Portugal back for 2015 WTCC at the Vila Real circuit

Portugal will be back on the WTCC calendar in 2015 with a new race at the Circuito Internacional de Vila Real, a street circuit 100km east of Porto, which last hosted the Portuguese round in 2013, subject to confirmation from the FIA World Motor Sport Council next week.

The race will take place on July 12th, at the tail end of the European segment of the 2015 calendar, again providing a home event for Honda’s Tiago Monteiro, who is expected to be racing for the factory Honda team again next season

“(To) internationalize the Vila Real Circuit was one of the goals of the city council and FPAK, for years to come. The opportunity came and we were able to grab it, thanks to the efforts of all stakeholders,” said Vila Real’s Mayor Rui Santos in an official release.

The full calendar for the 2015 WTCC season is expected to be finalised and published next week. Already confirmed and with dates are a special event round at the Nürburgring in May supporting the Nürburgring 24 Hours, while the season is due to start in Argentina in early March, with the season finale now believed to be back at Macau in November following last minute negotiations two weeks ago.