Portugal hoping to attract F1 to Algarve circuit

By Carlos Pontes

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal hopes a new 200 million euro ($291.1 million) circuit being built in the Algarve tourist region can bring Formula One back to the country.

Circuit director Paulo Pinheiro told Reuters on Monday that one F1 team had already booked the 4.7 km track in the south of Portugal for a test next January and there were talks in progress with others.

The Algarve International Circuit has been certified by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) and is expected to be ready by the end of October.

It is already due to host the final round of the Superbike world championship in November.

"The Government will do its best for Portugal to become part of the world's main championships," said Deputy Sports Minister Laurentino Dias.

"This circuit is prepared to host a range of motor races, from the most modest to Formula One."

Portugal was dropped from the Formula One calendar in 1997 due to safety problems at Estoril, where the late Brazilian champion Ayrton Senna took his first Grand Prix victory in heavy rain in 1985.

There were also grands prix held in Oporto and at Monsanto near Lisbon between 1958 and 1960.