SAMUEL CHECA CAMPEÓN DE CATALUÑA DE FÓRMULA

Samuel Checa ha logrado por primera vez para Baleares un Campeonato de Fórmula. Tras un fin de semana en el que ha luchado contra los elementos, en condiciones realmente complicadas, el mallorquín ha dado la talla en el trazado MOTORLAND Aragón, llevándose el merecido título de Campeón de Cataluña de Fórmula.
Ultima prueba del Campeonato de Cataluña disputada en el MOTORLAND Aragón, temperaturas bajo 0 y una niebla espesa han sido la bienvenida que ha encontrado el equipo Sammy & Zoi Sport.
Con todos los horarios modificados por la niebla, los entrenamientos de sólo 20 minutos se realizaban el sábado con la pista a 2 grados y 0 grados en los boxes. Por primera vez en la temporada, en los cronometrados, Sammy no lograba la pole por sólo 3 décimas de segundo, problemas con el freno delantero le hicieron perder algo de tiempo y Checa no quiso arriesgar demasiado con el Campeonato en juego.
Una vez formada la parrilla, el fórmula de Checa sufria nuevos problemas, el motor de arranque fallaba y no podía realizar la vuelta de formación, lo que obligaría a partir desde el Pit Lane. Salida en la primera manga con más de 30 segundos de retraso desde el Pit pero en la segunda vuelta Sammy ya rodaba en segunda posición, imposible de alcanzar el primer clasificado, Ferrán Monje a los mandos de un Dallara 308, rodaba en el mismo tiempo que Sammy con su 306, pero el retraso de salir desde el pit lane ha sido insalvable.
Poco antes de la segunda manga comenzaba a nevar y el freno del Fórnula de Checa volvía a fallar, obligándole a salir de nuevo desde el Pit Lane.
Nueva remontada de Sammy que aunque la pista se encontraba impracticable, con un trompo incluido, conseguía de nuevo la segunda posición y el Campeonato de Cataluña de Fórmula.

SAMMY CHECA
Piloto de Fórmula
Departamento de Prensa
Avenida 16 de Julio, 34
07009 Palma de Mallorca
Tel. 971 291 321
M. 616 99 26 87
prensa@sammycheca.com

Jolyon Palmer tops Portimão test

Jolyon Palmer tops Portimão test
Young Briton heads Dean Smith and Renger van der Zande

Palmer

Jolyon Palmer has impressively set the ultimate pace during the final day of Formula Two winter testing in Portimão, Portugal.

The young Briton closed out the final Formula Two action of 2009 with a fantastic display in the second afternoon session. The 18-year-old set a 1:35.519s lap time in the final frenetic 75 minute stint and even came close to bettering his time soon after. He recorded a 1:35.573s just two laps after his pace-setting lap, which would have also been good enough to beat his rivals.  

Dean Smith took second overall on the final day, but his fastest time was set during the morning session. The McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner recorded the quickest first sector during the final ‚overboost enabled‘ session, but he unfortunately hit traffic later in the lap. A slight technical problem then scuppered his chances of improving further, but Smith has more than impressed over the two day test in Portugal.

Renger van der Zande improved throughout his maiden day of driving a Williams JPH1, and he put in a stellar lap late on to end up just 0.014s behind Smith.
Kevin Mirocha and Kazim Vasiliauskas were fourth and fifth during another incredibly close test day at the head of the field, as the two drivers dipped under the 1:36s barrier in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Mirocha improved upon his earlier time while Vasiliauskas was unable to beat his flying lap from the opening hour of the day.

F2 debutant Duncan Tappy proved his pace by taking sixth in the final hour, just 0.175s behind Palmer’s ultimate lap. Johan Jokinen has impressed in both Valencia and Portimão – the Danish driver was the only other competitor to record a 1:35s lap time during both the morning and afternoon sessions. Jokinen finished up seventh, ahead of Alex Brundle. The British driver made progress during his two days of running, and he turned in a great lap at the first attempt on his final set of new tyres.

