Esteban Guerrieri scored his and Olympiacos’ first ever Superleague Formula by Sonangol pole position at Monza today after pacing Seville’s Sebastien Bourdais in the knockout final.
Guerrieri, who had earlier beaten Roma and FC Basel, was never tested in the final after Bourdais made a mistake at the first corner on his crucial qualifying lap and had to take to the escape road, leaving the goal wide open for the Argentine to score.
Bourdais starts second with FC Basel’s Max Wissel and home favourites AC Milan and Giorgio Pantano fourth, ahead of AS Roma, FC Porto, Galatasaray and league-leaders Liverpool.

In the first of the group stages, Wissel repeated yesterday’s trick from practice by posting the fastest lap of the day with only seconds to spare. His 1m36.444s effort proved a whopping 0.557 seconds faster than FC Porto’s Tristan Gommendy who likewise saved his best for last.
With drivers lying second, third, fifth and sixth in the standings drawn in Group A, it was perhaps a surprise to see series debutant Julien Jousse make it through. The AS Roma driver actually led the session into the final three minutes with a time of 1m37.066s which ultimately proved good enough for third. Likewise Ho Pin Tung, who put his extensive Monza experience to good use to end up fourth, pipping high profile casualties Tottenham’s Craig Dolby, who completed just one meaningful lap, and 2009’s top qualifier, Antonio Pizzonia.
Olympique Lyonnais, Sporting Lisbon and PSV rounded out the group.
Group B meanwhile proved a much closer affair with the top five drivers all breaking into the 1m26s bracket. It was Bourdais however who picked up where he had left off in Portugal to top the session with a time of 1m36.533s, pacing fellow Estoril winner Guerrieri and Pantano. Championship leader Adrian Valles squeaked through in fourth to deny Anderlecht’s Yelmer Buurman.   
Anderlecht, FC Midtjylland, Atletico Madrid and Flamengo, who were forced to pull off-track without recording a time thanks to an alternator failure, completed the group.
The result saw two of the championship heavyweights square up against each other in the opening quarter-final knockout with Liverpool taking on FC Basel. And it was Wissel who gave himself every chance of making up crucial points tomorrow by dumping championship leader Valles down to eighth on the race 1 grid thanks to a lap 0.306 seconds faster.
Bourdais continued to impress after dispatching Ho Pin Tung by over a second before Pantano went wheel-to-wheel with Gommendy, the home favourite ultimately out pointing the Frenchman. Olympiacos meanwhile completed the semi-finals after dismissing another of the home contenders, AS Roma, thanks to a 1m36.818s lap and the fastest time of the phase.   
With the four teams decided, it was Olympiacos who drew FC Basel. Guerrieri was the first to set a time, the Argentine emerging slightly slower from the first sector before reclaiming the time in the second. With only the long back straight and fast right-hander of Parabolica to go, the slightest mistake by either man would make the difference. And it was Wissel who blinked first, crossing the line 0.156 seconds shy of Olympiacos to line up third.
The second of the semis proved much more decisive with Bourdais edging out Pantano by over three tenths.
That left the championship’s form drivers to battle it out for pole position. Again Seville would lead from the front with Olympiacos this time chasing. But the fans were denied a dramatic showdown even before the first corner when Bourdais over attacked and out-braked himself into the tight chicane, ruining his lap, leaving Guerrieri to complete formalities.

Driver quotes:

Esteban Guerrieri: “I think my group was quite hard because there were a lot of quick cars. So I tried to do a good lap while saving my tyres. The semi-final with Max was really tight until the last corner where there was only a few hundredths difference. Sebastien had a lock-up in the first chicane which didn’t put him in contention for a quick lap. I couldn’t hear my engineer properly telling me that Sebastien had a problem but I understood something like ‘slow down a little bit’ so I completed my lap without pushing 100%.”

Sebastien Bourdais: “It was a mistake obviously. I’ve been struggling pretty much all weekend with brake balance and it happened in the first segment of qualifying. I went straight on twice before at the first chicane so I was pretty happy to make it through to the quarter-finals. Unfortunately for the final I knew I had to push really, really hard because with Esteban it was going to be really close. I just had a big lock-up and that was it really. We’ll try again tomorrow and see what happens.”

Max Wissel: “Thank you to my team, the car was really good and in the shootout with Esteban it was definitely my fault to not reach the final. So, sorry to the team. I’m happy with P3 and for tomorrow I think we have a good chance to finish on the podium. We know we have a really good pace. Normally we are stronger with the old tyres than with the new ones so I’m hoping for the best tomorrow.”    

Giorgio Pantano: "After what we did yesterday there was a good chance to have pole today. We need to check everything now because the car was not like it was on Friday. We are not far away. If we don’t go out at the first corner then it will be a good competition.”

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Max Wissel offered a timely reminder to his rivals that FC Basel hasn’t yet given up netting this season’s Superleague Formula by Sonangol title after recording the fastest aggregate time over the two free practice sessions at Monza, Italy today.

The 19 year-old, who suffered a frustrating weekend last time out in Estoril where he slipped 59 points behind league leaders Liverpool, posted a best time of 1m37.196s in the dying moments of the day’s second session to edge out Olympiacos’ Esteban Guerrieri by just 0.059 seconds after an equally late effort by the Argentine.

It was an excellent day’s work all round by the young German who ended opening free practice third before proving the most consistent performer of the day.

Home favourite and Monza specialist Giorgio Pantano had earlier stripped long-time pace-setter Nelson Panciatici of the top spot before ending the day third fastest thanks to his 1m37.371s lap, 0.151 seconds clear of Estoril Shootout winner Seville’s Sebastien Bourdais in fourth.

The morning session saw Tristan Gommendy – back at the wheel of his FC Porto car after Alvaro Parente’s Portuguese cameo – go some 0.739 seconds faster than anyone else when he became the only man to duck below the 1m38s barrier. And although the Frenchman would lower that time to a ’37.615 this afternoon, it would ultimately prove only good enough for fifth place.

Championship leader Adrian Valles finished second in the first session but could do no better than 12th in the second after failing to beat his best time of 1m38.734s from the morning. Closest title rival Craig Dolby meanwhile, who sits 58 points adrift of Liverpool in the League, wound up eighth, the Tottenham driver over a second down on Wissel’s ultimate pace.

Another “home” team, AS Roma, finished the day ninth quickest thanks to Superleague Formula debutant Julien Jousse’s 1m38.518s lap, with Antonio Pizzonia and Corinthians completing the top ten, 0.041 seconds further back.

Driver Quotes

Max Wissel, FC Basel: “The day was quite good for us. The first practice we were third and now we’re in first position. We used new tyres but I’m sure about nine or ten others did the same so it looks strong for tomorrow, like the whole year really. I’m really happy to be here, it’s my first time racing at Monza and I enjoyed it a lot. The track is fantastic to drive so I’m looking forward to qualifying, hoping for the best.”

