Portimão next as Hitech builds on strong Eurocup-3 start
Round 2 – Portimão – Preview
Round 2 of the 2026 Eurocup-3 season takes Hitech to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, as the team looks to build on a strong start to its debut championship campaign.
Hitech arrives in Portugal with momentum already established following the season opener at Paul Ricard, where Keanu Al Azhari secured the team’s first Eurocup-3 victory in Race 3 and all four drivers gained valuable experience during the opening weekend.
It was a weekend that mixed frustration with front-running pace. Despite setbacks across the three races, the team demonstrated its ability to compete at the front and left France with both silverware and a solid points haul.
A winning start to build on
Paul Ricard delivered an encouraging beginning to Hitech’s first full Eurocup-3 season.
After recovering from a difficult start from pole position in Race 1 and battling through the field across the weekend, Keanu converted the team’s pace into victory with a race-long fight for the lead in Race 3.
Across the rest of the line-up of Gino Trappa, Santino Panetta and Stefan Bostandjiev, Hitech collected further championship points as the team continued its adaptation to Eurocup-3 competition.
The result provided early confirmation of the pace shown during the winter campaign and offers a strong foundation heading into the second round of the season.
A new challenge awaits in Portimão
Portimão presents a very different challenge. Known for its dramatic elevation changes, blind crests and fast-flowing corners, the Portuguese circuit is regarded as one of the most demanding layouts on the calendar. Precision, commitment and tyre management are all critical around a lap that offers little opportunity for drivers to settle into a rhythm.
The circuit’s unique characteristics regularly create exciting racing and provide another opportunity for teams to demonstrate adaptability as the season develops.
Building momentum
With a race win already secured and valuable lessons learned from the opening weekend, Hitech heads into Round 2 focused on maintaining the early momentum that has already placed the squad in the top three of nine teams.
Al Azhari will look to continue his strong start to the season, while Trappa, Panetta and Bostandjiev aim to convert promising pace into further points-scoring results.
Bruin Beasley, Hitech's Eurocup-3 Team Manager:
“Paul Ricard was a positive start to the season and a reward for the work that has gone into preparing for our first full Eurocup-3 campaign. We showed strong pace throughout the weekend and came away with our first victory, but there are still areas where we can improve.”
Bruin added:
“Portimão presents a very different challenge and it’s a circuit that always tests both drivers and teams. We’re looking forward to building on what we learned in France and continuing our development across the whole line-up.”