Portuguese F1 driver Tiago Monteiro returned to his home country this weekend to take part in local rally event “Rallye Casinos do Algarve”. Monteiro drove the safety car which follows the rally cars through the Monchique circuit. However, Monteiro was unable to complete all his duties due to the poor weather.
During the rally, it was announced that the region is planning to build a Formula 1 venue – the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. However some local residents are set against the plan and it is still currently under public discussion. It has been in the planning stages for a couple of years now.
Monteiro is in favour of the project and has promised to ‘give a helping hand’ to the project if it gets the go-ahead.
Portugal have hosted Formula 1 race weekends in the past – Estoril hosted events up until 1996 when it was decided the circuit was unsafe and it was removed from the calendar.