Esteban Guerrieri, Olympiacos: “Today was a bit of a mixed day. At the beginning we had some problems in the last part of first free practice but as everyone was learning the car and circuit it wasn’t too bad. In the second session we found some good pace after sorting out the balance with my engineer, so I’m pleased.”

Giorgio Pantano, AC Milan: “We found a good set-up with the car today so we’re looking in good shape for qualifying tomorrow. At the moment I’ve got a good feeling. We’ll have to see tomorrow when everyone is out there on the same tyres when we’ll know who really is the quickest. We used older tyres which were in good condition so I think that’s a good lap time on those. We saw others were using a new set so I think it looks good for tomorrow.”

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The fifth round of this year’s Superleague Formula by Sonangol campaign comes from Monza this weekend (October 2/3/4) where Liverpool’s Adrian Valles will be hoping to establish an unassailable lead at the top of the championship.
The Spaniard heads to Italy with a 58 point advantage over the chasing pack, headed by Tottenham’s Craig Dolby, who leapfrogged Max Wissel’s FC Basel entry last time out in Portugal after the German suffered gearbox trouble in the opening race.

There is a third driver who Valles will be perhaps keeping the closest eye on in Italy however. A home favourite in more ways than one, Giorgio Pantano has every intention of making that title scrap a four way battle going into the final round at Jarama this November. The AC Milan driver has put together a consistent season so far to sit fourth in the standings, just 11 points shy of Wissel. But on home ground at Monza, a venue where he previously won in both GP2 and F3000, there’s every chance that a second Superleague Formula victory of the season could be on the cards.
“I hope to be fighting for victory this weekend,” confirmed Pantano, who won race two at Magny-Cours. “Normally I go quite well there in whatever car I’ve got so hopefully that will also be the case in Superleague. My experience from those other championships should also help because as you get to know the circuit, and all the little lines, it all adds up to make you go faster.
“A good result will also help with the championship fight, although that depends on what Liverpool do at Monza. I don’t really care about just settling for points because I need to close the gap to Adrian (Valles) if I’m going to have any chance of winning the title. If I win both races, or win one and get a podium in the other, then that’s obviously a good result. I’ll be giving the maximum I can so we can go to Spain in contention.
“Monza has a lot of long straights, where you can use the push-to-pass, followed by heavy breaking areas so it’s easier to overtake there than at some other circuits. It’s a place where, if you feel good with the car and it’s going well but you’re at the back of the reverse grid, there’s still a chance you can come through to the front.”
With the Monza circuit set in parkland to the north of the Italian capital, Pantano is also expecting a good turnout of the passionate Rossoneri.
“The team haven’t had such a great start to the season in Serie A so hopefully we can give them something to cheer about with a good result on the track!” he added.
Joining Pantano at Monza will be series debutant and Formula 2 race winner Julien Jousse who takes over from Frank Perera at Milan’s Serie A rivals AS Roma. Tristan Gommendy will return to the FC Porto cockpit hoping to build on Alvaro Parente’s victory for the Portuguese giants in Estoril last time out, while Jonathan Kennard will count on his previous Superleague experience when he deputises for Enrique Bernoldi at Brazilian side Flamengo.
As well as a host of driver transfers, the Monza round sees the adoption of a 39-minute +1 lap race format for each of the two races thanks to a packed support bill headed by International GT and F3 Open championships. For the same reason, there will be no Super Final in Italy, the five lap shootout instead returning for the final event at Jarama.
There will also be an extra special treat for AC Milan and Italian football fans on Saturday when 1982 World Cup winner Daniele Massaro pays a visit to the Superleague paddock. The two time UEFA Champions League winner, who scored twice in the 1994 4-0 final thrashing of Barcelona, will be on hand to sign autographs and cheer home the AC Milan car.

www.superleagueformula.com

Italian fans to enjoy the excitement of both top level GT and single seater racing

Italian motorsport fans will have the chance to enjoy a very special racing event on 3/4 October when the legendary Autodromo Nazionale in Monza, near Milan, hosts the first ever International GT Open and Superleague Formula joint weekend. The event will bring together the excitement of both GT and single-seater racing in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Despite both being relatively young, the series’ have been hailed as two of the most interesting developments in their respective categories throughout world motorsport in recent years.
The International GT Open, launched in 2006 by GT Sport Organización, has grown steadily to become one of the most exciting platforms for GT2 and GT3 pro-am racing. The series’ format is built around a race of 70 minutes on Saturday and one of 50 minutes on Sunday, with Monza being the sixth round in an eight-event calendar. All the most prestigious GT marques, such as Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Corvette, Dodge, Sun-Red, etc are represented in the International GT Open, alongside some of the top teams and drivers from around the GT world.

After the French round in Magny-Cours last week-end, the battle for the title in the 2009 International GT Open looks as close as ever, with a traditional Porsche-Ferrari duel at the top. Currently, Italy’s Gianluca Roda and Porsche’s Austrian works driver Richard Lietz lead the points table (146) with their Autorlando Porsche 997 RSR ahead of the Trottet Ferrari F430 of Swiss aces Marcel Fässler and Joël Camathias by only two points (144), while Philipp Peter and Michal Broniszewski are dominating the GTS category with their Kessel Ferrari F430 GT3.  
Launched in 2008, Superleague Formula has taken shape by merging two of the world’s most popular sports. As a truly unique spectacle in motor racing, the series combines the passion of football with the dazzling emotions of motor sport, resulting in a top-notch competition among highly-powerful V12-engined cars, delivering more than 750 horsepower and adorned with the colors of their respective football club. Over the last two years, the series has been supported by the most renowned names in soccer with the of likes AC Milan, Liverpool FC, Olympique Lyonnais, AS Roma, Atlético Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Corinthians and Olympiacos all joining the grid.
AC Milan and AS Roma will be lining-up at Monza for the most anticipated event of their 2009 seasons, with the chance to shine on home soil providing extra-motivation to perform for  local driver and reigning GP2 champion Giorgio Pantano. It’s Liverpool’s Adrian Valles however who comes into the fifth round eager to defend his comfortable championship lead with only four races remaining in 2009.
The Reds have notched up 282 points so far, leading fellow English club Tottenham Hotspur by 58 points with Swiss squad FC Basel a further one back. AC Milan (212 points) meanwhile will be hoping to trim the gap to the top three in Italy, before heading for the season finale at Jarama in Spain this November. Not to be discounted will be Sevilla’s Sebastien Bourdais who won on debut in Portugal last weekend while fellow ex-F1 driver Antonio Pizzonia continues to search for his first victory, despite having scored three pole positions, at the wheel of Corinthians.  The Superleague Formula weekend format features two points scoring races of 40minutes + 1 lap each. The six top-scoring drivers then progress through to the Super Final, where €100,000 in prize money awaits the winner of the five lap shootout.
The Monza program also includes the Euro F3 Open, one of the most competitive Formula 3 championships in Europe, which has most recently provided a spring-board for the likes of Toro Rosso F1 driver Jaime Alguersuari, F2 championship leader Andy Soucek and Superleague Formula’s Nelson Panciatici. The intense racing program is completed by the Campionato Italiano Prototipi, the Formula Academy EuroSeries, the F.Azzurra and the 45th Trofeo Cadetti F.Junior Monza.
Fans unable to attend will not miss out though with all the races to be broadcast live in Italy by Nuvolari. International GT Open also benefits from live coverage in Spain (Canal+) and Portugal (Sport TV), as well as from delayed coverage throughout Europe thanks to Eurosport and Motors TV. Eurosport 2 meanwhile will carry Superleague Formula Race 1 and Super Final coverage in the UK.
Jesús Pareja, organizer of the International GT Open, said, “We are delighted to provide Italian fans with such a rich and exciting racing weekend which will be marked as the first joint effort between ourselves and Superleague Formula, which could lead to further cooperation in the future.”
Alex Andreu, Superleague Formula CEO and President, said, “It’s great to be linking up with the International GT Open at Monza. The mix of junior motorsport, GT racing and high-powered single seaters means there’s something for everyone. Motorsport can be expensive to come along and watch so it’s great to have put together such a high-profile bill that the fans can enjoy.”