Frenchmen Benjamin Lariche and Tristan Vautier finished ninth and tenth – separated by just 0.006s. Belgian Benjamin Bailly showed considerable speed during the two days, but he dropped to eleventh at the finish ahead of Mihai Marinescu.
Russian racer Ivan Samarin saved his best showing until the end as he jumped above Jonathan Summerton, Jack Clarke and Ricardo Teixeira in the final session.

A delighted Jolyon Palmer said: "It is the first time that I have topped a session in Formula Two so I am really delighted. I have been making good progress recently and the Valencia test also went well last week, but it is a surprise to end up fastest. The lap was just neat and tidy, but I could have actually gone quicker a few laps later. It is about getting the best out of the new tyres and it something I have improved on during the session – it is just pleasing that it all came together this afternoon. It is a great way to finish 2009 and this will give me a real boost going into next year."

Formula Two – Portimão, Portugal – Day Two results (12 December):

1. Jolyon Palmer, 1:35.519s 
2. Dean Smith, 1:35.599s
3. Renger van der Zande, 1:35.613s
4. Kevin Mirocha, 1:35.629s
5. Kazim Vasiliauskas, 1:35.635s
6. Duncan Tappy, 1:35.694s
7. Johan Jokinen, 1:35.712s
8. Alex Brundle, 1:35.952s
9. Benjamin Lariche, 1:36.040s
10. Tristan Vautier, 1:36.046s
11. Benjamin Bailly, 1:36.194s
12. Mihai Marinescu, 1:36.196s
13. Ivan Samarin, 1:36.289s
14. Jonathan Summerton, 1:36.305s
15. Jack Clarke, 1:36.438s
16. Ricardo Teixeira, 1:36.601s

www.formulatwo.com

GABRIELE TARQUINI CROWNED AT THE FIA GALA

NO MORE BALANCE OF PERFORMANCE CHANGES
Yesterday in Monaco, the FIA World Motor Sport Council approved the concept that there will be no balance of performance changes to any of the FIA WTCC cars after the start of the 2010 season.
The same system of compensation weight that came into force in 2009 will be used again in 2010.
The championship will be held on twelve race meetings over four continents. The only changes to the calendar, compared to the provisional one approved in June, concern the Moroccan and the Italian events that were brought forward by two weeks and one week respectively. The WTCC Race of Morocco will be held at Marrakech on May 2nd, while the WTCC Race of Italy returns to Monza on May 23rd, after having visited Imola in 2009.

2010 FIA WTCC CALENDAR

7 March – Curitiba, Brazil
11 April – Puebla-Amozoc, Mexico
2 May – Marrakech, Morocco
23 May – Monza, Italy
20 June – Zolder, Belgium
4 July –
Portimão, Portugal
18 July – Brands Hatch, United Kingdom
1 August – Brno, Czech Republic
5 September – Oschersleben, Germany
19 September – Valencia, Spain
31 October – Okayama, Japan
21 November – Macau

GABRIELE TARQUINI CROWNED AT THE FIA GALA
Last night Gabriele Tarquini and SEAT have been officially named 2009 FIA World Touring Car champions during the traditional FIA prize giving gala in Monaco.
In the sumptuous setting of the Sporting d’Eté’s Salle des Etoiles, the FIA honoured all its champions. In a progression from Karting to Formula One, the FIA World Touring Car Championship’s prize giving took place between the FIA GT’s and the World Rally Championship’s.
After SEAT’s Yvan Muller and BMW’s Augusto Farfus – second and third in the championship respectively – had received the runner up trophies, the curtain rose unveiling Gabriele Tarquini and SEAT Sport director Jaime Puig standing on the stage, with the SEAT León TDI winning car between them. Tarquini was awarded with the World Champion’s trophy, while Puig collected a second consecutive Manufacturers‘ Championship trophy.

Jaime Puig and Gabriele Tarquini on the stage at the FIA gala in Monaco

TARQUINI RECEIVES AUTOSPRINT AWARD
These are days of celebration for Gabriele Tarquini and SEAT, newly crowned FIA World Touring Car champions.
Before going to Monaco to attend the FIA gala, Gabriele Tarquini received the prestigious Golden Helmet award from the Italian motorsport magazine Autosprint.
Tarquini received the award from the hands of Ferrari F1 team manager Stefano Domenicali, during a gala dinner in Bologna in which all the champions of the 2009 automobile sport season were also celebrated.
The Golden Helmet for the FIA WTCC winning manufacturer was collected by SEAT Italy’s new director Cyrill René Hugi.

