Monsanto Park
Flag of Portugal
Circuit Overview
The Circuito de Monsanto was a temporary street circuit through Lisbon's Monsanto Forest Park that hosted just one Formula One World Championship event—the 1959 Portuguese Grand Prix.
This unique 5.440 km (3.380 mi) parkland circuit was considered one of the most challenging venues of its era, featuring a lengthy stretch of motorway and also crossing multiple road surfaces including tramlines whilst winding through the forested hills of western Lisbon. Sir Stirling Moss dominated the twilight race from start to finish, achieving his only career Grand Chelem in a private Cooper T51, lapping the entire field in what became Formula One's farewell to this extraordinary temporary venue.
From 1961 a shortened circuit (known as Montes Clares) was adopted, which cut out the motorway section, holding national level races until 1971, when safety concerns and the rise of Estoril's permanent course saw racing cease.
Circuit History
The story of the Circuito de Monsanto begins in the mid-1950s when Portuguese motorsport organisers sought to establish Formula One racing in the country's capital. While the circuit hosted numerous races from 1953 to 1959, including two non-championship Formula One events, it was the 1959 Portuguese Grand Prix that would secure its place in motorsport history.
Monsanto Park itself had a fascinating transformation from barren, limestone-quarried hillsides into Lisbon's largest green space through a 1930s reforestation project. The park's winding roads, originally designed for recreational access through the newly planted forest, provided the perfect foundation for a challenging racing circuit that would test drivers' adaptability like no other venue.
Built on parklands, the circuit was considered difficult to drive because it crossed so many different types of surfaces, including tramlines at one point. This unique characteristic made Monsanto unlike many other circuits on the Formula One calendar, demanding supreme car control and concentration from drivers navigating between asphalt, cobblestones and embedded tramlines.
The Twilight Grand Prix
The 1959 Portuguese Grand Prix was purposely started late in the day to avoid the intense late summer sun. Practice sessions took place on Friday and Saturday at 6:15 PM, with the race itself starting at 5:00 PM on August 23rd.
The race weekend was dominated by Sir Stirling Moss in a non-works Cooper T51, with Moss taking pole position by an astonishing two seconds from championship leader Jack Brabham, fastest lap and leading each lap on his way to victory. Such was his dominance he lapped the entire field, making it his only career Grand Chelem.
The race featured several dramatic moments typical of the era's unpredictable racing. A notable incident was a collision between two future World Champions, Graham Hill and Phil Hill, on lap 5, which eliminated both drivers. Championship leader Jack Brabham crashed out spectacularly, whilst several other leading contenders fell victim to the circuit's challenging nature.
The podium was completed by Masten Gregory, driving a works Cooper, and Dan Gurney for Ferrari, with Moss' teammate Maurice Trintignant taking fourth position and the final points awarded to Harry Schell for BRM.
The Montes Claros era
Following the 1959 event, Formula One never returned to Monsanto, but the circuit continued to host national racing events with a revised layout. From 1961, the venue operated under the name Circuito de Montes Claros, using a different configuration within the same Monsanto Forest Park location.
This modified circuit became a regular fixture on the Portuguese national racing calendar throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. The Montes Claros configuration hosted the Portuguese Grand Prix for national championship events, with sports car and touring car races forming the backbone of the programme. Notable events included races on 13-14 July 1968, where the Portuguese Grand Prix featured sports car competition won by Carlos Gaspar in a Ford GT40, and Formula 3 racing won by Reine Wisell in a Tecno.
The circuit continued to attract international competitors, with races in 1969 featuring Manuel Pinto winning in a Porsche Carrera 6, and events in 1970 and 1971 maintaining the venue's reputation as an important stop on the Iberian Peninsula racing calendar. The 1966 "V Circuit of Montes Claros" event particularly highlighted the venue's continued significance, with drivers like Ernesto "Nené" Neves competing in Morris Cooper S cars alongside established Portuguese racing names.
Racing at Montes Claros gradually declined through the early 1970s as purpose-built circuits like Estoril began development, with the venue's final significant events taking place around 1971. The challenging nature of the parkland circuit, combined with evolving safety standards and the preference for purpose-built facilities, eventually brought an end to competitive racing in Monsanto Park.
Circuit info
This is a historic circuit which is no longer in operation.
Rate This Circuit
Votes: 91
Location Information
Monsanto Forest Park is a municipal protected forest in Lisbon, Portugal, the largest green patch in the city, with almost 1000 ha (10 km²). Located on the western side of Lisbon, the park stretches for 10 square kilometres and serves as the green lungs of the city.
The park is easily accessible from Lisbon's tourist areas, with bus services 723 and 729 providing regular connections. Bus 723 departs from Marquês de Pombal square with at least 4 services per hour, whilst bus 729 covers more of the park departing from the Belém district. Alternatively, visitors can walk, jog or cycle from the city centre along the Corredor Verde de Monsanto (Green Corridor), starting at the northern end of Parque Eduardo VII, taking approximately one hour by foot.
Information on the former circuit is limited, with no memorials or 'famous corners' remaining visible. There are no ghostly pit buildings crumbling at the roadside. However, the park's winding roads still follow many of the same routes used during the 1959 Grand Prix, allowing motorsport enthusiasts to imagine the drama that unfolded during that memorable twilight race. The Panorâmico de Monsanto, a former restaurant with panoramic views over Lisbon, now serves as a viewpoint and cultural venue, providing an excellent vantage point to survey the area where Formula One history was made.
Get your race tickets!
Brought to you with: 
We've teamed up with Motorsports Tickets to bring you the best deals for Formula One, MotoGP, Le Mans and more.
