The fiestas in the city of Oviedo, on the San Mateo holiday, had a distinct taste of petrol thanks to a special guest: the Repsol driver Javier Villa. The local man, who is 20 in two weeks, drove around the streets of the city at the wheel of the different cars that he has used in his intense driving career in front of 200 000 fans.
After a drive past in a BMW convertible together with the President of the Federación Española de Automovilismo, Mr. Carlos Gracia, the Repsol driver experienced the sensations of the first ever kart he used in a competition. Afterwards he made the engine roar on the car he drove on his debut in Formula Junior. This was thanks to the Repsol Racing for Spain program that gave Villa a chance that he made good use of. With the petrol company`s help he jumped up to Spanish Formula 3 and become Spanish Junior Champion.Finally he sat in what is his current car, prepared for the GP2 Series, and he was able to drive in front of all his countrymen in the act that was organised by the Ayuntamiento de Oviedo (Town Council) and which was also attended by the mayor, Mr. Gabino de Lorenzo, and the President of the Spanish region of the Principado de Asturias, Vicente Álvarez Areces.Repsol took advantage of this act to present Javier Villa with the car that he drove when he took part in the Repsol Racing for Spain program. Javier Villa was one of those selected by Repsol and the Federación Española to participate in Spanish Formula Junior Championship, and he was proclaimed champion in 2004.At the moment the Repsol driver is sixth in the overall classification of the GP2 series, and in spite of being the youngest on the grid has demonstrated that he is more mature than most of his rivals, he has been able to win three times. Next week he will be able to show what he can do to Spanish fans again, this time in the final date of this championship at the circuit of Ricardo Tormo de Cheste. Javier Villa:It was fantastic to be able to be here today and to drive the cars in front of all the fans. I want to thank all the institutions and sponsors who made this very special act possible. This is a unique opportunity for me to be able to drive in front of my compatriots and to feel all the warmth of their support and affection. I hope that I am able to reward them with even better results than I have got so far this year.
