USF1 signs its 2nd driver UPDATE #2 (GMM) USF1's only confirmed driver Jose Maria Lopez has singled out fellow rookie Adrian Valles as an ideal teammate.
We reported earlier this month that Spaniard Valles, 23, was the leading candidate to complete the new American entrant's 2010 driver lineup.
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| Adrian Valles |
Valles, who tested with Silverstone based Midland and Spyker a few years ago, returned to GP2 in 2008 and last season became the champion of the Superleague Formula series.
"For many reasons, I would love to have Adrian as my teammate," Argentine Lopez, 26, told the daily Spanish sports newspaper Marca in an interview.
"First, he is a young guy who is talented and experienced. Secondly, because I know him from our time together in the Renault driver development program," he added.
"Adrian has done well in all the categories he has competed in, proving he is a talented driver," said Lopez.
Despite USF1 being a brand new outfit whose car is not ready with less than a month to go until the 2010 season, Lopez said the Charlotte based team does not necessarily need at least one experienced driver.
"I think, more than experience, it is more important to have the right attitude and desire to develop and help the team," he said.
"Logically it is very useful for an inexperienced team in F1 to have an experienced driver, but so too is it (useful) to have young drivers who are willing to give everything," added Lopez.
02/04/10 (GMM) Adrian Valles has emerged as the leading candidate to complete USF1's 2010 driver lineup.
The 23-year-old Spaniard, who tested with Silverstone based Midland and Spyker a few years ago, returned to GP2 in 2008 and last season became the champion of the Superleague Formula series.
A report in the Spanish sports daily Marca said his talks with USF1 about a one year contract are "well advanced", with an announcement possibly imminent.
"Sorry, I can't comment," Valles, who attended the Valencia test on Wednesday, is quoted as saying by Diario Informacion.
That newspaper said a representative of the driver flew from Spain to England on Wednesday to finalize the contract with USF1 sporting director Peter Windsor.
02/03/10 The Spanish sports daily Marca reported today on their front page that Spaniard Adrian Valles has signed to drive for the USF1 team this season. The rumor, if confirmed, would be quite surprising the 23 year-old was not on anyone’s Silly Season radar screen during the off-season. He would become the 4th Spaniard, along with Fernando Alonso, Pedro De la Rosa and Jaime Alguersuari, in F1 this year.
He will team with already signed Argentinean driver Jose Lopez, thereby making the USA team not very American. We have updated our 2010 F1 Silly Season page above accordingly.