www.superleagueformula.com

Die hervorragende Arbeit des GU Racing Teams zahlt sich endlich aus.
Erneuter Sieg in Estoril.

Superfinal

Im Superfinal startete Esteban von P5 ins Rennen.Schon am Start überholte er Anderlecht.Runde für Runde jagte er seine Gegner und brachte durch seine Überholvorgänge das Publikum zum Staunen.Am Ende war er nur knapp hinter Bourdais ( der neue Reifen benutzte ) auf Platz 2.

Estoril Rennen 2

Max mußte nach repariertem Schaden von der letzten Position ins Rennen gehen und Esteban auf Grund seines Sieges von der vorletzten.Beide Fahrzeuge waren schon kurz nach dem Start im Mittelfeld zu finden.Nach nur 2 Runden mußte Esteban die Box ansteuern.Ein Kontrahent hatte im den Flügel abgefahren.Die komplette Nase mußte gewechselt werden.Diese Aktion kostete ihm knapp 2 Runden.Kurze Zeit später kam Max an die Box.Durch ein Mißverständnis kam er zu früh zu seinem Boxenstop.Die Crew war aber noch nicht vorbereitet.Trotzdem gelang ein einigermaßen schneller Stop und Max konnte im Anschluß die schnellste Rennrunde fahren.Ihm gelang es auch bis auf Platz 8 vorzufahren.Er wurde aber nachträglich mit 25 sec. Strafe belegt.( zu früher Boxenstop).Am Ende zeigte er aber durch die schnellste Rennrunde sein Potential.

Estoril Rennen 1

Das erste Rennen begann mit einer herben Enttäuschung für das Basel Team.Nach der inlap und einem simulierten Boxenstop war bereits das aus für Max.Sein Getriebe verabschiedete sich mit einem gebrochenen Cluchring.Das bedeutete Schwerstarbeit fürs Team um das Auto fürs zweite Rennen fit zu machen.Besser lief es für Esteban.Vom Start weg übernahm er die Führung und gab diese bis zum Pitstop nicht mehr her.Beim Stop behinderte das Team von Olympic Lyon die Einfahrt und Esteban verlor ein paar sekunden.Dies führte zum Führungsverlust.Liverpool und Corinthians waren schneller.Durch beherzte Überholmanöver holte sich der GU Pilot jedoch die Spitze zurück und gewann suverän sein erstes Rennen für GU und Olympiakos.

Estoril freies Training

Max Wissel ( FC Basel )konnte sich im ersten freien Training direkt auf P2 und Neuzugang Esteban Guirrieri ( Olympiakos) auf P3 positionieren.Von Anfang an zeigten beide Piloten das Ihre Fahrzeuge bestens vorbereitet sind.Im zweiten Zeittraining dann der nächste Streich,Max P 1 und Esteban P2 ! Spätestens jetzt war klar beide GU Piloten gehören zum Favoritenkreis in Estoril.In Free Praktice 3 dann eine leichte Verschiebung.Esteban P4 und Max P 6.Dieses Training benutzten das GU Team jedoch nur zum Reifen anfahren fürs Qualifying.Im Qualifying dann die nächsten Erfolge.Esteban und Max setzten sich sofort durch.Im Shoot out ging es weiter zur Sache.Max gewann gegen Alvaro Parente( Sieger letztes GP 2 Rennen in Spa ).Esteban setzte sich gegen Frank Perrera durch.Im Halbfinale unterlag Max dann Antonio Pizzonia und erreichte damit Startplatz 4.Esteban gewann dagegen sein Shoot out gegen Adrian Valles.Im Finale dann eine hauchdünne Niederlage gegen Pizzonia.Damit Startplatz 2 für Esteban.

www.gu-racing.net

Este fin de semana la Superleague Formula ha llegado al circuito de Estoril con una parrilla del máximo interés y todos los pilotos y equipos concentrados al máximo para lograr una buena posición cara al tercio final del campeonato.

El piloto del Liverpool ha sabido dar muestra de su solidez e inteligencia sacando el máximo rendimiento posible de su monoplaza:

En las sesiones clasificatorias del sábado logró llegar a semifinales, logrando el tercer puesto de parrilla para la primera carrera del domingo, sin tener que sacrificar ningún juego de ruedas nuevas.

Ya en la primera carrera, Olympiacos, Corinthians y Liverpool no tardaron en marcharse del resto, llegando al cambio de ruedas en las posiciones de partida. Un excelente Pit-stop permitió a Adrián salir por delante del Olympiacos y, posteriormente, también de Corinthians que entró una vuelta mas tarde.

Finalmente Adrián cruzó la meta en segundo lugar, solamente por detrás de un frenético Olympiacos que tuvo que poner toda la carne en el asador para conquistar el primer escalón.

La segunda carrera el monoplaza de los reds remontó desde la 16ª posición de salida en la que le colocaba la parrilla invertida hasta lograr el 9º puesto final.

La suma de puntos de las dos carreras colocaban a Adrián en tercer lugar de la Superfinal, puesto que supo conservar en las cinco vueltas que dura esta carrera al sprint.

