The Circuito do Estoril or Autódromo do Estoril (Estoril Circuit), officially known as Autódromo Fernanda Pires da Silva, is a motorsport race track on the Portuguese Riviera, outside of Lisbon, owned by state-run holding management company Parpública. Its length is . It was the home of the Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix from 1984 to 1996.
History Estoril, a vacation-destination beach town located west of the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon has had motor racing dating back to the 1930s, with a street circuit used in 1937 for a local race. The current Estoril circuit was built and completed in 1972 on a rocky plateau near the village of Alcabideche, from Estoril, the town lending its name to the circuit. The course has two hairpin turns, noticeable elevation changes, and a long start/finish straight. Its original perimeter was , and the maximum gradient is nearly 7%. Monsanto Park, another street circuit in Lisbon hosted a variety of motor racing events in the 1950s, including the 1959 Portuguese Grand Prix, an event it shared briefly with the Boavista street circuit in Porto.
Its first years saw many national races, as well as an occasional Formula 2 race. However, the course soon fell into disrepair due to the owning company having been taken over by the state between 1975 and 1978, and a significant redevelopment effort was needed before international motorsport returned in 1984. In the 1980s, the Rally de Portugal also had a special stage at the circuit.
Estoril became a popular event on the F1 calendar, the setting for many well-known moments including Niki Lauda winning the championship, his third and final, from McLaren teammate Alain Prost by just half a point by finishing second to Prost at the 1984 Portuguese Grand Prix; three-time world champion Ayrton Senna's first F1 win in 1985; Nigel Mansell's notorious black flag incident and subsequent collision with Senna in 1989; Riccardo Patrese being launched airborne in a near-backward flip after colliding with Gerhard Berger on the main straight in 1992; and Jacques Villeneuve overtaking Michael Schumacher around the outside of the final turn in 1996.
Throughout the years, Estoril has had numerous problems with safety, failing safety inspections on more than one occasion. After the death of Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, a chicane was added which increased the circuit length to . Estoril sometimes has strong winds. Many teams were fond of using Estoril for winter testing.
Estoril was dropped from the F1 calendar for the 1997 season, though it continued to play host to top-level single-seater, sports car and touring car events, including the FIA GT Championship, the DTM and the World Series by Renault. A new redesign of the parabolica turn which saw its length reduced to was implemented in 2000 in order to obtain FIM homologation.
On 3 September 2000, the Autódromo do Estoril held its first Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix, an event held annually. On 23 October 2005, the circuit hosted the third round of the first ever A1 Grand Prix racing season, with both races in the event being won by the French team. The track hosted Superleague Formula series events in 2008 and 2009.
In 2020, due to rescheduling of major international sport series due to COVID-19 pandemic, Estoril hosted the final race of 2020 Superbike World Championship (after hosting the series in 1988 and 1993) and the final race of 2019–20 FIM Endurance World Championship (after hosting the series in 1987 and 2000).
Layout history
Lap records
As of June 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuito do Estoril are listed as:
CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent Grand Prix Circuit (2000–present): Superleague Formula 1:26.711 Andy Soucek Panoz DP09 2008 Estoril Superleague Formula round Formula Renault 3.5 1:26.925 Ben Hanley Dallara T05 2007 Estoril Formula Renault 3.5 Series round Formula Nissan 1:28.542 Heikki Kovalainen Dallara SN01 2004 Estoril Formula Nissan round Euroformula Open 1:29.425 Filip Ugran Dallara 320 2022 Estoril Euroformula Open round Auto GP 1:29.638 Antônio Pizzonia Lola B05/52 2014 Estoril Auto GP round LMP1 1:30.702 Neel Jani Lola B10/60 2011 6 Hours of Estoril A1GP 1:31.106 Alexandre Prémat Lola A1GP 2005 Estoril A1GP round LMP900 1:31.341 Stefan Johansson Audi R8 2001 1000km of Estoril LMP2 1:32.611 Tom Kimber-Smith Zytek Z11SN 2011 6 Hours of Estoril International Formula Master 1:32.719 Fabio Leimer Tatuus N.T07 2008 Estoril Formula Master round LMP3 1:32.958 Klaus Bachler Ligier JS P3 2018 4 Hours of Estoril Formula 3 1:34.067 Éric Salignon Dallara F303 2004 Estoril F3 Euro Series round Formula One 1:34.420 Yutaka Toriba Williams FW07C 2025 Estoril Classics World SBK 1:34.973 Nicolò Bulega Ducati Panigale V4 R 2025 Estoril World SBK round Formula Regional 1:35.166 Mari Boya Tatuus F3 T-318-EC3 2023 Estoril Eurocup-3 round GT3 1:35.393 Axcil Jefferies Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2022 Estoril International GT Open round DTM 1:35.528 Gary Paffett AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2004 2004 Estoril DTM round MotoGP 1:36.909 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha YZR-M1 2012 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix LMPC 1:37.447 Nicolas Marroc Oreca FLM09 2011 6 Hours of Estoril LMP675 1:37.630 Mirko Savoldi Lucchini SR2001 2002 FIA Sportscar Championship Estoril GT1 (GTS) 1:37.708 Fabrizio Gollin Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello 2003 FIA GT Estoril 500km Formula Renault 2.0 1:37.730 Daniel Ricciardo Tatuus FR2000 2008 Estoril Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup round FIM Moto2 1:38.366 Kalex Moto2 2024 2nd Estoril FIM Moto2 round Lamborghini Super Trofeo 1:38.546 Seweryn Mazur Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo2 2025 Estoril GT Winter Series round Formula Chrysler 1:38.680 Ricardo van der Ende Reynard 2KF 2001 Estoril Formula Chrysler Euroseries round Formula 4 1:38.968 Pedro Clerot Tatuus F4-T421 2023 Estoril F4 Spain round Porsche Carrera Cup 1:38.986 Ariel Levi Porsche 911 (992 I) GT3 Cup 2024 Estoril Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe round FIM EWC 1:39.155 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki GSX-R1000 2021 12 Hours of Estoril Ferrari Challenge 1:39.149 Thomas Fleming Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo 2023 Estoril Ferrari Challenge Europe round Renault Sport Trophy 1:39.258 Steijn Schothorst Renault Sport R.S. 01 2016 Estoril Renault Sport Trophy round LM GTE 1:39.370 Michele Rugolo Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 2014 4 Hours of Estoril Supersport 1:39.761 Unai Orradre Yamaha YZF-R9 2026 Estoril Spanish Supersport round World SSP 1:39.847 Roberto García Yamaha YZF-R9 2025 Estoril World SSP round GT4 1:40.470 César Machado Toyota GR Supra GT4 2024 2nd Estoril Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade round 250cc 1:40.521 Álvaro Bautista Aprilia RSA 250 2007 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix 500cc 1:40.683 Loris Capirossi Honda NSR500 2001 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix Moto2 1:40.921 Pol Espargaró Kalex Moto2 2012 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix N-GT 1:42.413 Andrea Bertolini Ferrari 360 Modena GT 2003 FIA GT Estoril 500km TCR Touring Car 1:42.562 Daniel Teixeira Hyundai Elantra N TCR 2024 2nd Estoril Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade round FIM Moto3 1:43.167 Brian Uriarte KTM RC250GP 2025 Estoril FIM JuniorGP round Eurocup Mégane Trophy 1:44.396 Dimitri Enjalbert Renault Mégane Renault Sport 2008 Estoril Eurocup Mégane Trophy round GT 1:44.816 Terry Rymer Porsche 911 (996) GT3-R 2001 1000km of Estoril Super Touring 1:44.850 Yvan Muller Alfa Romeo 156 D2 2001 Estoril ESTC round Sportbike 1:44.962 Roberto Fernandez Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R 636 2026 Estoril Spanish Sportbike round 125cc 1:45.027 Gabor Talmacsi Aprilia RSA 125 2007 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix Moto3 1:47.354 Sandro Cortese KTM RC250GP 2012 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix Super 2000 1:48.280 Nicola Larini Alfa Romeo 156 GTA 2003 Estoril ETCC round SEAT León Supercopa 1:48.524 Mikel Azcona SEAT León Cup Racer 2016 Estoril SEAT León Eurocup round Supersport 300 1:49.791 José Manuel Osuna Saez Kawasaki Ninja 400 2025 Estoril Supersport 