The Portugal Tour took place from 11 to 15 November 2019. Look backs on a car event combining driving pleasure in a country steeped in culture, traditions and history..
Step 1: Vilamoura - Beja - Evora (310 km)
After a first day of technical and administrative checks on Monday 11th November in the elegant Marina de Vilamoura, drivers and co-pilots left the Algarve on 12th November in brilliant sunshine to reach Beja. After lunching at the Pousada, the participants then went to the medieval village of Monsaraz before reaching Évora, a town with a number of architectural treasures where the participants were expected to spend the night.
As far as the ranking went, the PARADA / COSTA team (BMW 2002 Tii) took the lead in the “Classic” category, while the COLETTE couple put in a fine performance at the wheel of their Porsche 964, thereby taking the lead in the “Prestige” category.
Step 2: Evora - Abrantes - Luso (290 km)
For this second stage, the participants left Évora to reach Abrantes with a route through the small traditional villages strewn with small white houses. They then reached the heights of the Taje river for lunch before heading off for Luso, the end of the stage where they were expected to spend the night at the Palacio de Buçaco.
As far as the ranking went, after a poor performance of the COLETTE couple, the “Prestige” category gave rise to stiff competition between the FARE / BARRE Porsche 718S and the Porsche 997 of the PAPE couple; while in the “Classic” category, the SCHARF couple (Jaguar XK140) and BELIN / THOMAS (Alfa Roméo 2000) led the chase behind PARADA / COSTA (BMW 2002 Tii).
Step 3: Luso - Serra de Estrela - Viseu (280 km)
On leaving the Palacio de Busaco, the road of this third race was already looking tortuous. After passing Arganil, snow fell on the road during the tedious ascent of the Serra de Estrela, Portugal’s highest point. The driver Cyril Neveu then had to decide not to take this road, which had become impassable. The route was thus diverted through another more accessible slope before the lunch planned at the summit in a medieval inn. After a well-deserved break, the race resumed towards Sorthela, one of the most historic and renowned villages in Portugal, in dense fog before reaching Viseu for the night.
.
As far as the ranking went, this “truncated” stage marked the status quo in the two categories “Classic” and “Prestige” before the last stage.
Step 4: Viseu - Lamego - Porto (280 km)
For this very last stage, starting from Viseu, the competitors were able to indulge in a “bucolic” Portugal, with its many undulating forests and small stone villages, before following the banks of the Douro River and arriving in Lamego for a lunch at the “Six Senses”, one of the rituals of the Portugal Tour. They then set off again along the most secret banks of the Douro to reach Pont Luis and the Yeatman Hotel in Porto for the award presentation ceremony.
.
As far as the ranking went, the LAIN / DAYNAC Porsche 914/6 took third place behind the SCHARF couple (Jaguar XK140) who were unable to destabilize the PARADA / COSTA team in the “Classic” category. In the “Prestige” category, FARE / BARRE (Porsche 718S Boxter) won the event by one point ahead of the PAPE couple (Porsche 997 cabriolet) and the JEHLEN couple’s McLaren 720S which took the third place on the podium.