Clasificación Superleague Formula 2009

Liverpool 282

Tottenham 224

FC Basel 223

AC Milán 212

Corinthians 211

FC Porto 203

Anderlecht 189

Olympiacos 178

Adrián Vallés:

“No cabe mas que decir que objetivo cumplido: llegamos con diez puntos de ventaja y nos vamos con 58.

En la primera carrera ha sido fundamental el fenomenal cambio de ruedas que ha hecho el equipo en la primera carrera, quiero agradecérselo desde aquí. Después tuve problemas con los frenos traseros y tuve que emplearme a fondo para lograr el segundo puesto final. En la segunda hemos conseguido remontar y sumar un buen puñado de puntos.

Tenemos que mantenernos concentrados al máximo para aumentar la ventaja en Monza, el objetivo volverá a ser ganar, luego la carrera dirá cual es la mejor manera de conseguirlo.”

Sebastien Bourdais netted Spanish club Sevilla a €100,000 prize by sensationally winning the Superleague Formula by Sonangol ‘Super Final’ on his championship debut at Estoril.
The Frenchman, who recently lost his place on the Formula One grid, bounced back in the best possible fashion by producing a stunning drive, taking second in race 2 to qualify for the weekend-ending six-car sprint, before going on to win.
Starting from fourth in the five-lap Super Final, he dived past Anderlecht into turn 1 to take third and was into second when Corinthians driver Antonio Pizzonia slid wide and out of the lead in turn 4.
With just Liverpool standing beaten him and a memorable debut victory, Bourdais sliced up the inside of Adrian Valles’ car before the end of the lap and never looked like losing his lead from thereon.
Olympiacos’ Esteban Guerreri, who earlier took a superb win in race 1, followed Bourdais past Liverpool for second, having started from fifth, with Valles holding off Anderlecht driver Yelmer Buurman for the final podium spot.

Spaniard Valles may have missed the top prize in the Super Final, but he boosted Liverpool’s championship hopes massively during the weekend with a strong points haul from the two main 45 minute races. He extended the English club’s lead at the top of the Superleague Formula by Sonangol League Table to 58 points as both his major rivals hit trouble.
FC Basel, whose young driver Max Wissel starred in the last round at Donington, were lying in second going into the weekend but didn’t even start the first race due to gearbox problems before finishing 11th in a troubled race 2. Tottenham Hotspur’s Craig Dolby, third heading to Portugal, managed a solid eighth in race 1, but retired on the first lap of the second race. Although Spurs moved to second in the table, the London-based club has lost significant ground in the title race to their FA Premier League rivals.
Earlier, the 45 minute-long race 2 saw a popular ‘home win’, despite Estoril very much being Sporting Lisbon territory, for FC Porto whose fans celebrated Alvaro Parente’s victory, the Portuguese club’s second triumph in as many weekends after Tristan Gommendy took the race 2 honours at Donington.
From the front row of the grid following his race 1 retirement, lifelong Porto fan Parente beat pole sitter Galatasaray off the line but was still in second at the first corner as Flamengo’s Enrique Bernoldi made a stunning start from row 3 to lead.
Sevilla’s debutant Bourdais was also a fast starter as he went from seventh to third on the opening lap ahead of AS Roma’s Franck Perera who made similar gains going from 12th to fourth!
Bernoldi was three seconds clear at the pit stop, but Flamengo’s decision to bring its car in after all their rivals didn’t pay off as he lost his lead to Parente.
Bourdais then demoted Flamengo to third and began the pursuit of the Porto car five seconds up the road. The Frenchman showed stunning speed as he closed the gap to under a second, but Parente responded in the last five minutes to ensure victory for the reigning Portuguese League champions.
Bourdais was second for Sevilla, with Bernoldi holding onto third for Flamengo. Yelmer Buurman produced a star performance to finish fourth for Anderlecht, despite being forced off the track at turn 2 at the start. He stormed back through the field, passing AC Milan and Corinthians in the final stages to just miss out on a podium.
Antonio Pizzonia was fifth for Corinthians after charging through from 16th on the grid whilst Giorgio Pantano was sixth for Milan. Ho-Pin Tung, who started from pole on the fully reversed grid, was seventh for Galatasaray, holding off John Martin for Rangers and the table-topping Liverpool car of Valles who settled for strong points after main challengers Tottenham and FC Basel suffered problems. PSV Eindhoven’s series debutant Carlo Van Dam completed the top ten.
Perera’s fine drive in the AS Roma machine didn’t earn its due rewards as a problem at his pit stop put him out of fourth place and left him outside the top ten at the chequered flag. Race 1 winner Olympiacos, starting from the back of reversed grid, suffered some contact on the opening lap which forced Esteban Guerrieri to pit for a new nose. He rejoined two laps down and showed prodigious pace on his way to 14th.
Super Final Race Quotes
Sevilla FC: Sebastien Bourdais (FRA)
“This feels pretty good! It’s nice to be back on the top step of the podium again. This has been a rollercoaster weekend with lots of ups and downs. We started slowly but picked up the pace all the way through and now it has finished with a massive high. I’ve never even attempted a standing start in this car before, but it went pretty well in the Super Final. I was using a new set of tyres that allowed me to push and I was able to get through to win. This championship is pretty tough. There are lots of very good drivers all using the same machinery which makes it a real challenge. But if I can continue to learn the car and repeat what we achieved here in the next two rounds, then I am definitely up for it!”

Olympiacos: Esteban Guerrieri (ARG)
“I’m really proud for the team who has done a very good job all weekend long. The car has been consistently fast which we showed by winning race 1. In the Super Final I tried to push Sebastien as hard as I could to force him into a mistake, but he drove really well. I’m happy for all Olympiacos fans and now I’m hoping to stay with the team for the final two rounds of the season.”
Liverpool: Adrian Valles (ESP)
“Our aim before the start of this weekend was to create a big gap to our rivals in the championship race and we have done that. We’re extremely competitive and more wins are possible for the rest of the season and we need to keep pushing to increase our advantage ahead of the final round at Jarama. We can’t relax because everyone is really quick and teams like Corinthians have shown real pace this weekend which can make them a threat.”

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Olympiacos scored a superb first-ever Superleague Formula by Sonangol victory after a stunning second half fight back saw the Greek giants grab a win from Liverpool with just three minutes remaining in race 1 at Estoril.
New signing Esteban Guerrieri, a summer transfer from Spanish club Sevilla, made a scintillating debut for his new club but still had to win the hard way. Leading at the first corner from second on the grid, the Argentinian driver was in control of the race early on but dropped to third during the compulsory pit stops. A late charge, aided by some slower traffic, saw him recover the win with clean passing moves on Corinthians and Liverpool in the dying stages.
Liverpool and their driver Adrian Valles will not be too disappointed with second place however, as the British club extended its lead at the top of the Superleague Formula by Sonangol League Table to a healthy 43 points as main title rival FC Basel failed to even make the grid due to gearbox problems.
A messy start to the race combined to give Guerrieri a comfortable lead by the first corner. Pole sitter Antonio Pizzonia in the Corinthians car slowed dramatically just before the cars crossed the start/finish line on the rolling grid which allowed Olympiacos to streak into the lead. Pizzonia’s poor getaway also caused problems for third placed Liverpool, Valles ramming the back of the Cornithians machine, although both drivers escaped relatively unharmed to slot into second and third.

