Drought impresses at pre-season Porsche test

Nicole Drought travelled to Estoril in Portugal last weekend to take part in the official Media Day and test ahead of the 2026 Iberian Supercar Endurance Series.

Having visited the Art of Speed team's Porto workshops in the preceding weeks, the Roscrea driver was keen to get behind the wheel of their 450bhp Porsche 997 GT3 Cup car which she will race this season.

The rain, which had all but flooded the venue earlier in the week, had thankfully abated, so it was dry and sunny as the Roscrea lady eased the Porsche out of the garage and onto the famous ex F1 circuit for the first time.

Nicole completed three 40 minute sessions on the 4.1 km circuit and at the end of the day, having set a time which put her P3 in the Cup class, was delighted with her progress.

She returns to Portugal for a second test at Portimao on April 23rd, ahead of her first race in the Porsche at the same venue in May.

"I'm really happy how it all went,” Nicole drought.

“The team were great, and I absolutely loved the car. There was a lot to learn, and we worked through it before giving it a push in the final session. I was delighted to get so close to the fastest Cup class time of the day, but I am not counting any chickens just yet! Last year's champion was one of a few not there on the day so we have to keep pushing. That said, I am pretty sure there is more to come, and the team feel the same, having run a safe base setup on the car all day."

Frederico Formiga, Team Principal, Art of Speed said: "Nicole delivered a very impressive performance at Estoril. From the first laps, she showed strong adaptability and a very professional approach to the job. Driving a Porsche 911 always demands confidence and precision, and she handled it extremely well. What stood out the most was not just her pace, but also the way she listened, improved, and built rhythm throughout the day. She proved she has the talent and the mindset to be very competitive."

Nicole will be announcing her 2026 commercial partners and unveiling the livery of her 2026 Porsche race car in the coming weeks.