Mercedes-AMG presented an exclusive, limited-edition car at the AIA on the same day that it announced the renewal of its partnership with the racetrack’s Racing School
Last October, the Algarve International Autodrome (AIA), in Portimão, hosted a special event by Mercedes-AMG. Following the F1 Singapore Grand Prix, the brand presented an exclusive, limited-edition GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ “Motorsport Collectors”, aimed at “Formula 1 fans who are also car lovers and collectors looking for a sporty driving experience”.
The AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine with 450kW (612hp) takes this car from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds.
With top speeds of 315 km/h, the exclusive model is a tribute to the brand’s Formula 1 history, from the Obsidian Black metallic paintwork, inspired by the racing team’s current single-seater, to the hand-painted pattern with silver Mercedes stars at the rear and the decorative PETRONAS-coloured filigree stripes that extend from the front mudguards, across the beltline and onto the roof.
The standard AMG Performance seats are covered in MICROCUT black/microfibre Nappa leather with PETRONAS-coloured stitching and AMG insignia engraved on the headrests, the Burmester High End 3D Surround sound system, the 360º camera, the MBUX Interior Assistant, the Driving Assistance package and the head-up display are just some of the highlights of this exclusive car.
The AMG TRACK PACE function provides support with a wide range of data for track driving, and the system for increasing the ground clearance of the body on the front axle can be used before passing over bumps or climbing kerbs. The “1 of 200” imprint on the centre console designates the edition of the GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ “Motorsport Collectors”.
As well as the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, the experience included driving the Mercedes AMG 45S 4MATIC+, and the Mercedes AMG CLA 45S 4MATIC+ Coupé.
Miguel Praia © Bruno Filipe Pires/Open Media Group
The event also served to announce the renewal of the partnership between the AIA Racing School and Mercedes-AMG until 2027.
“Today we are celebrating the renewal of our contract with Mercedes-AMG for another three seasons, and, with it, the possibility of developing an official AMG academy – the only one in the Iberian Peninsula,” explained Miguel Praia, driver and head of the Racing School.
The school has four AMG cars on permanent duty, adapted to the various manoeuvres proposed by the instructors, “from low-speed exercises to acquiring the techniques needed to master a high-performance car” on a Formula 1 track.
According to Praia, partnering with the German brand was an obvious choice: “The characteristics of this track demand a type of car designed to meet all expectations, from equipment and material fatigue to, above all, driving pleasure. Mercedes-AMG is a natural choice, due to the features and quality of its high-performance cars, with which we can complete an entire training programme, which is very demanding, without any problems and with all the reliability it ensures.”
Aside from the cars, he also emphasises the quality of the staff. “This school started with me as the first instructor, albeit on two wheels. I have significant experience, past and present, with 21 seasons and seven participations in World Championships,” he says.
“Now, we have other instructors with a racing background who are able to support someone starting out, for example, with a ‘baptism’ on the track, and that’s one side of what we do. But they can also go to the extreme, providing much more extensive coaching, for example, to a European Series driver looking to complete super-intensive training,” he explains.
Another aspect of the Racing School instructors’ work “has to do with product development with manufacturers” who use the AIA as a testing platform. “They are also part of this journey,” he says.
When asked whether the school is aimed more at amateur motorsports lovers or professionals, Praia says that it caters to both audiences. “We also do high-performance training, including MotoGP courses.
In fact, Miguel Oliveira is one of our partners and he uses our facilities to train in the winter, outside of the championships. Other riders do the same.
Confidentiality won’t allow us to reveal who they are, but the high-performance training programmes range from physical fitness to nutrition, technical driving and preparation for each of the domestic or international championships,” he says, adding that this is an important niche for the AIA.
“I’d say that of the 4,000 people we had here in one year, 80% were, in fact, people with little experience, who like cars or wanted to have their first contact with a high-performance car like a Mercedes-AMG,” he explains.
He adds that the school operates on a non-seasonal basis, and estimates that they “practise more than 200 days a year”, outside of the AIA competition schedule.
Paulo Pinheiro’s legacy
Questioned about how he sees the present and future of the Racing School project and the AIA after the death of the racetrack’s CEO, Paulo Pinheiro, in the summer, Miguel Praia was optimistic.
Paulo Pinheiro
“It was and still is a very difficult stage to get through. The whole structure is still finding its feet, but, at the same time, we’re quietly overcoming all these difficulties. And a lot of this is due to the in-person approach that Paulo Pinheiro had when dealing with everything that happened here. He was the one who planned, designed and implemented all of this. I’m the company’s first employee, so I worked with Paulo for 23 years. We travelled this path together, but now, as a sign of respect for the passion Paulo had for this project, we all have a responsibility to keep it going,” he says.
“In these last few months, we’ve had to restructure the company, which has been a painful process, but we have also been very motivated. And we have done it all quietly. For example, the return of the MotoGP is a clear message that the team has been preparing and working hard on our future.”
Right now, in addition to the Racing School’s activity, which “is just one department in the huge structure of the AIA”, Miguel Praia reveals that they already have 290 days booked for 2025 and 20 races scheduled. “So, continuity is assured at the moment, with a team that is very supportive, very united in continuing Paulo’s legacy. The team accompanied him practically from the start, when the business model was being developed, and we are here to continue this project for him, for us, for the whole region and for the country,” he concludes.
___
Follow Essential Algarve Magazine on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin for more news!
You might also like:
Essentials: Discover the upcoming sports events, as well as the latest wellness news in the Algarve
NO COMMENT