Mosley visits ‘outstanding’ Algarve circuit

(GMM) Portugal's hopes of returning to the formula one calendar got a shot in the arm last weekend.

While Max Mosley was in the country for the round of the world rally championship, the FIA president stopped in last Friday to visit the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.

The Briton said the facility, already used in the winter for F1 testing, is "enormously impressive" but stopped short of saying a grand prix is necessarily around the corner.

"It would be a matter for them to make a commercial arrangement with Bernie," he explained.

In terms of gaining the approval of the FIA, however, Mosley said the venue has already been inspected by the Paris body and attained "grade 1" status.

"It's an outstanding circuit so I think there's no doubt if they made a commercial agreement with Bernie Ecclestone and FOM there wouldn't be the slightest difficulty about putting them on the calendar," he added.