COUNTDOWN: – 85 DAYS

to the 2010 FIA WTCC Race of Brazil – 6th / 7th March, in Curitiba

www.fiawtcc.com

SOUCEK HAILS ‘BEST SEASON’

2009 FIA Prize Giving Gala

The prestigious FIA Gala in Monaco capped a sensational season for Andy Soucek as he was officially crowned the inaugural FIA Formula Two Champion.

With seven wins and 11 podiums from 16 races, Soucek claimed the title in imperious fashion. The Spaniard took his first race victory at round four in Brno, Czech Republic, before going on to finish every race inside the top four for the remainder of the season. On 1 December, Andy Soucek piloted the Williams F1 car in Jerez, Spain as part of his prize for winning the 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship, setting the fastest time of the day.

Andy Soucek said:

“I am incredibly proud of my success in Formula Two. It was the best season of my life, and I have enjoyed every moment. More than anything else, Formula Two has opened doors in Formula One for me, which is a dream for any driver.

“I was expecting to be right on the top before the season started, but I didn’t expect to win by such a margin. Every race was a different challenge and every single win was special: my first in Brno was incredible, and then Imola and Barcelona, where I won the last two races in front of all my friends, family and sponsors – that was the perfect end to my championship.

“There were a lot of very good drivers who were really quick at different circuits, so it was a real challenge for me to actually score so many wins. In doing so I think I beat a lot of records in the history of Formula Two, which is a great honour.”

Vasiliauskas takes the opening day honours

Vasiliauskas takes the opening day honours
Lithuanian heads Dean Smith and Benjamin Bailly in Portugal

Kazim

Kazim Vasiliauskas set the fastest time in the final hour of today’s (Friday) test in Portimão to confirm his place at the top of the times.

Dean Smith was second in the final session and second overall, although his fastest time of the day was set during the morning running. Benjamin Bailly was the last driver to pass the chequered flag under the evening sunset, and his fantastic final lap promoted the promising Belgian to third.

Danish driver Johan Jokinen led for much of the final session, but he eventually dropped to fourth after using his last set of fresh tyres earlier than the majority of his rivals. Spaniard Ramón Piñeiro ended the day in fifth overall – the 18-year-old having set his quickest lap time during the opening hour of the morning session.

Russian racer Ivan Samarin had a fantastic final hour as the 21-year-old improved dramatically to take sixth ahead of Alex Brundle and Duncan Tappy. Jose Alonso Liste made progress throughout the day and a late flying lap promoted the Spaniard to ninth, whilst 18-year-old Jolyon Palmer rounded out the top ten.

Jack Clarke and Benjamin Lariche were separated by just 0.005s in 11th and 12th respectively. Reigning Formula Renault 2.0 Suisse Champion Nico Muller was unable to improve his time from this morning and he ended up 13th, ahead of Ricardo Teixeira. The Angolan driver made steady progress during his second run in an F2 car, with his final session time being his best of the day.

Andy Soucek set the ultimate pace during the day but as the F2 Champion is currently testing upgrades for the 2010 car he has been omitted from the times. The final day of the Formula Two winter testing programme gets underway at 9:30am tomorrow.

Kazim Vasiliauskas said: "It was a really good day. I was running down in seventh during the morning but I used that time as an opportunity to try some different things with the set-up of the car. I was then able to go fastest in the first afternoon session and then of course during the final session with the overboost facility so I am happy. After a year in Formula Two these are the kind of results I would expect however, as I am confident of consistently running at the front. The track is fantastic – it is different to anything that I have driven before. It has many challenges but I really enjoyed it."

www.formulatwo.com

Vallcaneras y Perelló en las “2 Horas de Resistencia de Pit Bikes”

Este fin de semana se celebran las “2 Horas de Resistencia Pit Bikes 4 Illes” en el circuito de karting de Llucmajor, una prueba organizada por el Motoclub 4 Illes que ha despertado un gran interés por parte de muchos pilotos de diferentes especialidades, entre ellos Pedro Vallcaneras y Joan Perelló, que formarán equipo con una Rebel Master preparada por BJ Competición.