The front three pulled away from the rest of the pack in the opening stages, Guerrieri, Pizzonia and Valles all posting similar lap times in the 1 minute 30 second range as the rest of the field failed to break the 1 minute 31 second barrier.
The pit stops began on lap 9 with leaders Olympiacos and third placed Liverpool both diving in. Despite Liverpool trailing the Greek club by two seconds prior to the stop, a stunning job by the British club’s mechanics saw Valles vault into the lead. Worse was to follow for Olympiacos on the next lap as Corinthians made its stop, Pizzonia also emerging ahead of Guerrieri, but behind new leader Valles.
The gaps between the top three remained fairly stable until the last third of the race when the late-stopping Atletico Madrid car of Superleague Formula by Sonangol’s first female driver Maria de Villota, emerged from the pits right in front of the leaders.
As Liverpool tried to lap the Spanish club, Valles was frustrated at being unable to find a gap, his lead disappearing all the time as Corinthians closed in. After Liverpool eventually squeezed through, it was the Brazilian club’s turn to be stuck behind the tail ender, Pizzonia struggling to get by as Olympiacos closed in behind.
Both clubs eventually made it past but now Guerrieri was right with Pizzonia. Argentina soon got revenge on Brazil for last night’s World Cup Qualifying defeat, as Guerrieri got the better of the former Grand Prix driver after a dice which saw the pair go side-by-side through turn 6 and swap places twice on the run through turn 7 before the move was finally made decisive in the turn 8 right hander.
Guerrieri, who admitted he had been looking after his tyres throughout this period, now began the hunt of Valles and quickly caught the Liverpool man with just five minutes remaining. After stalking his prey for a couple of laps, Guerrieri made his move, diving inside into turn 3 after Valles had run slightly wide on the exit of the previous corner.
From there the win was a formality as Olympiacos celebrated a first ever Superleague Formula by Sonangol victory from Liverpool in second and Corinthians third.
Best of the rest was Belgian club Anderlecht, for whom Yelmer Buurman has been a star performer all weekend. After holding his fifth place off the line, Buurman used the pit window to good effect, tying the time for fastest lap on his first tour on new tyres to jump Rangers and take fourth.
Australian John Martin, who won the Super Final in the last round at Donington Park, guided Rangers to fifth ahead of Italian giants AC Milan and AS Roma in sixth and seventh. Tottenham Hotspur moved to second in the League Table as Craig Dolby avoided the midfield maladies which often come with starting from 13th, to claim eighth, with home outfit Sporting Lisbon and Dutch side PSV Eindhoven completing the top ten.
Sporting’s Pedro Petiz did a strong job in the early stages, charging from 12th to eighth in the first few laps, but he lost several spots at the pit stop and couldn’t recover.
FC Porto were hoping to cause an upset in Sporting’s back yard, especially after Alvaro Parente starred in qualifying during his first Superleague Formula by Sonangol race meeting of the season. He too started strongly, much to the delight of the watching club President Jose Nuno Pinto da Costa and former star goalkeeper Vitor Baia, but just after his pit stop he ended his race in the barriers after spinning in avoidance of the sliding Atletico car.
The cruelest tale of woe from the opening race was reserved for FC Basel and German driver Wissel. A gearbox problem prior to the race, which the team was due to start from fourth on the grid, meant the star of the Donington weekend was forced to sit out the race, severely denting his title bid.
Race 2 will see the entire grid reversed, with Guerrieri, Valles and Pizzonia hoping to charge from the back to score strong points.
Race Quotes
Olympiacos: Esteban Guerrieri (ARG)
“We got a good start and pulled away. Then when I came into the pit lane the cars around us were very close and I couldn’t stop straight. So when I came out I’d lost time. I pushed but not at 100%. I think the other two went a bit harder and wore out their tyres whereas I still had some life left in mine. It will be tough to come through from the back in race two but I’ll try to avoid incidents and get to the front.
Liverpool: Adrian Valles (ESP)
“We had a bit of trouble with the brakes at the end. But I think we’ll be able to have a good second race. The important thing will be to build a bigger gap in the championship before we get to Monza.  At the start Antonio was on full power and then on the brakes so I crashed into the back of him. We didn’t damage the car so second place was a good result and important for the championship.”
Corinthians: Antonio Pizzonia (BRA)
“The race director said he would only start when the grid was packed which didn’t happen. There were lines of three cars maybe and Guerrieri was maybe four car lengths ahead of me when the lights went green so it was ridiculous. I was trying to hold everyone up and make sure they were all in line. I was looking in my mirrors and they were everywhere.
My diffuser was destroyed although I don’t think we had a car quick enough to win race one anyway. Starting from the back in the second race will be difficult but we’ll see. The target is to make the Superfinal and try to get points.”  

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Antonio Pizzonia flew the flag for Brazil at round 4 of Superleague Formula by Sonangol by taking pole position for Corinthians for Sunday’s Race 1 at Estoril.
On a weekend in which the world of football has turned its attention to International fixtures, Pizzonia might also allow himself a wry smile after defeating Argentinean driver Esteban Guerrieri in the Pole Shootout, just a few hours ahead of the crucial Argentina v Brazil World Cup Qualifier this evening.
The Pole Shootout proved to be the most exciting head-to-head battle of the knockout stages as less than 0.2 seconds separated Pizzonia and Guerrieri, who was driving for Greek club Olympiacos for the first time following a summer transfer switch from Sevilla.

