Head to Portugal for the F1 teams

McLaren is the first team to confirm its presence on the new Portuguese circuit in Algarve for the December tests.

These state-of-the-art facilities will be officially inaugurated on November 2 before hosting a Formula 1 test event from December 15 to 17.

A number of teams are expected to run on this 4.692-kilometer long track. A McLaren spokesperson confirmed today that their team will be present in December for these tests.

Ferrari also indicated that there was a strong probability that she would be there.

As for Honda Racing, the Japanese team confirmed its presence a few hours after the announcement from McLaren-Mercedes. The source is also official as it comes directly from the team through a spokesperson.

These tests will be an opportunity to test the various parts intended for the 2009 single-seaters.

The Algarve circuit has already planned to organize major international events. The owners would even like to see an F1 race in a few years.

The Portuguese Secretary of State for Sports, Laurentino Dias, had stated a few months ago: « The government is doing its best to ensure that Portugal is part of the major championships. This circuit is ready to host a multitude of auto races, from the most modest to Formula 1. »

The track features, among other things, a watering system to simulate wet conditions on the track.