Kartlink

Liverpool FC has clinched the 2009 Superleague Formula by Sonangol
Championship with two strong performances by Adrian Vallés in the
final rounds at Jarama on Sunday. FC Midtjylland’s Kasper Anderson
ended his year with a podium finish, while FC Porto and Tristan
Gommendy jumped to fifth in the overall standings.

The weekend didn’t start well for the Silverstone-based team who went
into the Spanish rounds with a 49 point advantage over Tottenham
Hotspur. However, despite 100 points on offer for the two race wins,
their main rival needed victory with a disaster for Liverpool FC to
realistically have any chance of claiming the title.

But such has been the form of the Hitech Junior Team and Vallés this
season, there was little Spurs’ Craig Dolby could do to wrest the
title from the Spaniard’s hands. Despite a storming second race for
the Briton, the title was already Vallés’ with a 100% reliability
record and a top ten finish at every race.

The opening round proved disastrous for Anderson however, the young
Dane the unfortunate victim of a first corner incident which saw him
lock up his wheels and run straight on into the gravel his race over
on the spot.  For Gommendy a superb pass on Flamenco early on put him
ninth before the mandatory pit stops with Vallés up to 12th.

After the stops, the pair rejoined in ninth and tenth, another
fantastic job by the Hitech mechanics, elevating the Liverpool FC car
up two places. As the race settled down the duo were soon on the tail
of the eighth-placed Olympique Lyonnaise car, the trio running nose to
tail.

Just a few laps from the flag, a collision between AS Roma and
Corinthians put them both out of the race and promoted Gommendy and
Vallés while a lap later they both found a way past Olympique
Lyonnaise to take the flag sixth and seventh.

Starting race two from pole position, Anderson made the perfect
getaway to lead into the first corner.  A multi-car tangle midfield
was avoided by a fast-starting Liverpool FC in seventh and FC Porto in
tenth, but resulted in the deployment of the safety car.

At the restart Galatasary got the jump on the FC Midtjylland car of
Andersen, while Liverpool FC also dropped a place, the order staying
the same up to the pit stops. As the race settled down again after the
stops, a great effort by Vallés moved him up to sixth but Anderson
dropped to third with Gommendy now into eighth, with a superb move on
Flamengo.

A strong second half of the race allowed Anderson to hold onto third
place to take a well-earned podium finish. While Vallés was briefly
held up by the Atlético Madrid car, which rejoined in front after a
pit stop, which allowed the fourth-placed Seville car to stretch the
gap back to Vallés.

The Liverpool car though was soon past Madrid while behind, a charging
Gommendy passed AC Milan before a great pass on Madrid to move into
sixth. Just a few laps from home a mistake by Sevilla FC allowed both
Liverpool FC and FC Porto through, the pair crossing the line fourth
and fifth just behind the FC Midtjylland car of Anderson to give the
title to Liverpool FC.

The final dash for cash five-lap race that rounded off the day, netted
third place for Liverpool FC with FC Porto, running off the track at
the first corner, recovering to finish fifth.

Final championship positions after 12 rounds: 1. Liverpool FC 412, 2.
Tottenham Hotspur 382, 3. FC Basel 308, 4. RSC Anderlecht 305, 5. FC
Porto 302, 6. Olympiacos 300, 7. AC Milan 286, 8. Corinthians 264, 9.
Sevilla FC 253, 10. Rangers FC 241, 14. FC Midtjylland 203.

Loading mentions Retweet