Atech Reid continued its winning ways in Superleague Formula by Sonangol with a convincing lights to flag victory for PSV Eindhoven’s Narain Karthikeyan in race two at Brands Hatch on Sunday. The team continues to lead the championship with Yelmer Buurman in the AC Milan car after he finished fourth, while Andy Soucek (Sporting Lisbon) drove a superb opening race to take his first podium finish of the year.
There was further good news for FC Porto’s Alvaro Parente, finishing fourth in race one while Liverpool FC’s James Walker also took two top ten finishes at his home event.
Race one got underway at the Kent track on Sunday with Spaniard Soucek driving a superb race to take the last spot on the podium, holding off a strong challenge from series leader and team mate Buurman (AC Milan).
Walker (Liverpool FC) was one of the big movers in the race. After a difficult qualifying in which he was eighth in his group, the Jerseyman put his extensive knowledge of the Brands Hatch GP circuit to good use, making some fantastic passing manoeuvres and gaining four places prior to the pit stop. His charge through the field continued after the stop as he went on to finish 10th.
Walker was closely followed home by team-mate Parente (FC Porto) who was struggling slightly with pace at the beginning of the race although after the pit stop for new tyres, was happier with the set-up and confident of a strong finish in race two.
PSV’s Karthikeyan sadly failed to finish the opening race, but had the satisfaction of starting race two from pole position and keen to continue his form of winning every time at Brands Hatch.
The Indian, who raced in the UK for several years, stamped his authority on proceedings right from the off, holding the lead from start to finish and winning convincingly, with over ten seconds advantage at the finish. The race however was brought to a premature conclusion following an accident, but for the team, its latest signing’s performance saw a maximum points haul.
FC Porto’s Parente finished the race in fourth place, helping him qualify for the five lap dash-for-cash Super Final later in the day, while Walker completed a double top-ten finish and series leader Buurman finished in 12th.
The Super Final completed the day’s racing action and had Buurman keen to retake the series lead. The Dutchman finished fourth, one place ahead of his main rival, to regain his lead at the top of the table by the slender margin of just two points. Parente (FC Porto) also qualified for the Super Final and recovered to take sixth after being pushed wide into the gravel at the first corner.
