The Algarve International Circuit, known in Portuguese as the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve and commonly referred to as the Portimao Circuit, is a 4.653-kilometre race circuit opened in October 2008. It was designed by Ricardo Pina Arquitectos at a total construction cost of approximately 195 million euros. The circuit received FIM homologation on 11 October 2008 and FIA certification two days later. The facility includes a karting track, an off-road course, a technology park, a five-star hotel, sports complex, and residential apartments.
The track is built on rolling terrain in the Algarve hills, producing a circuit characterised by constant elevation changes, blind entries to corners, and long sweeping bends that require riders to commit at speeds where the road ahead is not visible. This topography creates a circuit with pronounced character and one that takes considerable time for competitors to learn thoroughly.
The Algarve International Circuit hosted the final round of the Superbike World Championship in the 2008 season, in November of that year, making WorldSBK the inaugural event at the venue. The Portuguese round became a recurring fixture on the WorldSBK calendar in the years that followed, typically scheduled in March and forming part of the early-season swing.
Beyond WorldSBK, the circuit hosted the Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix in 2020 and 2021 following revisions to the F1 calendar caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. MotoGP also visited the circuit, including a Portuguese Grand Prix and an Algarve Grand Prix in the same 2021 season. The circuit is confirmed to return to the Formula One calendar in 2027 and 2028.
A statue dedicated to British World Supersport rider Craig Jones, who died following a crash at Brands Hatch in 2008, stands at the circuit, and a corner is named in his honour.
The Portimao Circuit is widely regarded as one of the most technically challenging venues on the WorldSBK calendar. The constant undulation means that neither riders nor setup engineers can rely on straightforward reference points, and corner speeds vary dramatically depending on the approach. The circuit's layout rewards riders with strong instincts and the ability to maintain composure through sections where visibility is restricted.
Weather in the Algarve region is generally favourable for early-season racing, with mild temperatures and a relatively low probability of rain in March. This makes the Portuguese round a useful indicator of form ahead of more unpredictable mid-season events.
In 2022, during a Supersport 300 World Championship race at the circuit, Dutch rider Victor Steeman was fatally injured in an accident during Race 1. His death was a significant loss for the motorcycle racing community and prompted renewed discussions about safety standards in the junior categories of the sport.