The Live Event lockdown has been tough for all of us. But we take seriously our obligation to remind people how great the world is out there, specifically that magical biochemistry that happens within all of us when we meet and celebrate at Live Events.
So as the lockdown begins to ease, we’re launching a regular series, that we’re calling Welcome to the Fightback: We introduce to you events that are we are live-selling on the DAIMANI platform.
Of course, the marquee events may need little introduction, but we also want to take you on a journey to those events that are huge in one part of the DAIMANI universe but which you may never even have heard of.
Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prémio De Portugal 2020
Where: Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão
For more information on the Algarve please do visit their official tourism resource.
Date: Practice days are October 23 and 24, with the Grand Prix on October 25. Unlike prior Grand Prixes in this 2020 season, the Portuguese Grand Prix is open to general admission and official VIP Hospitality guests.
How to buy: Click-and-buy on DAIMANI.
Rightsholder: the official rightsholder of the Formula One Paddock Club is Formula One Hospitality and Event Services Limited [FOHES] and DAIMANI works with Grand Prix Tickets GmbH, an official sales agent appointed by FOHES. The DAIMANI price is exactly the same price, with the same hospitality benefits, as sold by both FOHES, and Grand Prix Tickets GmbH with whom we work closely.
An official teaser video showing what the Formula One Paddock Club official VIP Hospitality product looks like:
Five reasons to buy official VIP Hospitality for this year’s Portuguese Grand Prix:
1. History, history, history:
Although this year’s Portuguese Grand Prix will take place at the twelve-year-old Autodromo Internacional do Algarve and is the first time Formula One has raced in Portugal for almost a quarter of century, the race itself is steeped in legend. It was in 1985, when the race was held in Estoril in April, that Ayrton Senna, who would become a three-time world champion and one of the biggest names in motorsport, won his very first Grand Prix. Senna, then 25 and behind the wheel of a Lotus, in his second season in Formula One, won the first of his 41 victories on Portuguese soil which, given the links with his native Brazil, was very special. [This makes an unbeatable trivia question by the way!] The winner of the first two Portuguese Grand Prixes was Sir Stirling Moss, driving for Vanwall, while Canadian Jacques Villeneuve with Williams won the last race. He pipped teammate, Briton Damon Hill, into second place with German Michael Schumacher in Benetton completing the podium. Frenchman Alain Prost and Briton Nigel Mansell are the drivers with the most triumphs in the Portuguese race, three, followed by Moss, with two. Jack Brabham, Senna, Austrian Gerhard Berger, Italian Riccardo Patrese, Schumacher, Hill, Villeneuve and Briton David Coulthard were the remaining winners in Portugal.
It was at the first Portuguese Grand Prix in 1958 that Moss – the winner – stood up for his rival and second-place getter Mike Hawthorn, whose podium place and seven points were taken away for a technical infringement. Moss’ intervention was crucial and Hawthorn kept his seven points; at the end of the season Hawthorn was crowned world champion having won the title by just one point … from rival Stirling Moss.
2. The actual circuit layout:
The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve has 15 corners – nine right, six left. The undulation in Portimao is incredible and the front straight allows drivers to really stretch their machines, before a unique downhill descend into Turn 1. There's a reason it gets called a high-speed rollercoaster, it's a thrill for drivers and fans alike. Both MotoGP and WorldSBK have races in Portimao and rider Michael van der Mark once described the track as ‘one of the most demanding tracks ever.’ It has everything: a long straight, tight turns, fast sweeping corners and incredible undulation – all the ingredients needed for a fantastic weekend of action.
3. A chink in Mercedes’ armour – at last?
It might seem a little too technical, after all how can one get too excited at the intricacies of tyre strategy, but it was this that dominated the outcome of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone. Nonetheless Max Verstappen’s win was a welcome breath of fresh air for the Formula One world, after four consecutive and dominant Mercedes victories. It was built on Red Bull Racing’s craftier interplay between the hard C2 and medium C3 tyres supplied by Pirelli. Mercedes remains the obvious best car in Formula One at the moment, but Red Bull were able to master being on the right tyre for the specific car, at the right moment. As Autoweek reported: ‘It was a triumph of clever strategic thinking. However, Verstappen, who leaves Silverstone second in the championship and 30 points behind Hamilton, was clear that we should not expect as strong a performance from Red Bull as the F1 circus heads to Spain for next weekend’s Spanish GP. If nothing else Hamilton's bid for a record seventh F1 title just got a little more interesting.’
