Liverpool FC opened the scoring as this years Superleague Formula by Sonangol roared into action with a four-hour pre-season test session at Magny-Cours in France. The former home of the French Grand Prix stages the opening rounds of the 2009 football-themed championship on Sunday and the competitors were given a chance to fine tune their upgraded V12 race cars today (Friday).
Earlier this evening thousands of fans packed the downtown pavements to watch a dramatic demonstration as three V12-engined Superleague Formula race cars roared up and down the Avenue General de Gaulle. To the obvious delight of the locals, one of the cars wowing the enthusiastic crowds was the new Olympique Lyonnais entry driven by Nelson Panciatici. The all French rookie team was joined by similar 750bhp race cars representing two of Europes other top football clubs: Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven driven by Adrian Valles and Dominique Muermans.
The street show was followed by a public autograph session in Place Carnot and then the Drivers Draw for qualifying groups at the Palais Ducal. The draw placed Olympique Lyonnais, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Al-Ain FC, Flamengo, Anderlecht, Atlético de Madrid, Tottenham Hotspurs, Liverpool FC, AS Roma in Group A for tomorrows first qualifying session; the remaining eight clubs (AC Milan, Galatasaray , PSV Eindhoven , Olympiacos, Basel , Corinthians, FC Porto, Glasgow Rangers, FC Midtjylland) into Group B. The fastest four cars from each group will qualify for the final shoot-out for the top eight starting positions on the grid for the opening race of this years Superleague Formula by Sanangol on Sunday morning