the iconic street circuit in GTX Am. Artur Ferreira likewise faces the challenge for the first time as he continues his development in the Veloso Motorsport Ligier JS2 R.

The Cup class sees Vítor Costa arrive in excellent form after an impressive start to the season with Monteiros Competições. However, he will face stiff competition from Britain's Adam Fawsitt in the Art of Speed Porsche 911 Cup and André Fernandes, who shares the AF Motorsport Porsche 911 Cup with Venezuelan debutant Angelo Fontana.

Turismo: Teixeira aiming to extend his dominance

The Turismo field, another category with a rich history at Vila Real, once again features an eclectic mix of machinery.

Daniel Teixeira returns aboard the JT59 Racing Hyundai Elantra N TCR looking to continue his unbeaten run, although he is expected to come under pressure in TC+ from Luxembourg's Michel Fernandes and Belgium's Charles Valentiny in the J. Santos Competição Peugeot 308 TCR.

Also joining the field are Cláudio Pereira, making his debut in the BeFast Motorsport BMW M2 Racing, and Frederico Formiga in the Art of Speed SEAT León Supercopa, both capable of making an impression over the weekend.

Where to watch

The Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade races will take place on Saturday and Sunday, with live coverage available on DAZN Portugal and DAZN España.

International viewers can also follow the action through Race Ready's digital platforms with English and Spanish commentary, alongside dedicated broadcasts for Italy (Parc Fermé TV), Germany (Motorsport TV Deutschland) and Brazil (Breaking Zone TV), ensuring fans around the world can experience one of Portugal's greatest motorsport events.