The Iberian peninsula becomes the epicenter of junior single-seater activity this weekend as both the Eurocup-3 and Eurocup-4 winter series continue their seasons in Portimão alongside F2 and F3’s pre-season tests in Barcelona.

By Feeder Series

After its first round in Jerez a fortnight ago, the Spanish Winter Championship package returns for its second round in Portimão with expanded grids in both series. Five new drivers join the Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship grid, while the Eurocup-4 Spanish Winter Championship welcomes three newcomers, two of them making their single-seater debuts.

The Portimão race weekend comes in the midst of pre-season testing for Formula 3 and Formula 2 to the east in Barcelona. Two of the three days of F3’s first test with the new Dallara F3 2025 have concluded, and Prema Racing’s Noel León and Campos Racing’s Nikola Tsolov led the way on days one and two respectively. F2’s three-day test begins on Monday, meanwhile, with the 22-car grid having been completed earlier this week.

Read on to find out what’s on this weekend and how you can catch the action.

Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship: Round 2, Portimão

Circuit: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, 4.653 km

Schedule: All times local (UTC+0)

Friday 21 February

• 9:00–11:00: Official test 1
• 13:10–15:10: Official test 2

Saturday 22 February

• 9:00–9:20: Qualifying 1
• 12:10–12:45: Race 1
• 15:20–15:45: Sprint

Sunday 23 February

• 9:00–9:20: Qualifying 2
• 12:10–12:45: Race 2

How to follow: All sessions will have live timing at Al Kamel Systems. All races will be streamed on the Spanish Winter Championship YouTube channel.

Weather forecast: Cloudy for most of Friday with showers in the afternoon and overnight. Mostly sunny for the rest of the weekend.

What to know: In its second and final round alongside Eurocup-4, Eurocup-3 will see the continuation of a tight fight for the points lead between MP Motorsport teammates Mattia Colnaghi and Maciej Gładysz. 

The pair had very similar weekends last time out, with a win and a third-place finish each. With 47 points, 2024 Spanish F4 champion Colnaghi leads the standings, four points ahead of his Polish rival after finishing two places ahead of him in the sprint. 

Sprint victor Andrés Cárdenas rounds out an all-MP top three and sits in the middle of an all-rookie top six. Behind the Peruvian driver are James Egozi, Juan Cota and Jules Caranta, all ahead of the leading returnee, Emerson Fittipaldi Jr.

Two new drivers join Campos Racing this weekend in Red Bull junior Enzo Tarnvanichkul, who turns 16 on Saturday, and Argenti with Prema GB3 driver Lucas Fluxá. The two F4 graduates replace F3-bound Nikola Tsolov and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak respectively, with Fluxá’s #24 car no longer running under the Griffin Core by Campos guise.

Newly Asian Le Mans Series champion Valerio Rinicella joins MP Motorsport after missing the first round to compete in the 4 Hours of Dubai. Reigning Brazilian F4 champion Matheus Comparatto, meanwhile, is now off the entry list for their satellite team KCL by MP, having entered but not competed in the first round.

FR Oceania runner-up Zack Scoular joins Palou Motorsport for the rest of the 2025 season after missing the first round to race in the New Zealand Grand Prix. Garrett Berry returns to Eurocup-3, switching from Palou Motorsport to Saintéloc Racing for his second season in the series.

Report by Seb Tirado

From the press: The driver closest to stopping MP’s sweep of victories was Campos rookie Caranta, who joined the Red Bull Junior Team last summer during his French F4 season. The 16-year-old discussed his graduation to Eurocup-3 and opened up on how the programme discovered him through the revitalised Red Bull Driver Search in Jerez. Hear his thoughts here. 

Catch up on all the action from the first round here.

Eurocup-4 Spanish Winter Championship: Round 2, Portimão

Circuit: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, 4.653 km

Schedule: All times local (UTC+0)

Friday 21 February

• 11:05–13:05: Official test 1
• 15:15–17:15: Official test 2

Saturday 22 February

• 9:50–10:10: Qualifying 1
• 13:15–13:50: Race 1
• 16:15–16:40: Sprint

Sunday 23 February

• 9:50–10:10: Qualifying 2
• 13:15–13:50: Race 2

How to follow: All sessions will have live timing at Al Kamel Systems. All races will be streamed on the Spanish Winter Championship YouTube channel.

Weather forecast: Cloudy for most of Friday with showers in the afternoon and overnight. Mostly sunny for the rest of the weekend.

What to know: Eurocup-4’s second round of the season sees Griffin Core by Campos’ Jan Przyrowski lead the standings on 63 points, having taken two wins, two poles and a fastest lap last time out at Jerez.

His closest title rival, René Lammers of MP Motorsport, sits 23 points behind, having won the first sprint race of the year and finished third in the final race of the weekend. Campos Racing’s Vivek Kanthan closely trails Lammers by three points by virtue of finishing one place behind the Dutch driver in the first two races and one place ahead of him in the last race. 

Kanthan is also the highest-placed rookie in the standings, with Drivex’s Christopher Feghali the next highest in sixth with 15 points. Between the two lie Rodin Motorsport’s Nathan Tye on 34 points and Przyrowski’s teammate Thomas Strauven on 31.

There are three new additions to the Eurocup-4 grid this weekend. Reno Francot joins KCL by MP Motorsport in between his F4 Middle East commitments, which currently place him fifth with a win and a second place. Nacho Tuñon and Aleksandar Bogunovič join Tecnicar and Cram Motorsport respectively for their single-seater debuts. Meanwhile, Courtney Crone is now off the entry list for ART Grand Prix after having entered but not competed at Jerez.

Report by Seb Tirado

From the press: After a challenging 2024, Lammers started off 2025 on the right foot with his maiden single-seater victory in the opening winter series round at Jerez. The Dutch driver discussed his progress and how the colder track conditions posed a challenge for him and other drivers. Read the interview here.

Catch up on all the action from the first round here.

Header photo credit: Dutch Photo Agency