"We believe there may be a differentiating effect this year," due to the exhibition that has been on display since July, entitled "Magic Formula" (dedicated to Formula 1), said Salvador Patrício Gouveia, director of the Caramulo Museum, at a press conference.

According to the official, the exhibition has been "an even greater success than expected, with more than a thousand people daily, almost two thousand on weekends," an effect that should extend to the Caramulo Motorfestival.

"We believe that many people will choose these three days to do both: visit the museum and attend the festival," he added.

New features on the way

The 21st edition promises new features that will surprise the "returning audience," particularly around security, hygiene, food, and transportation between the various event spaces (with several mobility partners).

“The event only starts next week, but it’s already a record-breaking year,” emphasised Salvador Patrício Gouveia, citing the largest number of cars registered for the Castrol Historic Hill Climb (180), motorcycles (more than 150), and brands present, whether from the automotive sector or linked to sustainability.

Featured on the hill climb will be the Copersucar FD#03, which will mark the debut of a Formula 1 car on the track. It will be joined by a range of stars who will also debut on the hill climb, such as the Ferrari F80, the Lamborghini Temerario, the McLaren P1, and the Bugatti Veyron.

In total, more than 1,700 cars, motorcycles, and airplanes will participate in the Caramulo Motorfestival.

Invited drivers

The director of the Caramulo Museum, in the municipality of Tondela, district of Viseu, stated that among the invited drivers will be Pedro Matos Chaves, Tiago and Noah Monteiro, Nuno Rodrigues da Silva, Rui Madeira, Francisco Barreto, Leonor Barreto, Hugo Lopes and Pedro Salvador.

During the three days of the festival, it will be possible to take a trip back in time, namely at Retro Park, which showcases the vehicles of the national intervention forces, and at the exhibition "The Second World War Live and in Colour", in which the vehicles are "accompanied by actors dressed in period costumes from both sides of the conflict," he added.

Salvador Patrício Gouveia also highlighted the celebration of the 140th anniversary of the automobile, with the departure of the 1886 Benz Dreirad (the world's first combustion engine car and belonging to the Caramulo Museum collection), and the 80th anniversary of the Vespa, with a ride on the last day of the festival.

The mayor of Tondela, Carla Antunes Borges, stressed the importance of this event and the museum in the executive's strategy to position Caramulo in the international tourism market.

The mayor spoke of the efforts that have been made to obtain certification for Caramulo as a sustainable tourist destination and added that the letter of commitment will be signed soon.

The president of Turismo Centro de Portugal, Rui Ventura, expressed great confidence in Caramulo's potential and the contribution the museum's dynamism makes to the Viseu Dão Lafões region.

"They are in a very strategic point of the territory," he stressed.