Ten years after the first attempt by the Cascais Municipal Chamber (CMC) to acquire the Estoril Autodrome from Parpública (then for 5 million euros, a transaction ultimately rejected by the Court of Auditors), the Cascais municipality returns to the topic and attempts once again to take possession of the infrastructure. According to information conveyed by the municipality itself, still presided over by Carlos Carreiras (who is barred from running for re-election due to term limits), following a meeting with the Government, the acquisition process will be carried out through Parpública (which holds the State’s shares in the company Circuito Estoril S.A.).
The purchase and sale contract, signed on August 6th, provides for the acquisition of the circuit for 4.92 million euros, still pending prior approval from the Court of Auditors. From the date of signing, the CMC has 60 days to conduct an audit of the company managing the circuit, currently 100% owned by the State; and, if the deal proceeds, the CMC, in addition to ensuring the management of the autodrome itself, also plans to carry out modernization works, in coordination with private partners, to adapt the space to the demands of international competitions.
This is because, despite the relatively recent controversy regarding the noise produced by some of the events taking place at the circuit, and the resulting discomfort for those living in its vicinity, one of the main objectives of the CMC is to bring back world-class top-level races to the racetrack (such as MotoGP in 2027 and Formula 1 in 2028), as confirmed by the words of Nuno Piteira Lopes, current vice-president of the CMC and candidate for the presidency in the elections next Sunday: “In 2026, it will be 30 years since the last F1 Grand Prix was held in Estoril. At that time, we will begin a new phase of this legendary circuit.” Alongside the return of major international events, the CMC aims to transform the racetrack into a multifunctional hub, open to training activities, road safety, and cultural events, also integrating an automobile museum.
Inaugurated in 1972, at the initiative of businesswoman Fernanda Pires da Silva, the Estoril Autodrome is an emblematic infrastructure for motorsport in Portugal. It has long hosted the main national championships for two and four wheels; various international events of unquestionable quality; having, between 1984 and 1996, hosted thirteen editions of the Portuguese Grand Prix of Formula 1, including the one in which, in 1985, the three-time World Champion of F1, Ayrton Senna, achieved his first victory in the discipline.
