Simply awesome. The 50th edition of the Vila Real International Circuit will surely go down in history as one of the best ever.
There was everything. A human frame with over 200,000 people over the weekend; lots of action on the track; and of course a Portuguese on the top step of the podium.
Portugal is a great country
Portugal may be a small country, but it is a big country.
See the dimension of the Vila Real Circuit's organization. Although it is the smallest organization of the WTCR (Touring Car World Cup), everything went as required in an event of this size.
From the smallest Kia Picanto GT Cups, to the “all powerful” TCRs, without forgetting the presence of the classics, the action on track was constant.
Sportclasse's Porsche Carrera 6 returned to the Vila Real Circuit, something it hadn't done since… 1972
And if in terms of organization Portugal loomed large, what about the Portuguese public? Passionate, knowledgeable and always present. According to the organization, over the weekend, more than 200 thousand people traveled to the Vila Real Circuit.
Matthew's descent
I was already surrendered to the Vila Real Circuit because of the environment that lives there. But I was even more impressed after having the opportunity to take a tour of the circuit, alongside Gabrielle Tarquini – Hyundai rider in the WTCR.
A tour that I knew a little while ago, but I was able to understand the degree of demand of the Vila Real Circuit.
Of all the curves, the one that impressed me the most was Mateus's descent. On the Hyundai i30 N we reached 200 km/h. Impressive.
Now add another 80 km/h, heavy braking, just six meters of asphalt width, zero margin for error and no loopholes.
Hyundai i30 N
Talent is not enough to make Matthew's descent to the bottom, it also takes courage.
I gained memories that I will keep for life and an even greater admiration for these drivers.
Tiago Monteiro, Tiago Monteiro…
There are no words to describe Tiago Monteiro's performance in Vila Real. Not even in a Hollywood script would anyone risk such a heroic return to winning ways. Fortunately, reality always trumps fiction.
Two years after a serious injury, Tiago Monteiro returned to winning ways. In front of your audience, in front of your country.
A victory forged with a lot of self-love, pride, talent and the will to win. This is what champions are made of.
Tiago Monteiro returned to racing when few were counting on his return, and he won again when they even less thought it was possible.
Next year there's more, and we'll be there! How proud to be Portuguese, how proud to have been a part of this.