Parth heads to Europe
Reigning Formula Pilota Asia champion Parth Ghorpade has signed up for the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS this year. The 19-year old from Kolhapur, Maharashtra is the first Indian to compete in the series, which is a feeder for the Formula Renault 3.5 Championship. Parth has quite a few feathers in his hat already â€" he is five-time national karting champion, apart from being runner-up in the inaugural Volkswagen Polo Cup. In the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS he will be driving for BVM Racing, where his team mate will be Italian driver Dario Capitanio. The Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS uses the engine from Renault's Clio III Sport, which boasts of a power output of 250bhp and is mated to a 7-speed sequential gearbox with paddleshifters, and uses pushrod suspension.
Parth attended the first official test at the Vallelunga circuit in Italy, where he finished within the top ten times consistently. Parth said he was able to adapt to his new race car with ease, and was happy with the positive outcome of the first test. He said the fact that the top 20 cars in testing were within a second of each other shows hows competitive the grid will be. The series will have as many as 30 cars on the grid this year, with 7 rounds consisting of two races each. Each race weekend will have three 60 minute practice sessions on Friday, with qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday and Race 2 on Sunday. The race calendar includes visits to historic circuits like Spa-Francorrchamps, Monza and Imola. The first round takes place on April 7 in Vallelunga.