Liverpool
FC’s strong Spanish connection continues in 2009 with confirmation that
Adrian Valles will return to race the UK club’s entry in the 2009
Superleague Formula season. Last year Valles won two races and came
close to lifting the inaugural Superleague Formula crown. With such a
successful track record he and Liverpool must start this season –
kicking off at Magny Cours in France on 27/28 June – as one of the
title favourites.“It
was good to be fighting for the championship and, but for a couple of
reliability issues, we should have won it,” said the 23-year-old from
Alicante. “We were very, very strong. I took more pole positions than
anyone else, won in Belgium and Portugal as well as leading elsewhere.
I’m sure this year will be even better – I’m determined to make up for
missing out in 2008. It’s going to be exciting, though, as Superleague
is growing and there are more good drivers this time around.”As well as taking Liverpool to fourth place in the final 2008 points table – behind champions Beiing Guoan, PSV Eindhoven and AC Milan – Valles was thrilled to be a part of the Liverpool set-up. More so as with a Spanish manager and several top Spanish players, the Merseyside club has such strong links with Spain both on and off the pitch.
“I’m really happy to be racing for Liverpool once again,” he confirmed. “I really enjoyed going to a match – it was an incredible experience.”
Having tasted success with Valles in 2008, Liverpool is pleased to have retained the services of the speedy Spaniard for another crack at the coveted Superleague Formula title.
“Superleague was an exciting new venture for all us at Liverpool in 2008 and we were thrilled to see Adrian win races and mount a serious bid for the championship in our car. Now we are sticking with a winning team and
targeting some even better results in 2009. We’ve already established a
great relationship with Adrian and we are confident that he has what it
takes to represent Liverpool on the race track,” said Ian Ayre,
Liverpool FC Commercial Director.As in 2008 the Liverpool entry will be managed by top race preparation specialist Hitech. Last season the British-based team underlined its expertise by winning three of the Superleague showdowns: two for Liverpool and one for FC Porto.
“For us it’s unfinished business with Liverpool,” remarked Hitech team director David Hayle. “We did so well last year but could have done even better – that’s certainly the target this season.
Superleague Formula
Superleague Formula is the fusion of the two of the world’s most popular sports – capturing the passion of football with the thrill and excitement of motor racing. The new concept features a field of evenly matched V12-powered, 750 horsepower single seater racecars bearing the colours of the world’s leading football teams. Traditional rivals on the pitch are doing battle at some of the world’s greatest racetracks. The series kicked off in 2008 with 12 ‘double-header’ races staged at six of Europe’s premier venues. Underlining the competitive nature of Superleague Formula, no fewer than eight soccer clubs (AC Milan, Al-Ain, Beijing Guoan FC, BVB Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool FC, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla FC) experienced race victories during what was a dramatic inaugural campaign. Building on this success, a slightly revised grid featuring three new clubs (Olympique Lyonnais, FC Midtjylland and Sporting Clube de Portugal) will contest the 2009 championship, which starts at Magny-Cours in France on 27/28 June.
Superleague Formula is the fusion of the two of the world’s most popular sports – capturing the passion of football with the thrill and excitement of motor racing. The new concept features a field of evenly matched V12-powered, 750 horsepower single seater racecars bearing the colours of the world’s leading football teams. Traditional rivals on the pitch are doing battle at some of the world’s greatest racetracks. The series kicked off in 2008 with 12 ‘double-header’ races staged at six of Europe’s premier venues. Underlining the competitive nature of Superleague Formula, no fewer than eight soccer clubs (AC Milan, Al-Ain, Beijing Guoan FC, BVB Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool FC, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla FC) experienced race victories during what was a dramatic inaugural campaign. Building on this success, a slightly revised grid featuring three new clubs (Olympique Lyonnais, FC Midtjylland and Sporting Clube de Portugal) will contest the 2009 championship, which starts at Magny-Cours in France on 27/28 June.
