E-reporter Joao Filipe visits Valencia F1 GP02/09/2009

Bridgestone, exclusive tyre supplier to the GP2 Series, announced the eleven finalists of the 2009 pan-European Bridgestone e-reporter young journalists’ competition at the beginning of May, with eight finalists due to attend GP2 race weekends. Joao Filipe, a journalism student from Benedita in Portugal, was offered the chance to attend the seventh round of the GP2 Series (20-23 August), at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, as part of the e-reporter initiative.  

Joao (aged 21) was the sixth e-reporter of the year to attend a GP2 event for Bridgestone, and to write race reports and features on the Formula One feeder series for the Bridgestone website, www.bridgestone.eu/e-reporter. Interviewing a host of drivers for his reports, including Portuguese driver Alvaro Parente (Ocean Racing Technology), Joao gained invaluable journalistic experience and had the opportunity to practice his interviewing skills.  

Commenting on his e-reporter experience, Joao said, ”I think Bridgestone e-reporter is really a top contest for someone who wants to be a journalist. I usually do not have the patience to take part in contests but when I saw the advertising at my school and there were only two days until the deadline I wasted no time in writing my entry. I am glad I did it. After being in Valencia I can say that it was so far the best experience I have had as a journalist.  

“During the three days I learned lots about motorsport but also about journalism as I had a lot of work to do. I was usually very tired at the end of the day, but always felt very pleased with all the work I had done. So, I would like to say thank you to Bridgestone for giving me the opportunity to be part of GP2 for three days as a journalist, and for receiving me so well.”  

Entrants for this year’s Bridgestone e-reporter competition were asked to demonstrate their ability to write topical interview questions and a newsworthy story when applying for the competition. Entry levels for the 2009 contest have been higher than ever before, with students also being able to enter in seven different languages.  

The next two Bridgestone e-reporter finalists to attend GP2 race weekends are Mieke Vercammen (from Belgium) and Nicola Del Medico (from Italy). The overall winner of this year’s e-reporter competition, chosen for their ability to represent the Bridgestone brand and demonstrate their natural flair for journalism, will be announced in September 2009.  

For further information on the 2009 Bridgestone e-reporter competition, and to view race reports throughout the season from this year’s finalists, visit www.bridgestone.eu/e-reporter.

To read about this year's other e-reporter finalists, please use the following links:
E-reporter Mieke Vercammen at the Belgian GP2 Grand Prix
E-reporter Tim Biesbrouck at the Hungarian GP2 Grand Prix
E-reporter Kate Goodacre at the German GP2 Grand Prix
E-reporter Lukasz Lesniewski at the Dutch MotoGP Grand Prix
E-reporter Stephanie Black at the British GP2 Grand Prix
E-reporter Renaud Lacroix at the Spanish MotoGP Grand Prix
E-reporter Filip Cleeren at the Monaco GP2 Grand Prix
E-reporter Simona Vogel at the French MotoGP Grand Prix
E-reporter Ferran Lopez Margall at the Spanish GP2 Grand Prix