300 round World WCR 1:49.872 Ana Carrasco Yamaha YZF-R7 2024 Estoril World WCR round Tanque Circuit (2018–present): Porsche Carrera Cup 1:35.895 Francisco Mora Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 2023 Estoril Porsche Sprint Challenge Iberica round GT4 1:40.307 Elias Niskanen Mercedes-AMG GT4 2023 Estoril SuperCars Endurance Series round TCR Touring Car 1:43.732 António Coimbra Hyundai Elantra N TCR 2023 Estoril SuperCars Endurance Series round Grand Prix Circuit (1994–1999): Formula One 1:22.446 David Coulthard Williams FW16B 1994 Portuguese Grand Prix F3000 1:31.193 Emmanuel Clérico Reynard 94D 1994 Estoril F3000 round Formula Renault 2.0 1:41.751 Gianmaria Bruni Tatuus RC99 1999 Estoril Eurocup Formula Renault round Class 1 Touring Cars 1:42.650 Nicola Larini Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI 1995 Estoril DTM round Superbike Circuit (1993): World SBK 1:52.186 Carl Fogarty Ducati 888 SBK 1993 Estoril World SBK round Grand Prix Circuit (1972–1993): Formula One 1:14.859 Damon Hill Williams FW15C 1993 Portuguese Grand Prix F3000 1:30.305 Mike Thackwell Ralt RB20 1985 Estoril F3000 round Formula Two 1:34.160 Derek Daly Chevron B40 1977 Estoril European F2 round Group 6 1:37.730 Vittorio Brambilla Alfa Romeo 33SC12 1977 Prémio International da Costa do Sol Group A 1:40.120 Gianfranco Brancatelli Volvo 240 Turbo 1985 Estoril ETCC round World SBK 1:48.330 Raymond Roche Ducati 851 1988 Estoril World SBK round Group 5 1:49.970 Carlos Santos GRD S73 1975 Grande Prémio do Estoril Group 2 1:51.300 Dieter Quester BMW 3.0 CSL 1977 Estoril ETCC round Perimeter Circuit (1972–1999): Group 5 0:58.450 David Walker GRD S73 1973 Grande Prémio do A.C.P. Formula 3 1:02.040 Michel Leclère Alpine A364 1972 Estoril French F3 round Group 4 1:05.640 Porsche Carrera RSR 1973 Estoril European GT Championship round
Events
Current
January: GT Winter Series, GT4 Winter Series, Formula Winter Series, Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe June: FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship, FIM Moto2 European Championship, , Moto4 European Cup September: Classic Endurance Racing Estoril Classics October: Superbike World Championship, Supersport World Championship, Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup December: Supercars Endurance Series Estoril Endurance Festival, Campeonato Portugal de Velocidade
Future
Sportbike World Championship (2027)
Former
24H Series 12 Hours of Estoril (2023) A1 Grand Prix (2005) Auto GP (2004, 2014) Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2004) EFDA Nations Cup (1992–1993) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (1999, 2001, 2005, 2007–2008, 2016) Eurocup Mégane Trophy (2005, 2007–2008) Eurocup-3 (2023) Euroformula Open Championship (2001–2007, 2015–2018, 2022) European Formula Two Championship (1975–1977) European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Estoril (2011, 2014–2016) European Touring Car Championship (1977–1978, 1985–1988, 2001–2003) European Touring Car Cup (2006) European Truck Racing Cup (2003) F4 Spanish Championship (2017, 2023) Ferrari Challenge Europe (2023) FIA GT Championship (2000–2003) FIA Sportscar Championship FIA Sportscar Championship Estoril (2002–2003) FIM Endurance World Championship 12 Hours of Estoril (1987, 2000, 2020–2021) FIM Women's Circuit Racing World Championship (2024) Formula Chrysler Euroseries (2001) Formula 3 Euro Series (2004) Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix (1984–1996) Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup (1987, 1999, 2001, 2008) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2005, 2007–2008) French Formula Three Championship (1972) Grand Prix motorcycle racing Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix (2000–2012) GT3 Le Mans Cup (2016) IMSA European Le Mans Series Estoril 1000km (2001) International Formula 3000 (1985, 1994–1996) International GT Open (2006, 2008, 2015–2018, 2022) International Touring Car Championship (1995–1996) Italian Formula Renault Championship (2001) Porsche Cup Brasil (2011–2012, 2014, 2019, 2024–2025) Porsche Supercup (1994, 1996) Prototype Winter Series (2024–2025) Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (2007–2008, 2011–2012)