The experienced Pizzonia, who defeated the in-form Max Wissel (FC Basel) and John Martin (Glasgow Rangers) in the Semi and Quarter finals respectively, was one tenth up in the first sector of the 4.182km circuit before Guerrieri pegged him back in sector 2, as just two one hundredths separated the pair. A final push around the last few corners saw the Brazilian eke out his advantage once more to grab a third pole position in four rounds.
Championship leaders Liverpool will line-up third on the grid as Adrian Valles enjoyed another strong qualifying session. After cruising through the group stages, the Spaniard defeated Anderlecht, for whom Yelmer Buurman has been fast all weekend, in the Quarter Finals but couldn’t quite match Guerrieri’s pace in the Semis.
Wissel, the star of the last round at Donington Park, completes the top four for FC Basel, who currently sit second in the Superleague by Sonangol League Table. The German youngster impressed again and will line up alongside his main championship rival Valles on the second row.
Beaten Quarter Finalists Glasgow Rangers and Anderlecht will form row three, while AS Roma and FC Porto are in seventh and eighth on row four. The Italian and Portuguese clubs have both made moves in the transfer market over the summer and their new signings, Franck Perera and Alvaro Parente showed genuine pace on their series returns. Roma’s Perera made it through to the knockout phase from a very difficult Group B to make the Quarter Finals after also showing strong pace in practice, while Porto’s Parente was fastest of all 18 drivers in the group stages before being knocked out by Wissel in the Quarters.
Earlier two teams’ championship hopes took a hit after a couple of high profile eliminations in the group stages.
Tottenham Hotspur, who lay third in the Superleague Formula by Sonangol League Table coming into this race, went out in a highly-competitive Group B as Briton Craig Dolby missed the cut off by just four tenths of a second. Fellow title protagonists AC Milan, who sit fourth in the standings, also failed to make it to the knockout stages, Italian driver Giorgio Pantano finishing two tenths outside the top four.
Series debutant Sebastien Bourdais, driving for Sevilla FC, was also knocked out in Group B where eight of the nine cars were separated by just 0.7 seconds. A brief off-track excursion while pushing hard on his final flying lap cost him the chance of progressing to the Quarter Finals.
Pantano will now start Sunday’s first race from ninth on the grid, with Dolby in 13th and Bourdais 15th.
Group A proved to be the slower of the two qualifying groups and saw the elimination of home favourites Sporting Lisbon. Atletico Madrid, who this weekend become the first club in the series’ history to field a female driver, also went out as Spaniard Maria de Villota suffered a small spin early in the session and was unable to recover in time to break into the top four.
Qualifying Quotes
Corinthians: Antonio Pizzonia (BRA)
“I knew it was going to be very close. We had a difficult morning (in practice) but we managed to improve the car a bit and I’m delighted to have a third pole position from four races. Even before qualifying Esteban and I had been making bets about tonight’s World Cup Qualifying game! Matches between Brazil and Argentina are always interesting but I don’t care about the score as long as we win!”
Olympiacos: Esteban Guerreri (ARG)
“I was quite confident joining Olympiacos because the team has performed consistently well so far this season. We have worked well together and improved throughout the weekend and that has resulted in us making the final. It was quite close for the pole but now we’ll prepare for the race tomorrow.”
Liverpool: Adrian Valles (ESP)
“We’ll go for the victory tomorrow rather than just try to be safe and score points for the championship. If you just try to settle for points bad things can sometimes happen. Antonio and Esteban were really fast today but I think third on the grid for the race is pretty good because we have seen guys win from much further back than there in the past.”
FC Basel: Max Wissel (GER)
“I made a big mistake in the Semi Final against Antonio but otherwise we have really strong pace here and I think we can challenge for the victory tomorrow. I want to win as we need points for the championship race.”

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The Superleague Formula by Sonangol circus rolls into Estoril next weekend (5/6 September) where two titans of Portuguese football will go head-to-head. Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto may not have played each other on a pitch yet this season, but the pair has been in close quarters on track throughout the 2009 Superleague campaign.
FC Porto scored their first ever series victory in race two at Donington Park last time out to earn their place in the Super Final. Tristan Gommendy was at the wheel that day but the Frenchman will step aside in Estoril to allow Porto-local and GP2 race winner Álvaro Parente to make his Superleague debut.
“The connection with FC Porto has existed since the beginning of the Superleague project, but competing in GP2 has made it impossible to co-ordinate everything,” said Parente. “Happily, this time things are different as I’ve got a window to race for Porto at Estoril, which makes me very happy because they have always been my club. “Although I don’t know the car, I’m expecting a good result and that’s what I am going to work towards. I know the Estoril circuit quite well, which is always an advantage, and I think my experience in GP2 will also allow me to get up to speed with the car quickly. It’s a new challenge in my career and I want to make the most of it. Racing at home is always good and hopefully I will enjoy lots of support from the Porto fans.”

Looming large on his radar is bound to be the green and white hoops of Sporting’s Pedro Petiz who finished runner-up behind Porto in that second Donington race. The Portuguese duo know each other well from childhood but won’t be offering any quarter once the lights go out come Sunday. “Alvaro’s a good friend,” confirmed Petiz. “We grew up and went to the same school together. But that’s all going to be put to one side once we’re out on the track. It’s going to be a great battle. There’s been a lot of media attention regarding the derby between Sporting and Porto. The race has been promoted really well so I’m confident that there will be a lot of green and white in the stands.
“I’m really aiming for at least a podium finish. We were fast at Donington and have improved every single weekend. We’ve worked hard over the first half of the season specifically for this race and the second half of the championship in order to gather as many points as possible. We’re confident. Sporting has put a lot of trust in me so I’m really hopeful we can give them a podium at least.”
The new football season meanwhile has already witnessed a number of teams go head-to-head, both domestically and in Europe, since the championship’s previous round in July where Rangers’ John Martin scored victory in the Super Final, netting himself €100,000. League leaders Liverpool and driver Adrian Valles will be looking to avenge their 2-1 first day Premiership defeat at the hands of Tottenham whose star striker Craig Dolby finished second in Britain and lies third overall. Anderlecht too will be hoping for better fortune on the race track after they were humbled 8-2 on aggregate against Superleague rivals Olympique Lyonnais during Champions League qualifying.
As well as the debut of Parente, round four also marks the 2009 series bow of four other drivers. In a major coup, four-time Champ Car champion Sébastien Bourdais transfers from Formula 1 to Superleague’s FC Sevilla, Dutchman and reigning Japanese F3 champion Carlo Van Dam takes over the PSV Eindhoven hot seat, Franck Perera swaps his GP2 duties for the familiar surroundings of an AS Roma cockpit (the Frenchman drove for the team in six races last term) while Maria de Villota becomes Superleague Formula’s first female driver after joining Atletico Madrid. Previous incumbent Ho-Pin Tung takes Scott Mansell’s place at Galatasaray while former FC Sevilla driver Esteban Guerrieri is installed at Olympiacos.
Aside from rivalries and driver changes, a new system for deciding the six Super Finalists will debut in Portugal. The standing start first tested at Donington has been retained with the top half dozen point scorers over the two feature races taking their place on the grid. This is in contrast to the two previous Super Finals where the top three from each feature race were rewarded.
Superleague Formula’s show will star on Friday, September 4th when at 16.30 Porto FC, Sporting Club, Corinthians and Flamengo’s car will run around Estoril streets. The program continues with the drivers draw for qualifying, where, at the Casino de Estoril, each of the 18 teams are divided into two groups of nine prior to the weekend’s racing.
You can catch hour-long Superleague Formula by Sonangol highlights on British Eurosport 2 (Sky Digital 411 and Virgin Media 525) on Sunday, 6 September at 6.30pm BST.
To purchase your tickets for the Portuguese round, visit http://www.ticketline.pt/Espectaculo.aspx?IdEspectaculo=778

