Former Macau Grand Prix winner and Champ Car driver Tristan Gommendy has been selected to represent FC Porto in Superleague Formula – the new football-themed motor racing championship which is set to kick off at Donington Park (England) next week.
The Frenchman claimed the famous Formula 3 Macau victory in 2002, the same year he won the French Formula 3 Championship. Renowned as one of the toughest races in the world, Gommendy's fellow Macau Grand Prix winners include Riccardo Patrese, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher and Takuma Sato.
Gommendy went on to successfully compete in World Series by Renault before graduating to GP2 and the Champ Car World Series. Driving for PKV Racing, Gommendy won the pole at the championship's visit to Mount Tremblant in Canada last year.
FC Porto was one of the original clubs to sign up for Superleague Formula when the concept was announced in April, 2007.
The 23-time Portuguese title winners will be joined on the grid by fellow European clubs Liverpool, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Sevilla, AS Roma, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympicos, Galatasaray, Borussia Dortmund, Rangers, RSC Anderlecht and FC Basel; Brazilian greats Flamengo and Corinthians; UAE club Al Ain and Chinese outfit Beijing Guoan.
Gommendy will also renew his battle against fellow ex-Champ Car ace Robert Doornbos. Both drivers contested the 2007 Champ Car World Series Championship.
After having sampled the 750 horsepower, V12-powered Superleague Formula car recently at Vallelunga, Gommendy will turn his first laps aboard the blue and white FC Porto machine at Donington next Thursday, August 21.
"I'm really looking forward to competing for FC Porto, especially after trying the car at Vallelunga," Gommendy said.
"I really enjoyed competing with the high horsepower cars in Champ Car last year and the Superleague Formula car should be every bit as fast but sounds a lot better – the V12 is going to be great for the fans.
"It is also great for me to be competing back in Europe. I'm really looking forward to having some of my family and friends coming to the track to cheer on FC Porto.
FC Porto kicked off 2008 for Superleague Formula with its official unveiling in January this year.
"We are delighted to welcome Tristan to the FC Porto family and all our supporters are eagerly awaiting the chance to see him aboard our car," said Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, FC Porto’s President.
"Our fans have been very supportive of the Superleague Formula concept and it was very important for us to get a talented and experienced driver behind the wheel."
The complete Superleague Formula calendar includes Donington Park (August 30-31), Nurburgring (September 20-21), Zolder (October 4-5), Estoril (October 18-19), Vallelunga (November 1-2) and Jerez (November 22-23).
