A1GP Team Portugal Official Blog

2009-03-08T16:26:00.002Z

A1GP SPRINT & FEATURE RACES - GAUTENG - RACE 9 & RACE 10

2009-03-08T12:20:00.002Z

Switzerland wins at Kyalami while Portugal scores its fourth podium of the season

Filipe Albuquerque started the day in tip top shape, securing 2nd place in the sprint race as well as the fastest lap on-track.

Albuquerque, which left from second place, was betrayed by his single-seater engine and would eventually loose a position for Neel Jani. Despite that, the young driver would later on recover it after the mandatory pit-stop for tire change.

He would also secure an extra point for Portugal by setting the fastest lap with 1.29.072: "I had a problem right at the start and would eventually be surprised by Neel Jani. From then onwards, I pushed hard and thanks to a really fast tire change, I was able to recover the position I had lost previously. I still tried to get closer to Bleekemolen, but my first set of tires was not that good and the advantage he had managed to secure till then was more than enough to win the race".

In the Feature Race, Filipe Albuquerque would secure 5th place after a brilliant back to front race. The same engine problems felt in the Sprint Race persisted and right after the start, Filipe was last in the race. From then onwards, it was basically a back to front race, managing to finish in a remarkable 5th place: "The start was a real disappointment, since I experienced the exact same engine problems and all of the sudden I was last. From then onwards it was basically a back to front race, trying to recover as many places as possible and taking advantage of some forfeits from other teams in the process".

Switzerland would end up winning the Feature Race, taking the lead in the overall standings with 73 points, followed closely by Ireland [70 points] and Portugal [63 points].

2009-03-08T11:33:00.003Z

WELCOME TO A1GP TEAM PORTUGAL OFFICIAL BLOG

2009-03-08T11:33:00.002Z

SUPPORT THE PORTUGUESE MOTORACING TEAM COMPETING IN A1GP, THE "WORLD CUP OF MOTORSPORT"

A1GP is the first opportunity in any area of motorsport for Nations to compete on a levelplaying field. It brings together 22 Nations representing 80 per cent of the World's population, to compete as equals, without financial or technological advantage.

For Season 4, Portuguese Star Filipe Albuquerque returns to the cockpit of the green and red car. The Team is targeting its first win this season, as well as a Home Race win at the new state of the art home track of Portimão, to be held on the easter weekend of 2009.

Filipe is former Eurocup F.Renault 2.0 European and Northern Europe Champion in 2006 and Rookie of the Year at World Series by Renault in 2007. Filipe was as well F1 test driver for Red Bull and Toro Rosso.