Bridgestone Announces 2009 e-reporter Finalists

The eleven finalists who will hone their journalistic skills in the battle to become this year’s Bridgestone e-reporter have been named. This year’s list features aspiring sports reporters from nine European countries, including two UK candidates. The first e-reporter to be given the chance to demonstrate his talents is Spain’s Ferran Lopez Margall, who will cover the opening GP2 event for the season at the Spanish Grand Prix on May 8 to 10.

Eight finalists are attending a Formula One race weekend to follow the GP2 Series this season, while three others will get the opportunity to witness the two-wheeled action of MotoGP. All finalists will report on the Bridgestone-supported championships for Bridgestone’s bridgestone.eu/e-reporter website and interview riders or drivers to fine-tune their journalistic skills. The first UK e-reporter to go trackside is Stephanie Black, who heads to Silverstone on the weekend of June 19 to 21. The second Blighty based candidate, Kate Goodacre, will report on the GP2 proceedings in Germany between July 10 and 12.

Commenting on e-reporter entries for 2009, Des Collins, vice president of Bridgestone Europe’s European Communications Office, said “Bridgestone e-reporter continues to identify and nurture young journalistic talent, and we are absolutely delighted with the high level of entries for e-reporter which consistently increases year-on-year. It is also testament to the competition that so many finalists from previous years can now be seen working in Formula One.

“Bridgestone is honoured that so many e-reporters have been successful and are now working in the world of media due to their involvement in the competition,” Collins continued. “In 2009 we have more finalists than ever before. It promises to be a great year for the chosen e- reporters as they will experience the GP2 Series or MotoGP Championship from inside the paddock.”

The Bridgestone e-reporter finalists confirmed for 2009 are:

8-10 May GP2 – Spain: Ferran Lopez Margall (Spain)

15-17 May MotoGP – France: Simona Vogel (Germany)

21-23 May GP2 – Monaco: Filip Cleeren (Belgium)

12-14 June MotoGP – Spain: Renaud Lacroix (France)

19-21 June GP2 – Silverstone: Stephanie Black (UK)

25-27 June MotoGP – Assen: Lukasz Lesniewski (Poland)

10-12 July GP2 – Germany: Kate Goodacre (UK)

24-26 July GP2 – Hungary: Tim Biesbrouck (Netherlands)

21-23 August GP2 – Europe: Joao Filipe (Portugal)

28-30 August GP2 – Belgium: Mieke Vercammen (Belgium)

11-13 Sept GP2 – Monza: Nicola Del Medico (Italy)