A sportsman’s career

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INDICE

Carta de presentación

Ficha personal y deportiva

El patrocinio deportivo

Palmarés y acreditaciones

Proyecto equipo y objetivos

Notas de prensa

Agradecimientos

INDEXIntroductionPersonal and sports dataTraining as a driverThe road to FormulasSponsorshipTrack record and credentialsOur aimsPress releasesAcknowledgements

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Design and layout:Photographs:

Proofreading:Photomechanics:

Translation:

Jorge García (Fotomecánica Principado)Fernando de la HozJoan CodinaAlejandro BrañaMiguel Covian

Rubén González TueroFotomecánica Principado S.L.Juan C. Blanco © Text: authors

© Photograhps: authors

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Introduction

Fernando de la Hoz, Director of the International Classic Car Fair “Ciudad de Oviedo” and Chairman of the Classic Car Association of Oviedo would like to introduce you to the Asturian race driver Alejandro Rodriguez Novo. In this booklet we are providing a brief account of his achievements. Alex is a very steady driver forged on the track from his early childhood. His sports record shows his determination and fitness for any challenge in the demanding environ-ment of car racing and especially on the hard road to his biggest dream: Formula 1.

Fernando de la Hozcochesclasicosasturias.com

630 90 18 70

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Personal and sports dataFull name: Alejandro Rodriguez Novo.Birth: October 21st 1997Born in: Aviles (Asturias), Spain.Team of training: Genikart. PersonalHeight: 1.60 m/ 4.85 ft.Favourite movie: Karate Kid.Favourite driver: Fernando Alonso.Favourite sports: Car racing, football, cycling.Training for racing: General fitness and gym work with Fernando Azurmendi, coach of Asturian professional drivers Fernando Alonso and Javi Villa.

Best memories in his racing career:“My first race with Genikart team and Genis Marco was an unforgettable expe-rience, as it was winning the Catalonian Cadet Championship. A visit to Ferrari’s facilities at Maranello was a dream come true.”

AcknowledgementsAlex was given his trophy as “Catalonian Champion Karting Cadet 2010” awarded by the Catalonian Car Racing Federation (FCA) at the Catalonia Awards ceremony with the presence of Marc Gene, Ferrari test driver, and GP2 driver Dani Clos.

“My first race with Genikart team and Genis Marco was an

unforgettable experience”

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His development as a driverAlex had his first contact with racing when he was only 3 years old in a Formula 1 simulator with a steering wheel and paddle shift. He used to play online against 20 and 30 year old people who were ashamed for being defeated by a 3 year old. They would give him the wrong hour for the races so that he got late, but in spite of this, he was always fas-ter than them and he enjoyed it a lot.At the age of four he had his first driving experien-ce by renting a go-kart at the Circuit of Asturias (Norena). Alex had the attitude of a great driver leaving aside his shyness when driving. He was the happiest kid in the world on the track until he fi-nally got to drive his first real racing go-kart when he was five years old. His father used to have a 125 cc. go-kart and drove it regularly at the Soto de Duenas Circuit. Alex used to go with him just to sit on a chair and look, but he kept asking when he would have one.Alex finally had his own go-kart and he started practising at that same track at a very good level from the beginning. He would drive in very long stints without stopping; time simply did not exist for him when he was on the track.This was all he could do since he should be 7 to be admitted in a regular championship. Thus, he spent two years training at Soto de Duenas and

Pola de Siero Circuits. When he was 7 he could at last start in some races of the Asturian Champion-ship with very good feelings but lots of mechanical problems.

It was at the age of 8 when the first brilliant performances came, he was second in the Castille and Leon Championship and first in the Cantabria Championship.With these performances he got a place in the Ge-nis Marco’s team Genikart (with which Fernando Alonso became go-kart World Champion) making

Alex, Genis and James in Genikart

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his first start in the Spanish Championship at Vic (Ca-talonia). It was Alex’s first high level appearance and he got a fifth position, an outstanding result for an 8 year old Asturian who lives a long way from the tracks in which he can practice properly. In this team he was taught the values that made him progress in this sport he loves so much. There is no doubt that Genis Marco left and indelible mark in Alex.

Pressure has been a factor to deal with and Alex is aware of the effort his family is doing so that he can go ahead with his racing career, and he has always handled that pressure in a brilliant way. His lack of means has been a reason for Alex to push hard and take care of the car at the same time. The fact of ha-ving to overcome difficulties and shortages has made him a better driver in the long run.

Alex has always been determined to become a Formu-la 1 driver and he recalls watching some Asturian guy

on TV winning races and becoming World Champion. He has always received a great support from his pa-rents who do their best to keep his dream alive. Now Alex is 14 and the dream is still there, untouched, and he works hard everyday trying to make it true.

Fernando Alonso and Alex, together at the F. Alonso Circuit.

Alex with his mechanic in FA Karts

16 17 Alex and Javi Villa, Pole in Arriondas Fernando Alonso with Alex, Renault Roadshow 2009 in Oviedo.

“Alex Novo has always had a great quality as a driver. He got the pole in our track when he was just 7 in a race for the Asturian Cham-

pionship. It was raining hard and there were drivers up to 13 years old. I was rather shoc-ked because even though I knew him from

practicing in the week ends, he was still very young.

He has very good skills for this sport and he can get far with the right support. I really

wish him good luck for the future and a good support to continue with his progress as a

driver.”

Alex has many good qualities as a racing driver. First of all is his steadiness to keep a good pace for a long time. He can give 110 per cent in each race and this makes him a

very tough competitor who can pass you in the most unexpected turn. His physical condition is very good and he has also a strong consti-tution. Although he lacks means and support he can beat other guys on the track who have

twice his budget. They can count on me in case I can help because there is a great deal

of talent in this driver.

