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Portimao: Atech Reid weekend summary

VICTORY FOR LIVERPOOL FC AT PORTIMAO Atech Reid's Frederic Vervisch (Liverpool FC) took a sensational debut victory in just his second Superleague Formula by Sonangol outing at Portimao on Sunday, winning the five lap dash-for-cash Super Final.

VICTORY FOR LIVERPOOL FC AT PORTIMAO

Atech Reid's Frederic Vervisch (Liverpool FC) took a sensational debut victory in just his second Superleague Formula by Sonangol outing at Portimao on Sunday, winning the five lap dash-for-cash Super Final. FC Porto's Alvaro Parente took a superb podium finish on home soil in race one. But a stunning drive in the weekend's opening race for championship contender Yelmer Buurman (AC Milan) where he fought from 13th up to fourth place, ended controversially with a drive through penalty.

Race one kicked off on Saturday morning and a superb start by the Dutchman allowed him to jump four places on the opening lap. Two further places were gained before a stunning pitstop by the Atech Reid team got him out in fourth and crucially ahead of title rival Craig Dolby (Tottenham Hotspur).

However a battle with Andy Soucek (Galatasary) for the final podium position, in which both were deemed not to have respected track limits, resulted in them receiving drive-through penalties, demoting Buurman to tenth at the finish.

This allowed Parente (FC Porto) to take the final podium spot, the Portuguese already running in the top three before a slow pit stop had dropped him to sixth. Vervisch (Liverpool FC) finished fourth after an impressive drive by the young Belgian, while Hywel Lloyd (PSV Eindhoven) was looking good for a top ten finish until his engine let go before the end of the race.

In the reverse grid race two Lloyd recovered well to come home in eighth place, despite being hit by Dolby (Tottenham Hotspurs) at the first corner.

There was further disappointment for Buurman who had got up to third at turn one from ninth on the grid. The Dutchman lost several places when he was forced to run off the track to avoid the spinning car of pole-man Celso Miguez (Bordeaux) in front.

Rejoining at the back of the field, Buurman spectacularly fought his way up the order, but later suffered a technical problem and was subsequently forced into retirement. Parente (FC Porto) was also left frustrated by a non-finish in race two when a rear wheel hub failure caused his left-rear wheel to come off in the fast final corner.

This ensured just Vervisch would take the start for the five-lap Super Final. From fourth on the grid, the Liverpool FC driver made an incredible getaway, capitalising on a slow start by pole-man Robert Doornbos (Corinthians), who was then touched into a spin by Tristan Gommendy (Olympique Lyonnais).

For the remaining five laps, Vervisch fought off a strong challenge from the Beijing and RSC Anderlecht drivers, crossing the line just 0.471 seconds ahead for a remarkable debut victory.

The team continues its bid for Superleague Formula by Sonangol championship victory with the next rounds of the series in China over the weekend of 2/3 October.

-source: atech reid

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