WEEKEND WINNER LIVERPOOL FC OUTSCORES OPPOSITION IN BELGIUM
19/07/2009 - "Weekend Winner" honours went to Liverpool FC
when Adrian Valles (SP) placed third in both the first and second races
of the Superleague Formula by Sonangol at Zolder today (19 Jul) after
out-scoring the opposition to collect the €100,000 top-prize.
Tottenham Hotspur and Al Ain won the two 44min plus one lap races at the
Belgian venue courtesy of Craig Dolby (GB) and series newcomer Esteban
Guerrieri (ARG). Liverpool's Valles heads for Donington Park (UK)
next month (1-2 Aug) leading the 6-rounds series by 24-points from Al Ain
with Spurs, second and third respectively in the "weekend
winner" contest for the highest combined points scorers from both
races, a further seven points adrift.
RSC Anderlecht, the Belgian club in the single-seater series representing
world-famous soccer clubs, netted eighth and 14th places and now lies
12th in the standings - Yelmer Buurman (NED) having begun the weekend
second.
Interested spectators amongst the 12,000 crowd at Zolder included RSC
Anderlecht players Cheikhou Kouyate, Romelu Lukaku and Kanu, PSV
Eindhoven's Timmy Simons and Carlos Salcido plus Olympique Lyonnais
President Jean-Michel Aulas.
Race 1 - British Clubs To The Fore In Opening Belgian Encounter
Tottenham Hotspur's Craig Dolby scored his and the British
club's maiden SLF victory when he led home the Glasgow Rangers
machine of SLF "rookie" John Martin (AUS). Championship
leader Adrian Valles (SP) made it a 1-2-3 for British clubs in the
Liverpool FC car.
Pole-sitter FC Midtylland's Kasper Andersen (DEN) led until
stalling his engine during his compulsory pit-stop at mid-distance and
later spun out of the race bringing out the Safety Car for a second time
after an opening lap, first corner accident eliminated the Sporting Clube
de Portugal, SC Corinthians and Atletico de Madrid cars.
Race 1 - Quotes
Tottenham Hotspur: Craig Dolby (GB)
"It's a fantastic maiden SLF win for Tottenham Hotspur and
for me. My car's rear diffuser was broken at the first corner
melee. I just pushed as hard as I could and my team did a great
pit-stop."
Glasgow Rangers: John Martin (AUS)
"I lost time during the pit-stop when the car slipped off the front
jack - just like at Magny Cours. Without that problem we'd have
been challenging the Spurs car for the win."
Liverpool FC: Adrian Valles (SP)
"Importantly I extended my championship lead. The start was crazy
but I was catching FC Midtylland before he pitted but then his problem in
the pits delayed my stop 'window' - it was a race I could
have won".
Race 2 - Al Ain Claims Second SLF Win After Late Race Pass
Al Ain's Estaban Guerrieri (ARG) scored his first SLF race win in
only his second race when he slipped ahead of the Athletico de Madrid car
of Ho-Pin Tung (CHN) with five laps remaining. Adrian Valles (SP) further
enhanced his series lead with third place, the Spaniard having to
forcefully keep the Olympiacos car of Davide Rigon (IT) behind.
The race began behind the Safety Car on a wet but drying track with the
entire 18-car field on wet weather tyres. Flamengo and Galatasaray were
early casualties while Sporting Clube de Portugal crashed heavily into
the tyre wall on lap nine bringing out the Safety Car and a flurry of
compulsory pit-stop activity where the cars switched to dry weather,
slick tyres.
Race 2 Quotes:
Al-Ain FC: Esteban Guerrieri (ARG)
"I started race two from 13th place on the grid having finished
sixth on my SLF race debut - despite a spin. I'm delighted with
this result and for Al Ain and absolutely love these cars."
Atletico de Madrid: Ho-Pin Tung (CHN)
"The team did a fantastic job to repair my car after the damage
received following the first corner shunt in the opening race. I wanted
it to remain wet but it dried and that was not so good for our car.
Nevertheless second place is a good result taking into account
everything.
Liverpool FC: Adrian Valles (SP)
"The team worked a good strategy - stopping me early for
'slicks' and it was just a case of defending my third place
from Olympiacos as I was on 'old' tyres from race one.
I'm very, very happy with this weekend. To go to Liverpool's
'home' race leading the championship is a perfect
scenario"
Next races: Donington Park, England (1-2 Aug)
-creedit: sf
