From 500bhp Street Monster To Red Track Weapon: Jose Galvão’s 2:06 Estoril Mission

So I believe that you all know how my adventure started…

But if not, please see Saab Planet November 2020 post https://www.saabplanet.com/saab-9-5-track-day-project/

Starting from there, this adventure started a friendly competition between me and my brother as we both grew up inside the SAAB cars… and as I started enjoying my own battle against the clock and improving my driving, my brother cached the track day “bug” and started his own project.

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As I went in the direction of dedicated Track Car, light weight and small engine upgrades (I still am bellow the 300bhp mark but removed 300Kg of weight), my brother Dario went “Jeremy Clarkson” way: POWAAAA – LOL and daily drivable.

Since the start of his project, he built his engine several times finding the limits and upgrading everything every time something broke or not performing well: Cooling System, Oil System, Transmission, Suspension, Brakes, Intake, Exhaust, Turbo…. You name it, he improved it. I don’t know the exact numbers but I believe he stopped short of 500bhp. The thing is he kept the car as a full interior, full speck, daily car with all the commodities and extras with 1900Kg or more of weight.

Saab 9-5 track car modifications including wheel studs, brake cooling duct, vented hood and front splitter — From wheel studs and brake cooling ducts to bonnet venting and a full-width front splitter, the red Saab evolved into a purpose-built aero and heat-managed track machine.

He wanted to prove that while I pursue time from lightweight side, he can achieve it with more power.
In the streets, it was a beast! But on Track, mine have faster lap times: we all know weight is a killer in a Track! But he kept trying and almost did it. Last time he was on track October 2024, he had sector times very close to mine but another problem came up, the car started to underperform and he couldn’t beat my time.

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Red Saab 9-5 track car with large front splitter and rear wing built by Jose Galvão — Full-width front splitter with support rods, extended side aero elements and a high-mounted rear wing define the red Saab’s shift from street power to dedicated track performance.

As he went home and couldn’t find the problem right away, and as his responsibilities with his work started to make the track reserves impossible to predict (his availability), he left the car as it was and abandoned the project.

By the way at this time I took the 2024 year out to gather money to make an engine upgrade to boost the power of my car. Bought ALL the parts and was planning to start my engine disassemble when Dário abandoned his project.

And that’s where I come in in the story of this car. Bought Dário’s car in October 2024, put my car on hold and kept it as it was and started to look at the problem of loss of power. Took me a full month working every day to find it: it was the wastegate flap inside the Turbo Housing that was failing (had an opening – when closed) and the car couldn’t do full power as the pressure escaped.

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Side view of red Saab 9-5 racing build with MAPTUN livery and large rear wing — The rear aero package became essential once the interior was removed – with less mass over the rear axle, wing balance and stability through Estoril’s long high-speed sectors became critical.

As the problem was solved, started to look at the car and feeling it always will be my brother’s car. He has the BARDHAL sponsorship and many others and it looked too similar to my own… So I started to plan a makeover and do another dedicated Track Day car applying all the knowledge from my car to this one….

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And removed ALL the interior, installed a steering hub, a quick release steering and a MOMO steering wheel, changed the color to Red, made and installed the Front Splitter, Custom Side Skirts, and added the Rear Wing for managing/balancing the downforce. I am also trying an idea with the rear suspension, installed Studs for the wheels and spacers, improved the cooling with more vents in the bonnet, added cooling ducts and piping for the brakes and contacted all the sponsors (and added some new ones) to see if they wanted to join me in this 2^nd project.

Modified Saab 9-5 turbo engine bay with upgraded intake piping and performance components — Turbocharged four-cylinder setup with upgraded intake piping, reinforced cooling layout and supporting hardware – built to sustain repeated high-load laps at Estoril.

And here it is! Spent 2025 doing this and I had planned the presentation of Saab Racing Cars on the 1^st Track Day of 2026 but as the event was cancelled I did it only on Social Media…

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And now you also know how this car was saved from a neglected state from the owner before my brother, was restored by my brother, improved in every form, upgraded and now it is with me for another stage in it’s life as a Track Car!

Two Saab 9-5 track cars battling on track at Autódromo do Estoril — Two different approaches to speed – lightweight precision versus high-power mass – chasing lap times on the same Estoril tarmac.

It’s not done. I want to do some more upgrades to the car: Change to CL Brake Pads, Custom Exhaust, Coilovers and Half-Cage. The Half-Cage I am waiting to receive it… it came from Robert Bentham @wetysrollcagesrobert from UK in ebay… With Brexit it is a very difficult process and a very expensive one: just for you to know, I paid almost the same in Customs than the Half-Cage itself!

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Silver Saab 9-5 with Bardahl livery during track preparation at Estoril — Dário’s near-500bhp Bardahl-sponsored build kept full interior, full equipment and daily usability – proving that power could coexist with comfort. Weighing over 1900kg with full interior and amenities intact, this build chased lap time through raw horsepower rather than mass reduction.

Right now it’s ready for track duties. I am aiming to beat my own best time at Autódromo do Estoril with a 2:06 flat. I don’t know any other Saab doing it faster… I know there are fast Saabs here in Portugal and It’s not by lack of invitation to come and do-it… but for sure it will not be easy! With this setup, I believe I can do-it faster but if not, planned further upgrades like the Coilovers will do-it without a doubt!

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And now I have 2 dedicated Track Day Cars. Enjoy the pictures I have taken.

Two Saab 9-5 track cars built by Jose and Dário Galvão in their Portugal workshop

I know it’s not for everyone taste but it isn’t for show: it’s to extract the max I can. Touring cars in competition may not have that big of a wing or that big of a Splitter… but that’s a regulations limitation issue. If you follow or look for Time Attack cars, they are WAY crazier than mine!! I only wish I could get there!

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Off course if you want your name as a Sponsor in the Cars, I have space and I am open to discuss it with anyone who wants to help!!

Rear view of red Saab 9-5 track car with large rear wing and MAPTUN branding — With aero balance dialed in and weight reduced, the red Saab now stands ready for one goal – breaking the 2:06 barrier at Autódromo do Estoril.

Thank you for following the adventures on Social Media like FB, YouTube and Instagram… I’ll try to keep up with the videos now that all major work is done!

Keep your Saabs alive: They will give their own life for you… And don’t throw them to scrap… You never know if a “new life” as a Track Car is just around the corner….

A SAAB friend in Portugal

José Galvão