After a tough start to the season in Sebring, Matteo Cairoli managed to get a good result in the
Portimão 6 Hours, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. On the
Portuguese racetrack, the 26-year-old from Como fought tooth and nail until the chequered flag,
taking home 6th place in the LM GTE Am category driving Project 1 AO’s Porsche 911 RSR.
In the championship’s second race weekend, Cairoli raced with two new teammates – home
favourites Guilherme Moura de Oliveira e Miguel Ramos, with the latter taking part in Saturday’s
qualifying session and putting the car in 8th place in the LM GTE Am category.
Cairoli jumped in the car after roughly four hours, stepping in to replace Moura de Oliveira at the
wheel on lap 137. The Italian, who was set to drive until the end of the race, put up some great lap
times, eventually setting the team’s fastest lap of the race with a 1:40.751 and keeping such good
rhythm up for the rest of his stints. Cairoli fought long and hard against the two Ferraris by AF
Corse for 4th, with a podium in his sights as his pace was more than enough to achieve it.
However, Cairoli had to serve a drive through penalty after avoiding contact with another Porsche,
which could have compromised both the Italian’s and the German team’s results. After serving it,
Matteo found his race pace again and crossed the finish line in 6th place, taking home Project 1
AO’s first points of the season.
After a very promising race in Portugal, Cairoli will be back on track in the FIA World Endurance
Championship in Belgium, with the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps scheduled to take place on the
29th April.