Aunque se trata de una prueba que no es valedera para ningún campeonato, el hecho de que haya en la pista 16 equipos, con 33 pilotos, hará que tanto Vallcaneras, que esta temporada ha conseguido como mejor resultado una tercera posición en las “8 Horas de Doha-Qatar” del Mundial de Endurance, como Joan Perelló, que ha subido al podio tanto en el Mediterráneo como en el Europeo de Velocidad, se la tomen muy en serio y se esfuercen al máximo por ganarla.

Pilotos de Pit Bikes como Enrique Arjona, Miguel Angel Daviu, de Pit Cross como Toni Melis, de motocross como Joan Pau Segura, Joan Miquel Munar, Miquel Munar, de trial como Guiem Soler, de velocidad como Diego Pérez, Bernat Crespí, y participantes en pruebas nacionales de velocidad como el CEV, Joan “Pitu” Pallicer, Enric Ferrer, Angel Poyatos, Alfonso Ho y algunos más que, seguro nos dejamos, hará que esta prueba tenga un valor muy especial para el equipo que consiga llevarse el trofeo.

Koldo Zuazaga – Ferbis Press

Primer Desafío Adrián Vallés & Amigos

Hola a todos,

El próximo 19 de diciembre se celebrará en el AVkarting, La Font Santa-Teulada un Desafío entre pilotos de formulas de primerísimo nivel, se disputará con todos en igualdad de condiciones, karts aportados por la organización y siguiendo el formato clasificatorio de la Superleague Formula.

Previamente, a lo largo de la mañana, se disputará el Desafío Facebook, entre fans de Adrián Valles. Tendrán el premio de conquistar una plaza para el Desafío de la tarde y medirse cara a cara con los pilotos profesionales.

Por la tarde, contaremos con la presencia en pista de Adrián y Moisés Vallés, Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso F1), Miki Monrás (Formula 2), Marco Barba (World Series by Renault), Kasper Andersen (Superleague Formula), Tristan Gommendy (Superleague Formula), Carlo Van Dam (Superleague Formula), Siso Cunill (Porsche Super Cup) y del Campeón del Desafío Facebook.

Ya por la noche se celebrará una Macrofiesta BARRACA en el Espai La Senieta de Moraira, con los DJ’s Rafa Siles y AFFKT de Barraca, mas DK Mik de Barcelona y un DJ invitado sorpresa.

Os adjunto el Flyer del evento, veréis que los pilotos no coinciden completamente, ha habido cambios de última hora.

Un abrazo

Logo Desafío Facebook Logo Desafio AV & Amigos INTERIOR internet EXTERIOR internet macrofiesta BARRACAwww.adrianvalles.com

SUBARU JOINS THE IRC … AND ALL THE OTHER LATEST NEWS FROM THE IRC

Eurosport Events, the promoter of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, announced last week that Subaru will join the IRC next year with the aim of supporting its customer competition business with the legendary Group N Impreza.
In the 2009 IRC season, seven manufacturers were represented with Abarth, Honda, Peugeot, Proton, Ralliart, Skoda and Volkswagen going head-to-head on spectacular events. The IRC series is designed not only to showcase these unique events through the use of innovative live television coverage, but also to provide competitors with an excellent promotional platform

Rally San Remo 2007
Subaru drivers can now score IRC points

VOUILLOZ JOINS SKODA FOR MONTE CARLO

Skoda has announced that it will field three factory Fabia Super 2000 cars at the Rallye Monte Carlo in January, following the decision to sign 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion, Nicolas Vouilloz.
Vouilloz, who competed in a Kronos Racing-run Peugeot Super 2000 last season, will link up with regulars Jan Kopecky and Juho Hanninen for what is the first event in the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
"The Monte Carlo Rally is an extremely challenging event and we see it as one of the most important races of the upcoming season," said Michal Hrabanek, head of Skoda Motorsport. "The 2009 Monte Carlo event successfully started off our new project Fabia Super 2000 and then the whole 2009 season was a success for our crews and a great motivation for the entire team to work hard also in the future."

