Third episode of the "Tracklap with..." series, discover the advise of the
former Formula 1 driver Tiago Monteiro, one of the rare Le Mans Series
driver who already knows the Portimao circuit.
"The track is really original, different and difficult! It is a great
challenge because it winds up and down and includes blind corners. Drivers
should find the track difficult, but very interesting. It is a mix of
several tracks such as Spa or Laguna Seca. The race should be sunny but may
be windy! The circuit is a success on the whole.
The pit-straight dives downhill into the first right-handed corner, which is
taken in fourth gear and very bumpy, but fortunately, there is a large
gravel bed. You accelerate before arriving to the second flat-out turn. Hard
on the brakes and you are into turn 3, a very tight right-hander taken in
second gear, that you have to sacrifice to the next uphill left-hander,
which should be flat till the hairpin. The entrance of this downhill
left-handed hairpin is blind and bumpy and it is very important to exit well
because of the coming long straight line and left-handed flat-out Turn 6.
You then come down the hill into a double-apex right-hander, Turns Seven,
where you go over the kerbs, and Eight, in second gear. There is a short but
very steep climb before going briefly downhill and uphill again after the
long left-hander Turn 9 leading to the fully blind braking area of Turn 10.
You need the maximum downforce to take the corner in third gear. It goes up
and down again with a flat-out left-hander before you jump on the brakes for
an uphill left-hander taken in second gear. A short burst of power down to
the long braking for double-apex Turn 13, which is off-camber. This is one
of the most important corners on the track because you need to carry your
exit speed all the way up the hill towards the last corner, so it's vital
that you make a good exit and get onto the power as early as possible. The
last corner before the start-finish line is flat-out, but very difficult
because there is a small jump in the middle and now it is flat out till Turn
1 for another lap."
-credit: lms
