Autódromo de Benguela, tor wyścigowy (Angola)
The Autódromo de Benguela was a permanent racing circuit in Benguela, Angola that opened in 1972 and replaced the earlier street circuit called Circuito da Praia Morena. The track measured about 4 kilometers long, sat near the Atlantic Ocean and the airport on flat, open ground, and had only basic facilities when it opened, including simple pit stalls and a small control tower.
The track opened in 1972 as Angola's first permanent racing circuit and replaced an older street circuit from the 1960s. Following the Carnation Revolution in Portugal in 1974 and Angola's independence in 1975, racing activity slowed considerably, and the outbreak of civil war meant regular operations nearly ceased.
Older residents still recall the races of the 1970s and talk about the wind coming off the ocean during events with a sense of nostalgia. Those early races were part of a time when sport and progress went hand in hand, and the city took pride in its motorsport activity.
The location sits on the outskirts of Benguela, about 800 meters from the Atlantic Ocean and near the local airport. The track is in poor condition today with cracked surfaces and overgrown grounds, making it difficult to visit and offering limited visitor-friendly facilities.
In the early 1970s, endurance races took place here, particularly the Benguela 500 km races in 1973 and 1974, where ocean winds challenged the drivers. Such races were rare in Africa and made this a notable hub for regional motorsport at that time.
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