In the 2024 season, Iberian Historic Endurance will once again present the "1000 km Trophy", an accolade honoring the most consistent driver or team with the highest number of laps completed throughout the six races on the calendar.
Introduced for the first time in 2019, this trophy aims not to spotlight the fastest driver on the track, but rather the driver-car-team combination showcasing the greatest consistency and reliability over the season. Thus, it rewards the driver who covers the greatest number of competitive kilometres throughout the campaign.
Last season, José Carvalhosa emerged as the prominent recipient of the "1000 km Trophy", surpassing his teammate, Piero dal Maso, the winner of the same award in 2022. With 284 laps completed during the season, José Carvalhosa, steering a Porsche 911 SWB and occasionally an Alfa Romeo GTAm at Spa-Francorchamps, beat his good friend Piero dal Maso, who raced a Porsche 911 SWB, by a mere four laps, securing a "double" victory for the Garagem João Gomes team duo. Third place was claimed by Paulo Lima, who drove a Ford GT40 run by RP Motorsport. However, due to unfortunate incidents during the Algarve and Spa races, he couldn't convert his superior speed on the track into victory in this category.
For Diogo Ferrão, CEO of Race Ready, this trophy embodies the spirit of Historic Endurance. He states, "The '1000 km Trophy' aims to reward the team-driver duo that completes the most laps, recognizing the efforts of mechanics and drivers who prioritize consistency and error-free driving. These principles are essential for endurance racing success, especially in Historic Endurance where reaching the finish line without major incidents is paramount, reflecting the true essence of the sport.”
Following the winter hiatus, the season commences on April 5th and 6th with the "Exclusive Test Day" at the Autódromo do Estoril, offering drivers and teams an excellent opportunity for initial practice and to test their Touring or Grand Touring cars dating up to 1976.
