Alvaro Parente Sign ORT Deal for 2009

Alvaro Parente

Tiago Monteiro's Ocean Racing Technology have decided to offer the chance to compete in the GP2 Series to one of Portugal's rising talents Alvaro Parente. The Portuguese team, making their debut in the GP2 Series under the new ownership of Monteiro, have therefore completed their 2009 driver lineup, following the signing of Karun Chandhok earlier this year.

Parente himself secured his second consecutive campaign inside F1's feeder series, after making a promising debut in 2008. He then joined the GP2 roster as official driver of Super Nova outfit and powered to 8th place in the overall classification following on win and 4 podium appearances. Adding former iSport International driver Karun Chandhok to the lineup, ORT hope to become a front-runner in the 2009 Main Series.

“I'm very pleased to be with Ocean Racing Technology, because I believe in the team's potentialities and I was very well welcomed by everybody. I feel confident that this team will allow me to give another step in my career. Besides, this is a project with a Portuguese flavor, which is something that makes it special and pleases me,” said Parente.

“My goal for the 2009 season is to fight for the top places in every race. After what was, in my opinion, a positive debut season, I feel more prepared and I'm certain that Ocean Racing Team will give me all the condition to achieve my aims,” added the Portuguese rider.

The GP2 pack of teams & drivers will conduct their next group test ahead of the upcoming season at Paul Ricard circuit, starting tomorrow. It will be Parente's first outing with his new team in preparation for the Main Series, as he is currently competing for Qi-Meritus in the GP2 Asia.