Portimao: Atech Reid race report

Agony & Ecstasy
Motorsport is known for its highs and lows and our boys at Atech Reid last weekend definitely experienced their fair share of them.

It was a home podium finish in the first race for Alvaro Parente, who finished in 3rd position as his team mate (Yelmer Buurman- AC Milan) was relegated back down the pack after serving a controversial drive through penalty late in the race. He went on to finish the race in 10th position.

Yelmer Buurman channelled his aggression in the second race and got a fantastic start. Starting from grid ten, he managed to get into 2nd position in the first turn. He was on his way to regaining his winning form and capitalise on the points he would earn and yet it was not meant to be as the car leading the race on the first lap spun right ahead of Yelmer, forcing the AC Milan driver to veer off the track into the gravel. He later retired as he was coming back through the field again due to a loss of drive which has since been associated with the gearbox.

Alvaro Parente was the other Atech Reid driver whose race ended prematurely. In one of the high speed turns, the left hand side, rear hub failed and that caused Alvaro to lose his wheel, consequently ending the home driver's dream run.

In race 2 it was all about the new kids in the Atech Reid team. New PSV Eindhoven driver Hywell Lloyd started the second race from 3rd position after a speedy engine change and ended up the race in 9th. Not bad for his second time in the car! The Welshmen displayed a profound sense of maturity over the weekend, making some very assertive passing manoeuvres on seasoned drivers.

Frederic Vervisch (Liverpool FC) was equally as consistent and had stayed out of trouble all weekend. He was the only driver to qualify for the coveted "dash for cash" Super Final. He started the 5 lap race in 4th position and after a rocket start; he took the lead early in the race.

It was undoubtedly one of the toughest and closest Superleague Formula Super Final races of the season, with pressure coming from behind from both John Martin and Davide Rigon. The cards played into the hands of Vervisch, as the Beijing car (John Martin) passed the RSC Anderlecht car driven by Rigon under a yellow flag. Martin (who was at the time on the tail of Vervisch) had to slow down and let Davide rigon re-pass him. All the mean while, Vervicsh was concentrating on brining the Liverpool FC machine home safely.

Vervisch eventually brought the Liverpool FC car home in 1st position, adding a cool 100,000 Euro to his bank account.

"It was a good start. I just tried to hold my position into the first turn. An excited Vervisch stated. I cannot believe it, I am just so happy! This might mean that I can go to the next round in China with the team. I am speechless, I am really, really happy."

The next round of the Superleague Formula Championship will be one of the first fly away events. The teams are off to China for 2 races, to tracks that neither the teams nor the drivers have ever driven on or even seen! It will be a test of skill and which team can most quickly find the pace in the car!

-source: Atech Reid