The roar of engines could soon return to the legendary Estoril Racetrack. The Cascais City Council is making another big push to buy the circuit. Their goal is ambitious: bring Formula 1 racing back to Estoril by 2028. This news came after a key meeting between the council and the government.
The Cascais City Council, located in the Lisbon district, officially stated its intention. They want to buy the racetrack from Parpública. This is a state-owned holding company that manages government stakes in various businesses. It shows the council’s serious commitment to this project.
Nuno Piteira Lopes, the vice-president of Cascais City Council and a member of the PSD party, shared his excitement. “In 2026, it will be 30 years since Estoril hosted its last Grand Prix,” he noted in a statement. “At that point, we will kick off a new chapter for this iconic global circuit. The city council will take over management of the facility.”
The details of this potential purchase were a hot topic. Representatives from Cascais City Council met with Pedro Machado, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce, and Services, just this past Monday. These discussions are moving the project forward.
This isn’t the first time the Cascais City Council has tried to buy the Estoril Racetrack. Carlos Carreiras, a Social Democrat, currently leads the council. Back in 2015, his administration also moved to acquire the facility. They offered around five million euros for it. However, the Court of Auditors blocked that deal.
The Estoril Racetrack first opened its gates in June of 1972. It was designed to be a major draw for tourism in Cascais. For years, it delivered on that promise, hosting some of the biggest motorsport events.
Beyond buying the racetrack, the Cascais City Council has larger plans. They aim to negotiate the return of Formula 1 to Estoril in 2028. They also want to make sure a MotoGP race happens there in 2027. The council promises full readiness to make all necessary improvements. They plan to work closely with private partners to achieve this.
The meeting with the government also covered another important local initiative. The council wants to manage the Estoril Hotel and Tourism School. They hope to do this “in partnership with NOVA University.” This partnership would allow for a complete modernization and upgrade of the school.