Barum Rally Zlin, Zlin 24-26 08 2007
Vouilloz will drive for Skoda in Monte Carlo

MEEKE AND NAGLE TO STAR AT IRC AWARDS CEREMONY

Kris Meeke and co-driver Paul Nagle will be at the centre of attention among the 2009 IRC champions when the IRC Awards Ceremony takes place in Paris next Monday, December 14.
Meeke secured the Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers‘ title alongside Nagle in a Peugeot UK 207 Super 2000. The awards for the IRC manufacturers‘ title (Peugeot) and 2WD cups for drivers‘ (Dennis Millet) and manufacturers‘ (Peugeot) will also be handed out on the night.
Meeke and Nagle plan to defend their crown next season in a Kronos Racing-run Peugeot 207 starting on Monte Carlo Rally from January 19-23. They won a total of four IRC rounds this season and claimed the title by 11 points over Skoda Motorsport pair Jan Kopecky and Petr Stary.
WITTMANN TRIES SKODA AHEAD OF NEW IRC SEASON
Franz Wittmann will try a Skoda Fabia Super 2000 this weekend as he continues his preparations for next season’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
The rising Austrian star finished 14th in the IRC standings this season at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer E9. He has driven a Peugeot 207 S2000 subsequently and could use the French car for his programme in 2010.
He will enter the Slusovice Rally Sprint in the Skoda. The event uses asphalt roads close to Zlin, venue of Czech Republic’s IRC round."Testing the Skoda will give us figures to compare with the Peugeot," said Wittmann Jr. "I would like to run with the leaders but it will be difficult because it is my very first time in the car and I can’t make any mistakes.
Wittmann Jr scored IRC points on two occasions in 2009, in the Azores and Russia.

!cid_60e00a0693247cf0b94dab59148be5a5
Wittmann has driven a Mitsubishi in 2009; now he will try a Skoda

IRISH DRIVERS TEMPTED BY MONTE CARLO IRC

Two leading Irish drivers are planning to enter next year’s Monte Carlo Rally, which will feature extensive live coverage on Eurosport
Eamonn Boland, the 2008 Irish Tarmac champion, and Daniel Barry, who won the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge in the UK this season, are due to compete in a pair of Mitsubishi Lancers.
Boland, who will drive a latest specification Lancer E10, said: "It can be a hard rally but it’s also a great rally to go and do at that time of the year."
Entries for the event close on January 7 and are available at www.acm.mc.
YPRES PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY
The preparations for the 2010 Geko Ypres Rally are already well underway, with the rally taking place during the last weekend of June.
Geko Woonwereld, a large furniture supplier from Zulte, will sponsor the Belgium Ypres Rally for the next two seasons. Geko has already supported several well known drivers and is now looking forward to partnering with the Belgium Ypres Rally.
Alain Penasse, rally manager of the Belgium Ypres Rally said: "We are really pleased to be able to work with a company like Geko. It is a large player in the market and they understand rallying. In these difficult times, it was a good thing for Geko to partner up with the Belgium Ypres Rally and we are convinced that this partnership will allow us to grow the event over the coming years."
BIG CELEBRATIONS PLANNED FOR IRC’S CZECH ROUND
Barum Czech Rally Zlin might be more than eight months away but organisers are already planning a series of celebrations to mark the event’s 40th anniversary.
The popular asphalt rally, which was won by Skoda Motorsport driver Jan Kopecky this season, is due to form the eighth round of next year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge from August 27-28.
Some 265,000 spectators attended the event last summer and rally bosses are promising plenty of surprises for fans lining the route on next year’s event.
"The time at the end of the summer holidays proved to be good and we are preparing many surprises for the spectators next year," said clerk of the course Milos Regner.

