31 October | Grande Premio De Portugal
Estoril used to be known as the 'sleeper' event of Europe. Well, in 2006 it woke up! Where to start with probably our favourite European destination (apart from Brno!)?
The 4.36 km circuit is one of the slowest overall yet has the fastest straight, second only to Mugello, topping a mind-blowing 340 kph (212 mph)! This final straight 'home run' comes out of the very fast final curve - always action here – and who will ever forget Tony Elias's brilliant slipstreaming of Rossi in 2006, trailing through this turn then slinging past him to win with just a couple of 100ths of a second to spare! 2007 was no less thrilling with Rossi showing Casey just why he is still 'The Doctor'. In 2008 we saw rookie Jorge Lorenzo take his maiden MotoGP victory, and Dani getting past Rossi to really put the series into a 4-way battle.
The new grandstand H is poised to capture the final curve action; while main grandstand A is the only covered, and has a good TV view. Consider also E in the back corners for a great view on the unique uphill chicane.
Now we turn to the destination. The Estoril coast is one of Europe's best kept secrets – the Portugese keep it to themselves! Long white beaches and the utterly charming fishing town of Cascais will mean you won't be in a hurry to leave! And this year we add a very very 'special' all-inclusive package in the astonishing town of Sintra. We love the place so much we can't pick just one hotel!
• Our Classic package is set in a very nice 3* hotel right on the harbour with all amenities and very good value.
• Our Superior package is based in a unique 18th c mansion converted to a guest house and astounding gardens
• For VIPs, our Deluxe package is at the sublime 5* Hotel Albatroz, in our view one of the best 5* hotels of the entire tournament! (If you don't believe us, check out tripadvisor.com) And if you really want to toss the anchor out, the stunning suites have private terraces perched above the coastal bluffs.
• Finally our Special package features the boutique 5* Lawrence Hotel in Sintra for an all-inclusive experience that will sell out quickly.
Of course we open with our usual welcome party in Cascais. We will have a special guest or two and of course the usual drinks and canapés.
We ensure you get to the track and back on Saturday and Sunday and if you really want some traditional Portugese culture, Sunday night we organise an optional dinner at a traditional Portugese restaurant, with local specialities, wine; then followed by a field trip to the local club where our customers and several riders met dawn... A perfect end to a perfect weekend!