Having won in almost every championship he’s entered and the owner of one of motorsport’s most impressive CVs, Sébastien Bourdais, after contesting 27 grand prix, is ready to accept a new challenge; Superleague Formula by Sonangol, the only series to marry the passion of football with the excitement of motor racing. The Frenchman will begin his campaign as early as this coming weekend in Estoril (Portugal) racing for Spanish club FC Sevilla.
Bourdais’ career has been a highly successful one. He remains the youngest-ever French F3 champion before also claiming the prestigious International F3000 crown in 2002. However, it is in the States where he earned his most coveted achievements, winning four consecutive Champ Car series titles for Hollywood legend Paul Newman and team partner Carl Haas. Although a single seater specialist, Bourdais has also shined in European and American sportscar racing, where he’s recorded several strong results.

Following a successful half-day’s testing at Magny-Cours last week with British outfit Ultimate, Bourdais, who was soon recording excellent lap times at the wheel of the 750bhp V12-powered Elan chassis, took the decision to contest the last three rounds of the 2009 Superleague Formula by Sonangol season. (5/6 September: Estoril; 3/4 October: Monza; 7/8 November: Jarama).
Superleague Formula by Sonangol is delighted to welcome a champion of Bourdais’ calibre which confirms the category’s position as a genuine alternative to Formula 1 for professional drivers. Indeed, the Frenchman will go up against fellow former F1 protagonists Giorgio Pantano (2008 GP2 Series Champion and ex-Jordan Grand Prix driver), Antonio Pizzonia and Enrique Bernoldi, not to mention the host of young talent eager to test itself against the best.
Alex Andreu (President of Superleague Formula):
“Superleague Formula is very happy and very proud to welcome a driver with as many titles as Sébastien Bourdais. His decision was made after testing our car at the Magny-Cours circuit, who I would like to thank for believing in our project and participating in its development. Our objective is to attract the best professional drivers to our series. Giorgio Pantano, Antonio Pizzonia and today Sébastien Bourdais are amongst these. We’re also hopeful that others will join us shortly. The more drivers we have of their calibre, the more Superleague Formula will carve its rightful place in the modern motorsport landscape, as well as offering a quality show to its fans.”
Interview with FC Sevilla’s Sébastien Bourdais:
“The best alternative to F1”
What motivated you to come and race in Superleague Formula?
“For a driver, Superleague Formula is the best alternative to F1. Today, it’s the only other championship in Europe to offer a driver the possibility of racing single seaters at a high, professional level. I am also a firm believer in the concept of merging motorsport and football. It’s a partnership that offers enormous potential and should have a good future. Once the championship is established and more widely known, I am sure that Superleague Formula will be very strong.”
What were your first impressions at the wheel of Superleague Formula’s Elan chassis, V12-powered single seater?
“The test at Magny-Cours made me realise just how fun the car is to drive. An F1 car is faster because it’s lighter. But the Elan V12 happens to be a very competitive car, benefiting from a lot of aerodynamic downforce and a very potent engine, drivable and powerful across the rev range, and offering a large scope of usage. It’s a consistent single seater that’s a pleasure to drive.”
What’s the target for your debut in Estoril?
“My desire is evidently to be competitive straight away at Estoril. Now, I only did a few laps in the car and the team is quite new to the championship. To win as soon as my first race will not be easy for sure. I also want to have fun, which hasn’t often been the case for me during this last year.”
How do you approach the race and qualifying formats which are specific to Superleague Formula?
“I will discover a qualifying system which is different to what I’ve been used to as it requires a very tactical approach. As far as the three races go, the totally reversed grid for the second reminds me of Formula Campus. This creates a lot of overtaking opportunities which improves the overall show on track, especially if the objective is to secure a place in the Super Final. To some degree though, Superleague Formula reminds me of racing in Champ Car.”

Are you a football fan?
“Without being an aficionado of football, I do often attend Le Mans fixtures – my home-town – as well as supporting the French national side during the important international tournaments.”
Sébastien Bourdais Profile
Born in Le Mans, 27 February 1979
Married to Claire, one daughter (Emma)
1997: French Formula Renault runner-up
1999: French F3 Champion
2002: F3000 International champion. F1 tests with Arrows and Renault. DTM tests with Opel. 1st at the Spa 24 Hours.
2003: Best rookie in Champ Car
2004/2005/2006/2007: 4 Champ Car titles. 1 win in IROC (2005). 1st in GT2 at the 12 Hours of Sebring (2006).
2008: F1 Toro Rosso (4 points) 2009: F1 Toro Rosso (2 points). 2nd at the Le Mans 24 Hours and 12 Hours of Sebring.

www.superleagueformula.com

Giorgio Pantano, Craig Dolby, Max Wissel, Davide Rigon and Enrique Bernoldi were among the star Superleague Formula by Sonangol drivers to try out the series’ brand new video game during the recent race meeting at Donington Park.
Featuring a grid of powerful 750bhp single-seater racing cars, Superleague Formula by Sonangol is the only competition in the world to unite premier league-quality motorsport with some of the world’s most famous football clubs. Supporters of those clubs and motorsport fans worldwide will soon get the chance to drive their own team’s car when the exciting new video game is launched in September.
“The game is really cool and I think football and motorsport fans will love it,” said Dolby, who kept Tottenham Hotspur in the title race at Donington with fifth place in race 1 and fourth in race 2, before netting a €70,000 prize fund for finishing second in the Super Final. “The lap times we did on the game were actually pretty close to the ones we set for real on race day. That means the fans can watch us race on a Sunday and then try and beat our times when they get home!”

