Circuito Vasco Sameiro
Circuito Vasco Sameiro at a glance
- Location
- Braga, Braga District
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 3.021 km (1.877 mi)
- Turns
- 15
- Direction
- counter-clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1993
- Owner
- Clube Automóvel do Minho (CAM)
- Website
- circuitovascosameiro.pt
Track map and layout
Circuito Vasco Sameiro was built around a local aerodrome at Palmeira, a few kilometres north of Braga, and named after the Portuguese racing driver Vasco Sameiro. The 3.021 km, 15-corner lap runs counter-clockwise over largely flat ground, with a separate bike circuit that has operated since the venue opened in 1993 and a car-specific circuit configuration added in 2002. An adjacent karting track, built to the same standard as the main circuit, has hosted world-championship karting events. As Portugal's third permanent racing facility, it is smaller and more compact than Estoril or Portimão, giving it a tighter, more technical character suited to national-level racing and club track days.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Car circuit | 3.02 km | 3.021 km, 15 turns; in use since 2002 |
| Bike circuit | 3.02 km | separate configuration used for motorcycle racing since 1993 |
Events and race weekends
Vasco Sameiro is used primarily for Portuguese national motorsport rather than international championships. It has hosted rounds of the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade (Portuguese national touring car/GT speed championship), national motorcycle racing, and karting, and its adjacent kart track staged the Karting World Championship in 2000 and 2005. It also hosted the European Touring Car Cup in 2009-2010 and rounds of the FIM Superbike European Championship in the mid-1990s. Note: World Rallycross (World RX) in Portugal is held at the Montalegre circuit, not at Vasco Sameiro.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade round | Portuguese national speed/touring car championship | varies (spring-autumn) |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits at Palmeira, about 6 km north of central Braga, and is most easily reached by car from the city. Braga has its own rail station with frequent connections to Porto (around 1 hour) and onward to Lisbon; visitors flying in generally use Porto's international airport, roughly 45 minutes away by road.
- Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto) (OPO) · about 45 min drive
Parking
Free parking is generally available around the circuit for event days and track days.
Base yourself in Braga and hire a car or take a taxi out to Palmeira, as there is no direct public transport to the circuit gate.
Hotels and camping near Circuito Vasco Sameiro
Braga, a historic university city a few minutes' drive from the circuit, has a good range of hotels and is the natural base for a visit; Porto, about 45-50 minutes away, offers a much larger choice of accommodation plus international flight connections.
Where to look
Braga city centre is the closest and most convenient base; Porto, roughly 45 minutes away, has far more hotel choice and better transport links for international visitors.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Vasco Sameiro is a regular venue for car and motorcycle club track days, typically scheduled from spring through autumn (April to September) by regional motorsport clubs and organisers, alongside its national racing calendar.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car circuit (Group CN) | 1:13.917 | Carlos Vieira | Group CN prototype | — |
| Car circuit (Super 2000) | 1:23.777 | César Campaniço | Super 2000 touring car | — |
| Bike circuit (Superbike) | 1:19.045 | Pedro Baptista | Superbike | — |
Spectator guide
As a compact national circuit, Vasco Sameiro has modest permanent spectator facilities compared with Portugal's larger venues, with general admission viewing around most of the lap and limited grandstand seating near the start-finish straight for its national championship race weekends.
Seating
Limited grandstand seating near the pit straight; general admission viewing elsewhere around the lap.
Best places to watch
The Turn 1 braking zone and the flowing esses in the middle sector give the best combination of action and visibility.
Weather
- June-September: warm, generally dry, highs around 25-28°C in the Minho region
- November-March: cool and wetter, typical of northern Portugal's Atlantic-influenced climate
History of Circuito Vasco Sameiro
Portugal's third permanent circuit
Circuito Vasco Sameiro was built around an existing aerodrome at Palmeira, a few kilometres north of Braga, with construction beginning around 1990 and the venue opening to racing in 1993. It was named in honour of Vasco Sameiro, a noted Portuguese racing driver, and was developed and is still run by the Clube Automóvel do Minho, making it Portugal's third permanent motor racing facility behind Estoril and the circuits that preceded Portimão.
Bikes first, then cars
The circuit opened initially as a motorcycle venue, and its bike configuration has been in continuous use since 1993, hosting national motorcycle championships and, in the mid-1990s, rounds of the FIM Superbike European Championship. A dedicated car circuit configuration followed in 2002, broadening the venue's use to national touring car and GT racing. An adjacent karting circuit, built to international standard, was significant enough to host the Karting World Championship in 2000 and 2005, giving the Braga venue a moment on the world motorsport stage even though its main circuit remains primarily a national facility.
A national and club racing hub today
Vasco Sameiro's biggest brush with international car racing came in 2009 and 2010, when it hosted rounds of the European Touring Car Cup. Since then it has settled into its role as one of the workhorses of Portuguese domestic motorsport, hosting rounds of the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade and other national car and motorcycle series, alongside a busy programme of club and organised track days through the spring and summer months. Its compact, technical 3.021 km layout and location in Portugal's Minho region, a short drive from Braga and around 45 minutes from Porto, make it a popular, accessible venue for domestic racers and trackday drivers rather than a stop on any world championship calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Circuito Vasco Sameiro?+
The circuit is 3.021 km (1.877 miles) long with 15 corners, run counter-clockwise.
Does Circuito Vasco Sameiro host World Rallycross (World RX)?+
No. World Rallycross events in Portugal are held at the Montalegre circuit, not at Vasco Sameiro, which focuses on circuit racing (touring cars, GT, motorcycles) rather than rallycross.
What international events has Vasco Sameiro hosted?+
Its adjacent karting circuit hosted the Karting World Championship in 2000 and 2005, and the main circuit hosted the European Touring Car Cup in 2009-2010 and FIM Superbike European Championship rounds in the mid-1990s.
When did Circuito Vasco Sameiro open?+
The bike circuit opened in 1993; a dedicated car circuit configuration was added in 2002.
How do you get to Circuito Vasco Sameiro?+
The circuit is about 6 km north of Braga at Palmeira; most visitors drive from Braga or fly into Porto's Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, roughly 45 minutes away by road.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuito Internacional de Vila Real · 67 km · street circuit
- Crossódromo Internacional de Águeda · 115 km · motocross
- Circuito do Estoril · 325 km · road course
- Circuito Internacional Comunidad de Madrid · 405 km · motocross
- Circuito de Madrid Jarama – RACE · 421 km · road course
- Autódromo Internacional do Algarve · 484 km · road course
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.