Motorsport
The FIA World Endurance Championship returned to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in April and it produced some spectacular racing. Featuring three drivers per vehicle, the emphasis is on consistency as well as speed due to its six-hour duration. In the Hypercar series, the Toyota of Ryo Hirakawa and ex-Formula One drivers Brendan Hartley and Sebastien Buemi took overall victory. In the LMP2 category, United Autosports took the top two spots – the winning team comprised Oliver Jarvis, Guido van der Garde (ex-Formula One) and 17-year-old American sensation Josh Pierson.
Rugby
The Portugal women’s team finished their Women’s Trophy campaign with a 100% win record following a 20-5 victory against Germany. Despite receiving three yellow cards during the game, Portugal outscored their higher-ranked opponents by four tries to one. The result sees them top the group and winning promotion to the ‘championship’, the second tier of international rugby in Europe.
Kayaking
The KCCA club of Lagoa have returned from the National Long Distance Championships with 10 medals. Following the club’s second place in the overall senior classification, President Nuno Silva commented that it was KCCA’s ‘best ever’ performance in these championships.
Wheelchair tennis
The 2023 BNP Paribas World Team Cup World Group will take place at Vilamoura Tennis and Padel Academy for the second successive year. Following the conclusion of four regional qualification events in Europe, Asia and Oceania, Africa and the Americas, 44 teams will line up in Vilamoura from 1-7 May. Titles will be decided in men’s, women’s, quad and junior events at the ITF’s annual flagship wheelchair tennis team event. Portugal will become the first nation to host the World Team Cup in successive years since 1991.
Basketball
The ACD Ferragudo women’s team have been promoted to the top tier of Portuguese basketball following a two-legged victory over Barcelos. Despite a 69-52 away defeat, Ferragudo stormed to an 86-60 victory in the home leg to guarantee the Algarve side an historic promotion.
Rallying
Ricardo Teodósio has won the Rallye Casinos do Algarve for the second successive year. The 47 year-old, who hails from Guia, and his co-driver José Teixeira, took the lead on stage 3 and was fastest in four out of the seven stages. The Hyundai driver took overall victory by 16 seconds from fellow countryman Miguel Correia.
Swimming
Portimão athlete Miguel Nascimento has achieved the qualifying mark for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The 28 year-old, who competes for the Benfica swimming club, finished his 50m race in 21.91 seconds, beating the Olympic qualifying requirement of 21.96.
Rhythmic gymnastics
Portimão will host a leg of the FIG World Challenge Cup from 5-7 May. Portuguese gymnastics has had a resurgence of late, having won medals in all five categories at a recent world cup event in Puurs, Belgium. The three-day event will be held at the Portimão Arena.
International football
Following a kind draw for the European Championship qualifiers, Portugal have made light work of despatching Liechtenstein 4-0 and Luxembourg 6-0. In doing so, Cristiano Ronaldo has broken the record for most international caps with 198. The striker, who now plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, scored two goals in each game which sees him extend his world record of most international goals to 122.
Moto GP
Francesco Bagnaia has won the Portuguese MotoGP Grand Prix at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, near Portimão. The Ducati rider beat Spaniard Jorge Martin by 0.3 of a second to take victory in the opening round of the season. The Portuguese star Miguel Oliveira was in second position before being hit by long-time rival Marc Marquez and forced to retire, much to the disappointment of the local support.
If you wish to publicise a sporting event, please contact our sports editor David Lugg: david@tomorrowalgarve.com