Ex-Formula 1 drivers Pantano (AC Milan) and Bernoldi (Flamengo) also enjoyed their digital thrash around the British circuit on the game designed by Media Game and Image Space Incorporated, whose portfolio of video games already includes rFactor, F1 Challenge and NASCAR Thunder.
“I played it on Saturday before qualifying and I really liked the game,” said Pantano who took fourth place in race 1 at Donington before being knocked out of race 2 on the opening lap. “It’s very realistic and on the demo version we were driving my AC Milan car which was really nice!”
Bernoldi also emphasised the realism of the game after trying it out before a race day which unfortunately saw him post two DNFs. “We drove the Donington circuit and the braking points are almost exactly the same as in real life. The graphics are also really good and the view from the cockpit is very similar to what you actually see when you’re sat in the car for real. The fans are going to love it.”
Italian Rigon, who helped Chinese club Beijing Goan to win the inaugural Superleague Formula title last season before transferring to Greek giants Olympiacos for 2009, commented, “The game was great and I think the Olympiacos fans will really enjoy racing their car against all the other great teams we have in Superleague Formula” .
Perhaps the biggest endorsement should be reserved for FC Basel driver Wissel, who was the star of the weekend on track at Donington. He won race 1, a first Superleague triumph for the Swiss club, before finishing third from the very back of the grid in race 2 and netting another podium in the Super Final. “It’s really good and very close to reality,” he said. “I was watching the revs and speedometer on the game as I was playing and it’s pretty much exactly the same as real life. I already knew Donington quite well, but for some other circuits it could be quite useful for us drivers as the track layouts are so lifelike.”
The exciting new PC game will be released in September and will be distributed online from the official Superleague Formula website: www.superleagueformula.com

As Atletico Madrid prepare for the start of the new La Liga season, the Spanish club has made a significant signing off the pitch by snapping up Maria de Villota to race for the team in Superleague Formula by Sonangol.
Spaniard de Villota will become the first female driver ever to compete in the championship when she makes her series debut in the next round at Estoril on 5-6 September. She will also contest the final two races of the season at Monza on 3-4 October and her home track Jarama on 7-8 November.
“This is the biggest opportunity of my career so far,” said Maria, whose father Emilio raced in F1 in the late seventies and early eighties. “I am from Madrid so it is a huge honour for me to be able to represent Atletico in Superleague Formula.”
The Spanish capital is divided between fans of its two biggest clubs, Atletico and Real, and Maria admits she belongs to the red and white half of the city! “We have two very successful football clubs here in Madrid but I have always been a supporter of Atletico,” she revealed. “They are a club with a huge amount of character and the fans are so loyal and passionate. They always support their team through the good times and the bad.”

Maria will be hoping to count on the backing of the legendary Los Rojiblancos for the remainder of the year, particularly at the Madrid circuit of Jarama for the season-ending Spanish race.
“Jarama is my home track, I live very close by,” she explained. “I can’t wait to race there as I think the Atletico fans will come out and support their team and the race will be a real highlight for me. Spanish people are very passionate about football and motorsport so it should be a fantastic weekend.”
Before then, Maria will take on the famous circuits of Estoril and Monza in the 750hp Superleague Formula by Sonangol car, which she admits is one of the best she has ever raced.
“I tested it last November and it is the most powerful car I have ever driven,” she confirmed. “It is fantastic to drive, with a huge amount of horse power. The V12 engine and its overall look and feel make it very reminiscent of an F1 car. I can’t wait for next month so I can race it.”
Atletico Madrid currently lay ninth in the Superleague Formula by Sonangol League Table, with 120 points from the first three rounds.
PROFILE
Name: Maria de Villota
Date of Birth: 13 January 1979
Place of Birth: Madrid, Spain
Nationality, Spanish
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Website: www.mariadevillota.com
Superleague Formula team: Atletico Madrid
Career summary
Maria is the daughter of ex-F1 driver Emilio de Villota and brother of fellow racer Emilio Jnr. After beginning her career in karts, she graduated into the Spanish Formula Toyota championship in 1999 and then raced in Spanish F3 from 2001-2005. Since then she has competed in the European Ferrari Challenge, World Touring Car Championship, Spanish GT and the ADAC Procar series where she was a race winner and finished third overall in 2007. She has returned to single-seaters in the last two seasons, making a points-scoring debut in Euroseries 3000 in 2008 and contesting the Formula Palmer Audi series this year.
Racing CV:

2009
Formula Palmer Audi

2008
Euroseries 3000

2007
ADAC Procar (3rd), Spanish GT, WTCC

2006
WTCC, Ferrari Challenge

2005
Spanish F3, Ferrari Challenge
2nd Formula Toyota
3rd in Jarama race at F3
10th Gt, 24 h Daytona

2002-04
Spanish F3

2001
Spanish Formula Toyota 1300

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In a world mainly dominated by men, having a woman on your team is rare, especially as a Chief Mechanic in a high-profile championship. That is the case though for Superleague Formula by Sonangol team FC Porto and its driver Tristan Gommendy.
The French driver’s car is looked after by Hitech Racing, one of the few racing teams with a woman as a member of its squad, Briton Sara Morgan being Chief Mechanic for Gommendy’s car, making her unique in the paddock. In one of the few moments of peace the drivers enjoy prior to a tense one-hour qualifying session, the Frenchman, in between signing autographs for the fans, explained his relationship with the pit lane’s only female Chief Mechanic.
“Sara is a very reliable person. She does an excellent job of managing the team and is responsible for the car being at its best on track and able to fight at the front,” says Tristan. “From the very beginning she really surprised me. Not every driver has the luxury of working with a woman and having that female perspective in the pit lane.”

Working with the only female Chief Mechanic in Superleague Formula by Sonangol, Tristan, unsurprisingly, has a couple of unforgettable stories to tell!
“The first time I got in the car and Sara started to help me fasten my safety belts the situation was a little awkward!” laughed Tristan. “As professional as she is, the first step was to pull the part of the belt situated between my legs! She stopped for a few seconds and looked at me and I think she was wondering whether to ask if it was ok. Before she had the chance to speak I just said ‘no, no it’s fine, just do your job!’ While that moment was a little bizarre, the truth is that we are both just doing our jobs.”
Sara, meanwhile, has become used to her unique position in the paddock and remains completely dedicated to racing.
“I have been involved at race meetings for some years and so I’m used to being the only woman in the pit lane,” she explained. “I really enjoy what I do and I don’t have any kind of problems with it. I have an excellent relationship with my mechanics, who do everything I ask of them, and also with Tristan.”

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Adrián Vallés:

“Este fin de semana ha sido complicado. En las clasificatorias del sábado nuestro grupo salió a pista con mucha mas lluvia que el grupo A y tuve la mala fortuna de encontrarme al coche del Milán prácticamente parado en la última curva. Yo estaba bajando mi tiempo en seis décimas en esa vuelta. Aún así baje dos décimas mi tiempo, pero me quedé a las puertas de la fase eliminatoria.

En las dos carreras conseguí remontar nueve posiciones y reunir una buena puntuación que me ha permitido continuar liderando la clasificación. Nuestro ritmo de carrera fue muy bueno, aunque Donington no es un circuito donde haya muchos puntos de adelantamiento por lo que perdí bastante tiempo detrás de algunos coches y eso me impidió llegar hasta el podio.

Ahora toca trabajar para la próxima carrera en Estoril. Es un circuito totalmente diferente, donde se puede adelantar y sacar todo el rendimiento al monoplaza. El año pasado conseguimos ganar y ese va a ser nuestro objetivo.”