Formel 3 Euro Serie mit hervorragender Medienresonanz

2009 ging die Formel 3 Euro Serie in ihre siebte Saison. Der Erfolg der Serie spiegelt sich nicht nur beim Betrachten der Ehemaligenliste wider: Formel-1-Stars wie Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock und Adrian Sutil sowie erfolgreiche DTM-Piloten wie Paul Di Resta und Alexandre Prémat nutzten die Formel 3 Euro Serie bereits als Sprungbrett. Auch die Medienpräsenz der stärksten Nachwuchsserie der Welt steigt weiterhin. Das geht aus den nun vorliegenden Mediadaten der Saison 2009 hervor.
In Deutschland berichteten ARD und n-tv live bzw. re-live über die Formel 3 Euro Serie. Zusätzlich fassten sowohl n-tv, das DSF als auch DMAX das Geschehen des Rennwochenendes in Magazinform zusammen. Insgesamt wurde in der Saison 2009 mehr als 24 Stunden über die Formel 3 Euro Serie im deutschen Fernsehen berichtet.
Als eine der international erfolgreichsten Nachwuchsrennserien ist das Interesse an der Formel 3 Euro Serie auch in vielen Ländern außerhalb Deutschlands sehr hoch: 15 Sender in 23 Ländern zeigten die Rennen live oder re-live und in zusätzlichen 123 Ländern wurde in Form einer Zusammenfassung über das Renngeschehen berichtet. Die technische Reichweite sämtlicher Sender lag bei ca. 666 Millionen Haushalten und die Sendedauer betrug 1.103 Stunden.
Auch in den Printmedien wurde weiterhin ausführlich über die Formel 3 Euro Serie berichtet: Insgesamt erschienen 1.956 Artikel zur Nachwuchsserie mit einer Gesamtauflage von fast 346 Millionen Lesern. Die offizielle Homepage www.f3euroseries.com erreichte insgesamt 5.398.466 Seitenabrufe, was einem Monatsdurchschnitt von 449.872 entspricht. Gegenüber dem Vorjahreswert (Monatsdurchschnitt: 287.343 Seitenabrufe) bedeutet das eine Steigerung von gut 56 Prozent. Zu den zehn Rennveranstaltungen der Formel 3 Euro Serie 2009, die in Deutschland, Frankreich, Großbritannien, den Niederlanden und Spanien ausgetragen wurden, kamen knapp 718.000 Besucher.

www.f3euroseries.com

Albert Coll en la Copa Vallés de karting 2009 En busca del mejor resultado de la temporada

DSC_8589

 

El piloto mallorquín Albert Coll, participará este fin de semana en las últimas carreras puntuables para la Copa Vallés de karting 2009, que se disputarán en el Circuito de Finestrat en Alicante.

Albert, que es el único piloto mallorquín que corre en la categoria junior en la que más participantes compiten, acumula resultados muy regulares, El piloto mallorquín espera poder optar a una de las primeras posiciones de la clasificación general de la Copa Vallés de karting 2009.

Albert quiere despedirse de la Copa con un brillante resultado final.

Albert: “Después de todas las dificultades que he tenido esta temporada tengo posibilidades de clasificarme en 7º u 8ª posición final de la Copa. Sería un gran final de año”.

Bartolomé Coll

image image image image image image logo albert

Juan Carlos Resoagli. “Visión de futuro en la Copa de Campeones”

DSC_0609

El pasado fin de semana, en el Circuito Karting Club Vendrell, se celebraba una de las citas más importantes del año, La Copa de Campeones. En esta cita participaba por primera vez, el jovencísimo piloto mallorquín Juan Carlos Resoagli.

Para esta ocasión, Juan Carlos contaría con uno de los mejores equipos de España, Sport-kart, representante de la marca de chasis Tony-kart y como no, con asistencia técnica de lujo, con James Geidel y Angel Campos.

Desde el mismo momento que Juan Carlos, empieza a rodar en la pista del Vendrell, primero en los entrenamientos y posteriormente en las diferentes mangas de clasificación, el piloto mallorquín aparte de adaptarse rápidamente al equipo y al chasis Tony-kart, estuvo muy cerca de los pilotos punteros, siendo además el mejor piloto mallorquín en las mangas de clasificación para las finales, teniendo en cuenta su corta experiencia. Juan Carlos sólo, hace un año que corrió su primera carrera, y ya está entre los mejores de España.

El mejor regalo para él llegó, gracias a la “visión de futuro” de sus progenitores que eligieron el mejor equipo, para que Juan Carlos siga progresando.

