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Superleague Formula by Sonangol returns at May 15th and 16th at Assen, where is expected that, as happen at Silverstone, Alvaro Parente may be one of the main contenders.

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Superleague Formula

Silverstone 4 April 2010

Alvaro Parente leaves Silverstone in the 2nd place 

Alvaro Parente was one of the main contenders in the Superleague Formula by Sonangol’s first round, leaving Silverstone with his team Futebol Clube do Porto, in second place in the Championship table. 

After grabbing second in qualifying, the Portuguese had high expectations for the first race and, though he had a difficult start, second place looked like it was in reach. However, a long and pit-stop dropped him to the fourth at the flag.

The second race promised to be even harder with a reverse grid based on the race 1 result. Thius left him in thirteenth, Nevertheless with solid performance, helped by a good pit-stop, he climbed to an excellent fifth, ending the race fighting for the third.

After his good results, Alvaro Parente took part in the Super-Final, starting from the second place. The Futebol Clube do Porto’s driver started well, leading the pack in the first corner. However in braking for Stowe corner he got on the dirty side of the track and lost it dropping him the last. He then started a fight back climbing to fifth by the end..

“I think that this was a positive outcome to the weekend, we showed that we are competitive and that we will be a factor during the season. In the first race, the podium was in our reach but the pit-stop didn’t go the way we wanted and that put us in the back foot. Beside, a problem with the tires’ pressures slowed us a bit in the beginning. In the second, the pit-stop went much better and we could do a good race which gave a good fifth place. It was pity that the circuit, because of its rebuilding, is so dirty, because I think that we could have won the Super-Final, if haven’t defended myself from Craig Dolby in a muddy area”, said Alvaro.

After Superleague Formula by Sonangol’s first round, Futebol Clube do Porto is in the Championship’s second place, something that leaves the Alvaro quietly  confident: “When I take part in a competition, I’m there to win, but sometimes there is some problems and something goes wrong, which was today’s case. Getting the second place in a day when there was some gremlins has to be positive. We have a long and hard season in front of us, so I think that this was a strong start”.

 GP2 Asia

Bahrain Round 6

Perez prevents Alvaro Parente from shining (again) 

The second GP2 Asia race of the Bahrain round was very short for Alvaro Parente, as Sergio Perez sent him out in the first lap, when he was second.  

The Portuguese driver started well from third and was able to attack the Mexican’s second place. However, in the straight after the first turns of the Sakhir circuit, Perez interlocked his right front wheel in the Portuguese’s left back wheel and the driver from Oporto had to retire, after a spin in the next turn motivated by a suspension failure.  

Alvaro Parente was very displeased with this situation and he went to the Addax’s box to have a conversation with Sergio Perez about their accident. “It’s the second time that I’ve problems with him! At least, this time he admitted that he was to blame and apologized me, even if that doesn’t put me back in the race. I was in front of him and much faster than him. I don’t understand his behavior”, said the Portuguese driver.  

This incident is even more frustrating for the Portuguese driver as he is convinced that he could win the race. “I think that I could be P1 in the chequered flag! I just had Adrian Zaugg in front of me and I was much faster than him. It’s disappointing to end a weekend in this way, as I’m certain that I could win”, concluded the driver supported by TMN, Stilo and Cision.

Round 5 Bahrain

Alvaro Parente gets a hard fought 6th place

Alvaro Parente ended the first GP2 Asia race of the Bahrain event in the sixth place, after a difficult performance, giving to Scuderia Coloni its first points of the season.

Friday's race didn't start in the best way to the Portuguese you gun, as when the lights were off his car almost died. Almost engulfed by the pack, the driver from Oporto began to recover, trying a damage limitation exercise and, at the end of the first lap, he was already sixth after strong overtaking manoeuvres to Sergio Perez and to Charles Pic.

Giacomo Ricci was in Alvaro Parente's sights, but the Italian was very fast in the DPR car and, with his Dallara's tires loosing efficiency, the driver in the Coloni colours had to set himself for the sixth place, a fantastic result to someone who didn't seat in a racing car since last October. "It was a tough race! The car almost died in the start and I lost load of positions. I was able to recover some in the first lap, but after being for so long in the Ricci's back my tires began to fade and I couldn't do better than the sixth place. Nevertheless, I think it was a good result, as, last Monday, I didn't even know that I would be here today", underlined the Portuguese, who saw his teammate, Will Bratt, ending the race in the sixteenth place.

With today's result, tomorrow Alvaro Parente will start from the third place of the grid, which gives him some good chances of a good result. However, the Scuderia Coloni's youngster and his team know that they have to improve his singleseater as it was very demanding on its tires. "We will start in a good position in the second race and I think I can reach a good result. But it's important to improve the car's balance so it can be kinder to the rubber. If we sort out this issue, I think the podium will be within my reach", stated with confidence the driver who won the 2005 British Formula 3 Championship and the 2007 World Series by Renault.