Portugal will boast one of the strongest driver/team pairings in this season’s Superleague Formula by Sonangol campaign after Alvaro Parente was named as FC Porto’s latest signing.
The Portuguese national champions finished fifth in last season’s Superleague Formula standings, just six points adrift of FC Basel in third, after Tristan Gommendy and then Parente both claimed a victory apiece in Britain and on home soil at Estoril.
Parente meanwhile will start as one of the most feared drivers on the grid this season thanks to his enviable junior formula CV. After winning the prestigious British F3 title in 2005, he graduated to Formula Renault 3.5 where he took three victories on his way to fifth in the standings in his maiden year, before returning to claim the crown in 2007.
GP2 beckoned the following season where Parente won on debut in Barcelona, a feat he would go on to repeat in his only Superleague Formula outing to date at Estoril last year.
A lifelong Porto fan, Parente can’t wait to represent his beloved club once again.
Alvaro Parente: “I am happy to be racing in Superleague Formula again, especially for Porto, the club I have supported since I was very young. I will certainly be doing my best to bring some silverware back to Portugal! The Superleague Formula single seater is a big car with a big engine which I will hopefully adapt to quickly as I am used to driving these types of racing cars.”
Henrique Pais, FC Porto: “FC Porto goes into all competitions to win. We have improved our performance and this year we hope to be able to fight for victories at every round. We were the first Portuguese club to enter Superleague Formula and, regarding football clubs, we are the brand with the most recognisable name internationally. This brings more responsibility to our team which is why we wanted to have a driver like Alvaro: a Portuguese driver and a Porto fan!”
Reid Motorsport will run Porto’s entry in 2010 and Team Principal Anthony Reid is hopeful of a strong showing.
Anthony Reid, Team Principal Reid Motorsport: "Having run with Sebastien Bourdais last year we’re obviously delighted to have secured someone of the same calibre. Alvaro has proven his ability in GP2 and we’re really looking forward to running with him this season."
Superleague Formula kicks off at Silverstone this weekend. To purchase tickets, visit: silverstone.co.uk/events/superleague-formula/?tab=book-now
Alvaro Parente
Date of Birth: 14th October 1984Nationality: PortugueseHeight: 1.73mWeight: 69kg
On-track Career
2010 Superleague Formula by Sonangol, FC Porto2009 8th Place in GP2 Series (1 victory): Race 2 winner SF Estoril2008 8th Place in GP2 Series (1 victory)2007 World Series by Renault Winner (2 victories)2006 5th Place in World Series by Renault; 9th Place in A1GP2005 British Formula 3 Champion (11 victories)2004 7th Place in British Formula 3 (1 victory)2003 25th in Formula 3 Euroseries2002 4th Place in Spanish Formula 3 (1 victory)2001 12th Place in Spanish Formula 31999 7th Place in ICA Junior European Championship1998 National Junior Champion, European Champion ICA Junior1997 3rd in Campeonato Português de Cadetes1995 Runner-Up Cadettes National Karting Championship1994 Cadettes National Karting Champion1992 Debut in Karting aged eight