Bartolomé Coll           image image

Renger van der Zande completes testing line-up

Renger van der Zande completes testing line-up
Dutch ace to enjoy maiden F2 run in Portimão this week

Renger van der Zande

Renger van der Zande will contest the second day of Formula Two testing in Portimão, Portugal on Saturday (12 December), completing the 22-strong field of drivers.

The highly rated Dutchman joins F2 testing after a successful 2009 campaign in the British F3 International Series. He was drafted in by Hitech Racing to compete in a number of rounds during the year and impressed by taking three wins and nine podiums from 16 races on his way to finishing third overall despite not completing the season. He also won in F3 Euro Series and took a strong seventh place finish in the Macau Grand Prix – the top finish by a driver from a British F3 team.

The 23-year-old has a wealth of speed and experience, and has represented his nation in A1GP as well as contesting one round of the 2008/09 GP2 Asia Series. He also finished fourth overall in the 2008 F3 Euro Series after scoring two wins and a total of five podium finishes, and has previously won the Formula Renault 2.0 series in his native Netherlands in 2005.

Van der Zande admitted he was excited to be joining the F2 test, and also revealed he is considering competing in the championship next year – particularly given the boost it provided this year to Andy Soucek’s career.

"I have followed Formula Two closely during 2009," he explained. "Jonathan Palmer has a reputation for doing things right and that is one of the reasons why I am really excited about testing the car this week.

"When you look at what the championship has done for Andy Soucek, you can see that it is a great way to raise your profile and show F1 teams what you are capable of. For these reasons, I have to be extremely interested in the possibility of running in Formula Two next year."

The Dutchman is the latest major name to join the final F2 test of 2009 following the recent confirmation of McLaren Autosport BRDC Award Dean Smith, American star Jonathan Summerton and Superleague racer Duncan Tappy.

2009 F2 drivers Kazim Vasiliauskas, Alex Brundle, Jolyon Palmer, Jack Clarke and Tristan Vautier will also be in action, whilst reigning champion Andy Soucek is running on both days as he continues to assist with developing the Williams JPH1 for the 2010 season.

Official FIA Formula Two test, Portimão – Line-up

1. Dean Smith (Formula Renault UK Champion)
2. Duncan Tappy (Superleague Formula)
3. Jonathan Summerton (Formula Atlantic) (12 December)
4. Renger van der Zande (British F3) (12 December)
5. Andy Soucek (FIA Formula Two Champion)
6. Kazim Vasiliauskas (FIA Formula Two) (11 December)
7. Mihai Marinescu (Formula Renault 3.5) (12 December)
8. Ricardo Teixeira (GP2)
9. Kelvin Snoeks (International Formula Master) (11 December)
10. Nico Müller (Swiss Formula Renault 2.0 Champion) (11 December)
11. Alex Brundle (FIA Formula Two)
12. Benjamin Bailly (Formul’Academy Euro Series)
13. Ivan Samarin (Formula 3 Russia)
14. Tristan Vautier (Formula Palmer Audi and FIA Formula Two) (12 December)
15. Benjamin Lariche (Formula Renault 2.0 WEC)
16. Jolyon Palmer (FIA Formula Two)
17. Jack Clarke (FIA Formula Two)
18. Ramón Piñeiro (Formula BMW Europe)
19. José Alonso Liste (Formula Palmer Audi) (11 December)
20. Paul Rees (Formula Palmer Audi) (11 December)
21. Kevin Mirocha (Formula 3 Euro Series) (12 December)
22. Johan Jokinen (Formula 3 Euro Series)

The second official FIA Formula Two test of the winter will commence in Portimão, Portugal on Friday 11 December, with Renger van der Zande set to test on the second day (12 December). Formulatwo.com will bring you all the latest news and reports throughout the two days.

www.formulatwo.com

Jonathan Summerton signs up for Formula Two test

Jonathan Summerton signs up for Formula Two test
Another major name is added to Portimão line-up

Jonathan Summerton

American racer and rising star Jonathan Summerton will join the Formula Two test on the second day of running in Portimão later this week (12 December).

Jonathan becomes the first American to drive a modern day F2 car and he arrives with an impressive portfolio of results. The 21-year-old drove for Mucke Motorsport alongside Sebastien Buemi in the F3 Euro Series in 2006, and took one victory on his way to finishing ninth overall, ahead of his F1-bound team-mate.

