Adrian Valles...the next Alonso?

The popularity of Formula One in Spain has soared since Fernando Alonso became a national superstar, and an army of young pretenders are now following in his footsteps in F3, World Series by Renault, and GP2.

The first of this new post-Alonso generation to make to F1 is Adrian Valles, who this year becomes a full-time Spyker test driver. The 20-year-old had his maiden run in an M16 at Silverstone last September, and tried the new F8-VII for the first time at Valencia last week. His arrival at the top level is confirmation that the sport is booming in his home country.

"It’s very good for me because with Alonso F1 is growing up as a really important sport in Spain now,’ says Adrian. ‘So I think it’s the right time to be there. With these two titles he’s won it’s really big now, and the Spanish market is growing really quickly. A lot of big companies are investing money, and it’s a great opportunity."

Despite his age, Valles already has a lot of experience. He competed in the Spanish F3 championship as long ago as 2003, before moving into World Series by Nissan in 2004 with the Pons team. He scored a second place in his first year, but much better was to come in 2005, when the championship was given the Renault brand name. He won two races and finished runner-up to none other than Robert Kubica, whose talent is now apparent to everybody.

"I was fighting with him until the fourth race, with the same points, or just behind him. But I had a problem an ear infection, so I lost my balance. And it took me two races to get well. After that it was impossible to catch up, so I finished second. But I think it’s really good for me that he’s now in F1."

Last season Adrian moved up to GP2 with the Campos team. In a highly competitive year he had a third place and recorded two fastest laps, but he admits it was a frustrating season.

"I had the third place in Valencia at the start of the season, but after that the results were not that good. But as you know, in GP2 the team is really important, and if you don’t have a really competitive car it’s almost impossible to score points and win races."

However, he had caught the attention of the Spyker team, and that led to the Silverstone test at the end of the GP2 season.

"It was a great chance that Spyker gave me, and I didn’t waste the opportunity. I enjoyed it a lot, because it was my first time in an F1 car. It was amazing, something special that you can’t compare with other racing cars! I think I adapted really quickly and I worked really well with the team, and I was really happy to work with the guys. I really enjoyed it."

Over the winter Adrian decided that rather than continue in GP2 he would take up an offer to become a Spyker test driver. With no racing programme to distract him, he can now concentrate on learning about F1.

‘It’s a great opportunity and it’s good because they have to trust me a lot. I hope to do a really good job for the team and they can see that I’m working really hard for them. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to be race driver next year.’

Of course he would rather be racing, but like many others before him - including Alonso himself in 2002 - he realises that longer term a year of testing could be the right career move.

"Everyone wants to race, but I think everyone has to do a step like this. I’ll be running with the car and trying to get experience, and I’ll try to get a race seat next year. I would really love to drive on Friday in Barcelona! It would be really good because all the Spanish people would be there, and I think anyone would really enjoy that."