Piquet Jr. makes another career move downward

After assuring Ã�lvaro Parente’s presence in the Iberian GT Championship, Aurora Racing Team counts also with the presence of the former F1 pilot, Nelson Piquet Jr., in the Open GT championship’s last race, which will take place in Barcelona on October 29th and 30th.  

With �lvaro Parente competing in Superleague Formula by Porto FC and with Nelson Piquet Jr competing in Nascar Truck Series, this was way of assuring the possibility for both pilots to steer a Ferrari 430 GT2 from Aurora Racing Team, extending the already ambitious 2010 sports program.  

Apart from being one of the best international double team in Open GT, the main goal is to win the Spanish GT Championship, in which �lvaro Parente will team up with another pilot, also distinguished, that is going to be announced in due time.  

Due to schedule’s conflict he will not be able to run in one of the Spanish GT Championship’s race, Ã�lvaro Parente can be replaced by Nelson Piquet Jr, having therefore an other opportunity to better adjust to the car and to Aurora Racing Team.  

Nelson Piquet Jr and �lvaro Parente are going to be on April 30th in Portimão making the first tests with the Ferrari 430 GT2, followed afterwards by an event from Aurora Racing Team on May 1st in Oporto, which will count with the presence of all pilots and technical staff.  

The Spanish GT Championship is made up of 6 races starting already next April 16-18th in Valencia and passing one time by Portugal, namely by Estoril, on September 3rd.  The Open GT is made up of 8 races and is beginning at the same time as the Spanish GT Championship in Valencia, which ends on October 29th in Barcelona.  

  Nelson Piquet Jr.: "I'm really happy to be taking on this new challenge and to get these invitations to race in good teams. It's another new category for me, and I'm excited to be broadening my experience in GT racing – it's something that I know I'm going to enjoy. I'm also happy to have such a good team-mate in Alvaro Parente, and I'm looking forward to working with him at Aurora Racing and achieving a strong result."     

Ã�lvaro Parente: “I am very glad that Aurora Racing Team was able to join Nelson in this project. We’ve been friends since A1GP and it’s going to be great to run together in Open. I believe that all experience acquired from other classes will be a surplus-value for the team and surely we will achieve great scores."  

  Marcel Sanders, Aurora Group CEO: “I am honored to count with presence of Nelson Piquet Jr. by the side of Ã�lvaro Parente in Open GT last race. I believe that Ã�lvaro Parente and Nelson Piquet Jr have what it takes to belong in F1, and they will surely be the strongest double team in Open GT Championship.  

Our goal is to win the Spanish GT Championship and the Open’s races, which could be more than one race, if it is possible for the pilots and the team. It will be a great opportunity for our team, which only has two years. I will do our best. It’s excellent news for Aurora Group, our partner in this project."  

  Fernando Moreira, Aurora Racing Team ‘s Team Manager: “Although Aurora Racing Team only has one year’s existence, I am truly proud to awake the interest of pilots, such as Nelson Piquet Jr or Ã�lvaro Parente, as well as, to be allowed to count on their experiences in other competitive championships to evolve as a team.  

We are going to fight for the victory without undervaluing the existing competitiveness in the championship. This experience will prepare us for 2011, in which we expect to compete in all Open GT Championship races.