The eclectic field of the Iberian Historic Endurance took to the track today at the Estoril Circuit for the qualifying session, determining the starting grid for the race of the largest classic car competition in southern Europe, as part of the 8th edition of the Estoril Classics.
On a stage where everyone wants to compete — after all, it’s one of the biggest classic car events globally — qualifying was fiercely contested. Drivers pushed their machines to the limit but remained cautious, knowing that tomorrow's race will be decisive.
The front row of tomorrow’s grid will feature not one, but two Ford GT40s from the H-GTP & SC class, the only cars to break the two-minute barrier.
Paulo Lima edged out Christian Oldendorff by a mere seven-tenths, setting the stage for a high-level race tomorrow. On the second row will be Bruno Santos, behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 3.0 RS prepared by Aurora Motorsport, alongside another Ford GT40, driven by the Danish duo Otto Reedtz-Thott and Jakob Holstein. This GT40 was built from the remnants of the GT40 MKI from the Comstock Racing Team, which was tragically destroyed during the 1966 Sebring 12 Hours.
However, it wasn’t only at the top of the timing sheets where the battle for the best starting positions, down to mere tenths of a second, was fiercely fought for tomorrow’s race. In the Gentlemen Driver Spirit (GDS) class, which includes all vehicles equipped with engines up to 1300 cc and all Touring Cars up to 2000 cc, João Neves and Francisco Gonçalves, in a Datsun 1200, set the fastest time. They were followed by the duo Nuno Nunes/Piero Dal Maso in a Porsche 911 SWB, always a strong contender for victory, and the British pairing of Ellie Birchenhough/Nick Topliss in their Austin Mini Cooper S.
In the H-1965 class, a mere tenth of a second separated Olivier Muitjens' Shelby Cobra Daytona from the AC Cobra driven by the duo Damien Kohler and “Maverick.” The Porsche 904/6 of Thorkild Stamp and Michael Holden will start further back on the grid, but several cars are expected to position themselves throughout the race, battling for a spot on the podium.
In the highly diverse H-1971 class, the fastest car was the imposing Chevrolet Corvette of Pedro Bethencourt and Nogueira Pinto, whose General Motors L88 engine has an unmistakable roar. The next quickest times were set by the Alfa Romeo GTAm entries, with the national duo Rafael Cerveira Pinto and Carlos Dias Pedro, and Germany's Henry Wegener, followed by the Porsche 911 2.5 ST of father and son pairing Piero and Guilherme Dal Maso, and the Porsche 911 ST driven by Spain’s Alfonso and Ildefonso García.
Among the competitors in the H-1976 class, which often produces overall race winners, Carlos Vieira, the third fastest in the session, will see in his mirrors an identical car driven by Frederico Brion Sanches and newcomer to this Race Ready-promoted competition, but with extensive experience in Iberian racing, Ricardo Megre. The times posted by other Porsche duos—Vasco Nina/Mário Meireles, Bruno Duarte/Filipe Jesus, and Carlos Brízido/João Pina Cardoso—don't fully reflect their true pace. These drivers are also likely to aim for a spot on the podium in southern Europe's largest classic racing festival.
With the motto “Relaxed Historic Racing” and the aim of providing thrilling classic car races for Gentlemen Drivers at the finest events and circuits in southern Europe, every Historic Endurance event features the awarding of the coveted Index of Performance. This classification often favours the smaller-engined cars, and the driver who secures it tomorrow will take home a stunning timepiece from the prestigious Swiss watchmaker, Cuervo y Sobrinos.
The 50-minute race, which includes a mandatory pit stop, is scheduled for 16:20 on Sunday. Spectators can expect plenty of on-track excitement and fierce battles throughout the field.
