VILA REAL STREET CIRCUIT SEEN BY LOCAL HEROES

The Circuito Internacional de Vila Real is one of the highlights of the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade (CPV), which returns this year to Trás-os-Montes after a short break. It’s a special weekend for Portuguese drivers, especially for those with roots in the region.

The street circuit carved through the roads of Vila Real has a unique aura, thanks to its long history — with names like Stirling Moss, Vasco Sameiro, David Piper, and Carlos Gaspar, among others, inscribed in golden letters in the annals of an event whose first edition dates back to 1931.

The enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd is another factor that makes the Vila Real International Circuit so special, particularly for local drivers, creating an electric atmosphere along its 4.6 km length and twenty-four corners. “For me, it means a lot. It’s the city where I grew up, studied, graduated, made many friends - I have fans who recognise me in the street and celebrate my victories with me. Racing at home is always special, and so is all the buzz in the city in the weeks before and after the races,” said Rafael Lobato, who this year shares a Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 from Speedy Motorsport with César Machado, the reigning GT champion.

Daniel Teixeira, from Murça, also highlights the unique feeling of the ‘Bila’ weekend: “It’s clearly the highlight of the season. It’s a unique event, thanks to the unrivalled sea of spectators lining the entire circuit all weekend long. It’s one of the biggest sporting events in Portugal and, for me, as a native of this district, it’s even more special.”

Francisco Mora emphasises not only the passionate atmosphere during the Vila Real International Circuit but also the city’s motorsport spirit throughout the year: “It’s a privilege to race in a city that lives and breathes racing. The people of Vila Real love motorsport, and you can feel the excitement not only during the weekend but also in the weeks leading up to it. It’s always great to feel that warmth. Plus, my roots are in Trás-os-Montes too - my family is from Freixo de Espada à Cinta - so I have a special fondness for it,” said the Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal driver, who teams up with Francisco Abreu.

Another factor contributing to the unique atmosphere of this Transmontano weekend is the fact that it’s a street circuit, with high-speed corners bordered by guardrails — a real test of skill for drivers, machines, and teams alike. A small mistake can ruin the entire weekend; on the other hand, not pushing the limits means not being competitive.

Daniel Teixeira, who races a Hyundai Elantra N TCR for JT59 Racing Team, points out the unforgiving nature of the street circuit, which separates the great drivers from the good ones: “Being a street circuit, the margin for error is very slim, so it demands greater commitment and precision than a conventional track. Plus, to be fast at Vila Real, you have to take bigger risks. Ultimately, it’s a track where the driver, more than the car, makes the difference. For me, these demands make this my favourite circuit in the whole championship - not just because I love racing between barriers, but also because it’s a track with very fast sections.”

Francisco Mora, meanwhile, highlights the importance of qualifying at Vila Real: “It’s quite a complex circuit, with the main challenge being overtaking. Similar to Monaco in Formula 1, qualifying accounts for 95% of the race result, which makes it crucial,” underlined the former Portuguese champion.

Rafael Lobato reflects on how costly mistakes can be and on the heat that drivers have to endure over the Vila Real weekend: “Even though I know the circuit well, I also know its demands are very high. If you make a mistake, that’s it — game over. You have to be quick to win because gaps tend to be larger on street circuits, overtaking is tough but possible, and the intense heat in July wears you down physically and mentally — so again, avoiding mistakes is crucial,” he noted.

The challenging nature of Vila Real is well known to the drivers in Portugal’s premier racing series, but with the fastest cars in this year’s programme, they are determined to thrill the fans lining the circuit. As Daniel Teixeira says: “Just like in 2023, the last time the Portuguese Championship was here, I expect a well-run event with big crowds where we can put on a great show for everyone. I also expect demanding races, especially with the heat, and very fierce on-track battles.”

Rafael Lobato, a Vila Real native who knows the city’s pulse inside out, highlights a programme where racing is central but extends far beyond motorsport, drawing huge crowds who flock to the Transmontano circuit from 4–6 July this year: “I hope the 2025 edition is as good as the weekend programme - Kumho TCR World Tour and the CPV with iconic brands - the two hundred thousand people expected will certainly love it. The city festivities are also great for entertaining visitors, so there are plenty of reasons for an amazing weekend.”

Francisco Mora, for his part, points to the races organised by Race Ready as the headline events, with large, high-quality grids: “It’s going to be a very complete event, with national competitions and the TCR World Tour, which always delivers spectacular races. In my opinion, the most interesting races will be the CPV ones - not just because of the numbers but also the quality of the field. I hope we can put on a great show for everyone, preferably without any Safety Cars!”

With top-class cars on track and drivers of international calibre, the CPV is set to be the highlight of the Vila Real weekend, a view shared by the drivers themselves.

The grandstands will surely be packed, but for those who can’t make it to Vila Real, both 50-minute races will be broadcast on DAZN Portugal, as well as on Race Ready’s YouTube channel in Spanish, Motorsport Television Deutschland in German, and Parc Fermé TV in Italian.