Andy Soucek with Williams F1 Team

18 19Karting Osona - Catalonian Championship. March 13th - 14th 2011

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THE ROAD TOFORMULAS

A good formula driver must have an ade-quate go-kart training. This is the best way to develop some of the different skills any pro-fessional driver needs. It takes a great deal of talent to go ahead in these hand-to-hand races with almost no electronic support. Alex has been training and racing in go-karts

since he was 5 years old and for this reason he can handle the different situations that can come out in a race. Although the go-kart period is not over yet for him, he is expected to start his Formula 3 training this year. It will be his first contact with unknown sensations such as the ground effect.

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There is a big increase of G forces from go-karts to formulas and for this reason Alex will have to work on his physical condition. He must also learn to exchange information with the engineers and deal with the set up of these single-seaters in order to squeeze them to the limit. It is going to be a new challenge and he will surely go through this as he has done before with other changes he had to face. A fascina-ting and rewarding period in his ca-reer as a driver is coming.

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SponsorshipAny company or business is interested in reaching as many people as possible in order to gain new customers for their products. There are different ways to get to the people through the media and they are all rather expensive for companies. Pro-fessionals from all over the world are in permanent search of the most effective campaigns for a better brand positioning.Sponsorship in sports will reach the people through the mass-media in the different events that take place all the time around the world. Traditional ways of advertising show some problems such as zapping when on TV and something as simple as turning leaf on written media. Motor ra-cing in any of its specialities can get to thousands of people either on site or on live broadcasts, written press through photos, etc. Everyday we get information about the return on investment that big companies receive from their sponsorship

in the different racing categories, espe-cially Formula 1 of course. And it is here where car racing has a range of advanta-ges for its sponsors: first by showing the brands on the drivers’ and mechanics’ clothing and on the cars. We will see the different brands advertised in every TV shot subtly, for as long as the race lasts. Second, with the possibility of attending sports events with stands to promote the different products, third by showing the car in different places apart from the ra-ces, such as fairs, shopping malls or any other areas that can be interesting for the advertising company. The brand image will also be improved in the eyes of the people through motorsport sponsorship by being present in vibrating events with a great social acceptance. The product will immediately be related to many positive aspects of sport such as competitiveness, healthy life and team work.

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SPONSORSSponsors can show their brands in different areas and ways:

• The car• The drivers‘ clothing• The mechanics’ clothing• The team’s clothing both while on track or travelling• Showing the cars in shopping areas, malls, fairs• In different events such as season presentation and closing where sponsors and collaborators are invited and there is a wide media coverage.

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Track record20051st Cantabrian Championship 3rdChampionship Villablino6th Asturian Championship

20061st Asturian Championship2nd Castillian Championship5th Spanish Championship

20071st Asturian Championship5th Spanish Championship5th Catalonian Championship

20083rd Asturian ChampionshipPodium in Catalonia

20092ndAsturian Championship5th Spanish ChampionshipPodium in Seville (2nd)

20101st Catalonian Championship3rd Spanish Championship, Seville3rd Spanish Championship, Cartaya

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Alex’s main aim for this year is to conso-lidate as one of the best young drivers in Europe. To achieve this he will have to compete in the WSK (World Series Karting), a championship on which F1 scouters always keep an eye.He will also compete in the Spanish, European and World go-kart cham-pionships.Another aim will be to start contacts for some formula tests in order to be-come familiar with the new feelings these cars transmit. It will be very im-portant to gain as much experience as possible in this kind of cars.

OUR AIMS

(Right) Race at Sils 2010 (Catalonian Championship).

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Press Releases

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Press Releases

40 41 Joaquín Folch, member of the Principe de Asturias Foundation and twice World Champion of F1 Historicsunto con Alex Julio Gargallo Porsche Rally Driver and Alex

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Samuel Sanchez , Cycling Gold Medal in Beijing 2008 and Mountain Champion of the Tour de France 2011, and Alex start the Mustang and Corvette Meeting in the 14th International Classic Car Fair of Oviedo 2011.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSGenikart (Genís Marcó)

Ltp competición (Jorge Latapia)

Binakart (Daniel Muñoz)

La Nueva España (Eduardo Huerta , Marta Bernardo,Vicki Fuertes)

La Voz de Aviles & El Comercio (Alberto Huerga)

Auto Hebdo Sport (José Bernardo Diaz )

Infomotor (Fernando Neira)

Speedfan.biz (Enrique Nava)

Radio Asturias Cadena Ser (Alejandra Martínez , Laura González)

Ser Deportivos (David Alonso Carmona)

TPA (María del Cueto, Laura Secades)

Canal 10 (Miguel Collado)

Fotoformulak (Joan Codina)

Calvins Unique (José Hernández)

Chancha Sport (Chancha)

Fotomecánica Principado (Jorge García, Viti)

La Cueva del Pulpo (Daniel Fuente Iglesias)

Vehiculos Leymar (Martín)

Publicidad Urogallo (Daniel)

Hache Team F3 (Eduardo Huerta)

Carlin Motorsport GP2 (Raúl Prados)

Fernando de la Hozcochesclasicosasturias.com

Javier Villa (Piloto GP2,WTCC)

Fernando de Saavedra (U.I.M.P)

Daniel Velasco (desdelacuneta.com)

Joaquín Folch (F1 Historics Driver)

Julio Gargallo (Porsche Driver)

Alejandro Braña (Photographic Studio)

Jesus Nieto Alaez (Radio dis centromotor)

Isaias Garcia

Andy Soucek (GP2 y F1 Driver)

Contact: Fernando de la Hoz • 630 90 18 70 • clasicosoviedo@hotmail.comJosé Miguel Rodríguez Lillo • 622 12 19 97 • lillo500@hotmail.com

ALEXNOVO.ES