Series Monteblanco test preview

Atech Reid GP set for Monteblanco test

Leading Superleague Formula by Sonangol team Atech Reid GP will undertake a pre-season test at Circuito Monteblanco on Thursday and Friday (9 and 10 December) as they assess possible drivers for the 2011 season.

The Welsh-based squad, which ran cars for several clubs in the football-themed series this year, will field both the AC Milan and Liverpool V12-powered 750bhp machines at the circuit in Southern Spain, running Czech star Filip Salaquarda and British racer Oliver Oakes.

The 26-year-old Salaquarda is one of the Czech Republic's brightest single-seater stars and would be the first driver from his country to race in Superleague Formula should he make the grid in 2011. This year, he raced in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, scoring two pole positions and a pair of podium finishes, and also has experience racing in International Formula Master and the F3 Euro Series.

The 23-year-old Oakes was a World Champion in karting before graduating to single-seaters in 2005. The following year he won his first-ever race in the Formula BMW UK Series on his way to sixth in the final standings. Oakes then moved on to compete in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and the British F3 International Series, and last season raced with Atech Reid's sister squad in the new GP3 Series.

Atech Reid enjoyed a strong season in 2010 and is looking to build on that success next year. As well as helping Yelmer Buurman (AC Milan) to fifth in the final Superleague Formula standings, the team won 11 races in total with Buurman, Alvaro Parente (FC Porto), Frederic Vervisch (Liverpool FC), Earl Bamber (PSV Eindhoven / FC Porto) and Narain Karthikeyan (PSV Eindhoven). The squad's drivers also won an impressive total of €790,000 in prize money during the campaign.

Anthony Reid, Atech Reid GP Team Principal: "After our successful first year campaign in the Superleague Formula Championship in 2010, Atech Reid GP is looking at running between two and four cars next year. Many drivers, including Oliver and Filip, have already shown an interest."

-source: superleagueformula.com