There are various approaches taken by teams in the Iberian Supercars and the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade – some build their structure around a single car, while others opt for a line-up with cars from different manufacturers. Probably, there are no right or wrong models, as it is more about how each team manages each situation that determines the success of their respective approaches, and Speedy Motorsport has proven its own approach works.
Speedy Motorsport is one of the teams that fields more than one car and brand under their colours. This year, they ran two Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVOs alongside three Porsches: two Cayman GT4 MRs and one Cayman RS CS.
This line-up follows the success of the northern Portugal-based team, who secured the GT4 Drivers' Championship title last year with the Portuguese duo José Carlos Pires and Francisco Abreu behind the wheel of a brand-new BMW M4 GT4.
The most natural thing would have been for Speedy Motorsport to stick with the Bavarian brand, given the success they had in 2023. However, the decision to switch to Toyota gained momentum during the successful 2023 season with BMW. "I kept an eye on what was happening in other championships, particularly in the French series, where the Supra was always fighting for victories", said Team Principal Pedro Salvador. He continued: "After my first contact with Toyota Gazoo Racing, I liked their receptiveness, their vision of the category, their proactive approach to car development, and the technical support they provide. The process followed the usual steps, and we are very pleased with how the season has unfolded. With more Supras now in the Iberian Supercars / Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, the availability of a large package of spare parts and ongoing technical support is a massive benefit."
In addition to the two Toyotas – one for César Machado and Jan Durán, who claimed the GT overall and GT4 Pro titles in the Iberian Supercars, Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade and Supercars Jarama RACE, and another for Luís Liberal – Speedy Motorsport also began the season with two Porsches: a Cayman GT4 MR for Andrius Zeimatis and a Cayman RS CS for André Nabais and Miguel Nabais, who won the 2024 GTX and GT4 Am divisions in the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, respectively. A second GT4 MR was introduced towards the end of the season for Pompeu Simões and Duarte Camelo.
Pedro Salvador, a renowned race driver himself, emphasizes that having two brands within the same team is not an issue, thanks to the protocols the team has put in place to manage this challenge. "After nine years of activity in various competitions, it happens naturally with the normality that comes with it (i.e., competing with cars from different manufacturers). Within the same structure, we have technical teams that work independently, which simplifies the task. We also have an excellent relationship with Porsche Motorsport and Manthey Racing, from whom we’ve been customers for several years. The only limitation is with spare parts, as the brand does not have a truck full of parts at the championship events, as Gazoo Racing does via Sports & You", he explains.
However, with Porsche, there are additional challenges due to the cars being from different generations, unlike the Toyota, where the same model allows for shared data between the two cars. "The working methodology is common across all cars, regardless of model or category. In the case of the Porsches, since they are from different generations, there is no ‘set-up’ work that can be transferred from one to the other, although the data collected is always useful. In the case of the Toyotas, the ‘set-up’ work can be transferred from one car to the other, even though the fine-tuning of each car is done independently, based on the drivers’ feedback’", revealed Pedro Salvador.
Alongside Speedy Motorsport, Sports & You and Batina Racing also competes with the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO. In motorsport, there is a high level of secrecy, as everyone is an adversary, but some form of collaboration exists between the two teams, albeit indirectly. "The fact that there is other teams using the Supra is very positive, not only for the championship but for the manufacturer’s presence within it. From a technical point of view, the support from the factory is shared between the three teams, without sharing any confidential information, as in the end, we are competitors in the same battle", said the Speedy Motorsport team principal.
This approach has proved to be a winning bet, as demonstrated by the Teams’ Championship title conquered in the Iberian Supercars. "This trophy means a lot, above all, it represents recognition for the team’s work – a year-long effort that, for us, is memorable, not just because of the results, but also because of the growth we’ve experienced as an organisation, in teamwork, and the spirit that allowed us to win multiple championships, with the crowning achievement being the Teams’ Championship. We could have also won the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade (Teams’) title, but we weren’t lucky, due to issues with César (Machado) and Jan’s car. Remember that we had two cars nominated that were not truly fighting for Top-10 places – Luís Pedro (Liberal) was in a development phase, with excellent results in the first half of the season; the Nabais brothers (André and Miguel) had a fantastic season, which allowed them to finish with a much higher pace than at the start. All of this represents fantastic teamwork, with the coaching and support we provide to our drivers and the progress we have made with all of them. So for us, the Teams’ title represents teamwork, and we are extremely satisfied with the season in this regard", said the Speedy Motorsport leader.
Pedro Salvador admits that the biggest challenge is maintaining the level and keeping up with the championship’s development, but assures that humility and respect are core values of the team: "the initial challenge was to prepare ourselves to defend the titles we won the previous season. We focused on the GT cars in 2023, which was a challenge we approached just like all those we’ve had over the past nine years. We prepared ourselves with the ambition to fight for victory. This year, the biggest challenge was not only to replicate the results of 2023 but to build on them with a level of performance, pace, teamwork, organisation, and so on that was superior to the previous year. That initial ambition is how we prepared for 2024, which required a lot from us, but I believe it was a significant step forward in race and weekend management. By the time we got to the final event, we celebrated four more titles – GT4, GT4 Pro, GTX, and GT4 Am (in the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade). These achievements prove that our seriousness, humility, and respect for how we approached the season, aware of the championship’s growth and competitiveness, was the right approach. We’re always aware that there’s still much more to do and improve, and with that mindset, we are already focused on the 2025 season, with the same humility we had in 2023 when we started. Humility remains, but what’s growing is our ambition to do more and better".
The success and results of Speedy Motorsport are all the more satisfying because of the championship’s high level of competition, something not lost on them. "Apart from congratulating all our drivers for their incredible season, I’d like to extend my congratulations to Race Ready. We’ve all been, perhaps unconsciously, following the evolution and growth of the championship, which now marks the scene not only in the Iberian region but also at the European level for GT4. Congratulations to Race Ready for their work", emphasized Pedro Salvador.
The structure built by Pedro Salvador has proven to be on the right track, with numerous titles secured, and what could have been seen as a disadvantage – not focusing solely on one manufacturer – may in fact be a way to develop the team and make it more agile for any challenges that come their way.
In any case, Speedy Motorsport’s future is clearly defined and strongly charted. "The bet we made last season was fully realised, with nine titles won. This year, we regularly ran four cars, and that’s the plan for 2025", concluded Pedro Salvador.
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