A limited budget meant he could only enter selected rounds during the following season, but the Florida driver took a victory for Team USA in A1GP before he returned to compete in the States for the last two years. After finishing third in the Formula Atlantic Championship in 2008, he improved to finish as runner-up in 2009. He had also been a frontrunner in Indy Lights before a lack of finance curtailed his season.

Summerton has already been linked with driving for the USF1 Team who are due to enter the Formula One World Championship. Co-founder of the team, Peter Windsor, said earlier this year: “One obvious thing that came out of America’s involvement in A1GP was Jonathan Summerton, who is very, very good. We know that Jonathan is a Sebastien Buemi-paced driver because he was Buemi’s team-mate in F3, so he’s a guy that’s obviously got a massive amount of potential."

Summerton is now eyeing a switch to the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship as he believes the championship could be the perfect stepping stone to Formula One.

Jonathan Summerton said: “I watched every Formula Two race throughout the season on TV and I have stayed in touch with the championship. I know Robert Wickens pretty well and I was able to speak with him during the year and get some good feedback. The championship looks great and having the FIA and Williams backing it is really appealing. I am really looking forward to testing the car in Portugal.

“I have been in touch with USF1 for the last year or so and there is good communication between us. They are still looking for a budget next year, which makes things a little tough but they have certainly let me know that they want me. That is also one of the main reasons to look at running in Formula Two – it is a great way to gain exposure and showcase your ability. There is already the test with Williams on offer at the end of the year so to have the chance of working with a team like that is a great opportunity.

“We came back to America in 2008 and 2009 to try and re-raise awareness about my career to the people back home. Trying to find funds to compete in Europe is difficult but we feel that it is time to come back here and keep plugging away.”

www.formulatwo.com

Miguel Socías en las dos últimas pruebas de la Copa Adrián Vallés

Este fin de semana se disputan las dos últimas citas de la Copa Vallés
MIGUEL SOCÍAS QUIERE DESPEDIRSE CON UN PODIO

Campanet, (Illes Balears, España), jueves 10 de diciembre de 2009.
Tras sufrir mucho la semana pasada en la Copa de Campeones, llega el
momento de la verdad para Miguel Socías, ya que el piloto balear afrontará
este fin de semana en el Circuito de Finestrat los dos últimos "meetings"
de la Copa Vallés Primoti 2009. Actualmente el piloto del equipo MS
Motorsport ocupa la tercera plaza provisional en el campeonato, puesto
que intentará defender a toda costa.
Al tratarse de dos carreras, una se celebrará en la tarde del sábado, mientras
que la otra será el domingo. Se espera que la participación sea de las más
altas de la temporada, así como también se espera una gran asistencia de
público en el Circuito de Finestrat.
Miguel Socías está muy motivado y espera poder luchar por los puestos de
honor en ambas pruebas, el trazado de Finestrat es uno de sus preferidos
y uno de los que mejor conoce. El campaneter deberá tener máximo cuidado
con la mecánica ya que está obligado a puntuar en ambas pruebas si es que
espera aspirar al cajón final.
El piloto de la Escudería Mallorca Competició ha subido dos veces al podio,
una de ellas en lo más alto, pero su regularidad ha sido su mejor baza, no
ha fallado en ninguna carrera y siempre ha puntuado por lo que de seguir
así podría conseguir su objetivo. El rival más temido es Ángel Franco que
en la anterior carrera jugó en casa y se acercó peligrosamente al mallorquín,
aunque todavía les separan unos cuantos puntos a favor del isleño.
Las palabras de Miguel Socías antes de esta carrera son:
"Nos hemos preparado a conciencia, he aprendido mucho en la carrera de
la Copa de Campeones, sobre todo a sufrir. Tengo muy claro que si quiero
terminar arriba tendré que aplicarme de valiente, todo el equipo esta conmigo
y espero poder darles un nuevo podio como colofón a una larga temporadas
llena de buenos momentos. Asimismo quiero agradecer la confianza de los
patrocinadores en esta aventura que ya llega a su final."

Miguel Ferrer Tel. + 34 619.674.644  mferrer@ferbispress.com