4. Portugal’s coronavirus response
Any Live Event that takes place in 2020 has to be understood in the context of the coronavirus. And this year’s running of the Portuguese Grand Prix is no exception. As well as this Grand Prix, the country will also host the final race of the MotoGP season plus, later this month, the eight-team concluding phase of the 2020 UEFA Champions League. Staging so many high-profile events has been possible because Portugal has had vastly different coronavirus infection and death rates compared to neighbouring Spain, one of the worst hit countries. In an interview with Euronews, pulmonologist Dr Filipe Froes, an advisor to government health chief Graça Freitas, said Portugal had benefited from being behind Madrid in terms of the virus' spread. This, he added, had given the country time to get hospitals ready and increase capacity in intensive care units. ‘The difference in Portugal was that we had more time to prepare,’ Dr Froes said..
5. The Paddock Club’s own detailed coronavirus response
Here are some of the FAQ responses explaining the protection that Formula One will have in place to ensure everyone goes home safely after your Paddock Club experience:
Q: Will there be any health check procedures when arriving at the circuit?
A: We will comply with all local regulations and if required will conduct any temperature checks or any pre-testing before your guests can enter the event.
Q: Are we required to provide you with the names and contact details of our guests?
A: We may be required by law to collect some personal details of your clients for COVID-19 tracking purposes. We will keep you updated if this is the case. Any data collected will only be used for the purpose of complying with the law and COVID-tracking.
Q: How will the hospitality and catering now look in the Paddock Club?
A: In order to ensure the maximum safety and security of our guests, we will not be operating a culinary system in which guests serve themselves from an open buffet. We will be creating culinary experiences based around local themes which will be delivered in alternative ways such as a trolley and table service. Don’t be disappointed, we are aiming to provide your guests with the usual array of culinary experience.
Q: How will you implement social distancing?
A: We will be conducting social distancing in accordance to all local regulations. Instead of having tables of 10, we will now provide tables of 2, 4 and 6 with increased space between each table.
Q: What enhanced cleaning measures will be in place?
A: We will apply the highest hygiene standards with continuous disinfection of all areas, surfaces and bathrooms. There will also be a strategically coordinated deep cleaning in place which will be carried out pre-and post-event days. Our staff will wear protective gear and gloves at all times.
Q: What enhanced hygiene measures will be in place for guests and staff?
A: Face Masks will be mandatory for staff at all times and for guests when leaving their allocated table. They will be provided together with hand sanitisers at the Paddock Club main entrance. Hand Sanitiser Dispensers will also be placed throughout the Paddock Club and ready for you to use. If local regulations regarding the use of face masks is different, then we will of course comply with these as well.
Q: What are the changes to the Paddock Club layout?
A: Because of social distancing, the sqm per person will be increased. We will also reduce the minimum numbers required for fully private and open suites:
Private Suite: 50 Open Suites: 20 (e.g. 5 tables of 4)
We will be having smaller tables throughout the Paddock Club ie. tables of 2, 4 and 6 instead of tables of 10 with increased space between each table. Common areas such as the Club Lounge will be evaluated in line with local regulations.
Q: Will the Paddock still be open for tours?
A: To ensure everyone’s safety, the Paddock will be a completely separate “bubble” and as such will not be accessible for anyone who is present in the Paddock Club and vice versa. We are planning to introduce virtual tours throughout the weekend which will be shown on the giant screens.
Q: Will there still be a Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk?
A: To ensure everyone’s safety, the Pit Lane Walk is not something we can currently make available for Paddock Club guests. We are working however on alternative ways to make this available.
Q: How will the entertainment differ?
A: We are aiming to have some of the usual entertainment in the Paddock Club but with enhanced cleaning and security measures ie. trophies and simulators are being wiped down after each use.