Beide Fahrer erwischten einen guten Start und waren auf dem Weg nach vorne als bereits nach wenigen Kurven das aus für Olympiakos kam.Olympic Lyonais rammte das Fahrzeug und drehte es um.Andere Fahrer konnten nicht ausweichen und torpetierten das Fahrzeug. Die komplette vordere Radaufhängung sowie die Frontnase wurden so demoliert das ans weiterfahren nicht zu denken war.Max wurde durch den Unfall blockiert und mußte alle Fahrer ziehen lassen. Er verlor dadurch 50 sekunden und mußte dem Feld hinterher. Mit einer grandiosen Aufholjagd plügte er durchs Feld und beendete das erste Rennen auf Platz 10.

Im zweiten Rennen startete Davide von der Pole und Max vom 9. Startplatz. Schaltprobleme am Start führten dazu das Davide 2 Plätze verlor. Max überholte Runde für Runde seine Konkurenten. Zwei hervorragende Boxenstops taten ihr übriges und am Ende standen beide Piloten auf dem Siegerpodest. Platz 2 für Davide und Platz 3 für Max. Am Ende war es das beste Wochenende in der Superleague Formula für das Team GU Racing. Als einziges Team hat GU beide Fahrer ins Superfinale gebracht.

www.gu-racing.net

Liverpool FC came out on top in the new “Weekend Winner” contest when Adrian Vallés comfortably won the Super Final at the opening rounds of the 2009 Superleague Formula by Sonangol at Magny Cours in France today (28 June).

The British club also heads the championship standings courtesy of the Spaniard claiming a victory and sixth place in the opening two 45-minute races of the exciting single-seater series. Reigning GP2 champion Giorgio Pantano took honours for AC Milan in the second race watched by a crowd of 12,000 in hot and humid weather conditions.
Olympique Lyonnais, the first French soccer club to compete in the SLF, head for the third and fourth rounds of the 12-race series at Zolder in Belgium (18-19 July) placed 14th in the standings. Frenchman Nelson Panciatici, from Reims, making his SLF debut, registered 13th place in both races on “home” soil – the 17-corner, 4.41km Circuit de Nevers circuit having hosted the French F1 Grand Prix between 1991-2008. Le Chesnay-based Tristan Gommendy, the only other French driver, netted 16th – having been involved in a first lap accident and then picking-up a puncture in race one – and seventh for FC Porto, the Portuguese club he drove for in SFL’s inaugural season.

Race 1 – Liverpool claim first blood
Liverpool claimed first blood when Vallés won the opening race at ease. Vallés overtook the pole-starting SC Corinthians car of Antônio Pizzonia (BRA) on lap five and even retained his lead during his mandatory pit-stop for tyres.
Dutchman Yelmer Buurman in the Anderlecht car, despite being involved in a multiple car opening lap accident that brought out the Safety car briefly, recovered to finish second – staving off the hard-charging Tottenham Hotspur car of Britain Craig Dolby who set the race’s fastest lap.
Pizzonia salvaged fourth at the chequered flag when Pantano –who had stormed up from 16th on the grid to fifth in the opening laps – dropped from fourth to 12th place after first spinning his AC Milan car with less than five minutes remaining and then retiring with fuel issues.
Liverpool FC: Adrian Vallés (SP)
“It was a good race – pretty comfortable. My only problem was that at the start I had to switch the gearbox to manual mode so for the opening laps I was getting used to that. But I got in to a rhythm, caught the Corinthians car and overtook it – it was a great way to start the SLF season.”
Anderlecht: Yelmer Buurman (NED)
“I lost some places at the start and was then hit further around the opening lap, causing me to spin and with damaged bodywork. I recovered and then enjoyed a good fight with the Tottenham car in the closing stages. I’m very happy with second place.”
Tottenham Hotspur: Craig Dolby (GB)
“I didn’t stop correctly in my pit box for the tyre change. But on new tyres I was able to push hard and recover the places. I pressed the Anderlecht car hard for second place but came up short. Nevertheless I’m very proud to give Spurs a rostrum finish on my debut for the London club.”
Magny Cours, France – Round 1 Results available

Race 2 – AC Milan to the fore
The Olmpiacos car of reigning SLF champion Davide Rigon (ITA) started from pole-position with the Glasgow Rangers machine of SLF rookie John Martin (AUS) alongside on the front row courtesy of the reverse grid order after both were victims of race one’s opening lap accident.
But it was the fourth row starting AC Milan machine of Pantano who cruised to victory, finishing 2.2secs ahead of Rigon. Pantano took the lead from Rangers when Martin pitted on lap nine and was back in front by lap 17 after the pit-stops. The Australian went off at Adelaide corner on lap 18 when just outside the top-10.
FC Basel’s Max Wissel came through from ninth to claim third place and the final slot through in to the Super Final with Al Ain’s Miguel Molina (ESP) just missing out on a rostrum in fourth place having fended off the advances of AS Roma’s Jonathan Kennard – the Briton retiring with a clutch problem three laps from home after the pair touched.
Race 2 Quotes:
AC Milan: Giorgio Pantano (IT)
“Qualifying had not gone well and it was a case of just doing my best in the two races so to win the second one is an amazing bonus. The [Azerti] team have worked really hard. It was a straightforward victory.”

Olympiacos: Davide Rigon (IT)

“I had gearbox problems immediately from the start resulting in me losing the lead. But after the big accident damage after the opening lap accident in race one, this result is good for the team.”

FC Basel: Max Wissel (D)

“A good race and good pit-stop – it was a big move forward. The team did a good job – it’s a good start to my season.”
Magny Cours, France – Round 2 Results available

Super Final – Liverpool claim another victory
Liverpool triumphed in the non-point scoring eight-lap shoot-out run immediately after Race 2 that only featured the top-three finishers from both races – Vallés becoming the first recipient of the new “Weekend Winner” award and a purse of €100,000.
AC Milan finished runner-up to bag €70,000 with Corinthians taking third and the corresponding €40,000 purse. Tottenham’s Craig Dolby cruelly non-started – the Briton dropping from fifth to 10th on the last lap due to system pressure failure resulting in no gears – allowing Corinthians in to the sprint race. Vallés led throughout from Pantano with Pizzonia moving the Corinthians car up from fifth on the six-car grid.Ç
Super Final Quotes:
Liverpool FC: Adrian Vallés (SP)
“I pushed very hard on the opening two laps to make a gap. It was a little strange with just six cars in the race and a race lasting just eight laps. It’s been a very good weekend. I lead the championship and I aim to have extended that lead after the next races and stay on top.”
AC Milan: Giorgio Pantano (IT)
“I didn’t expect to be in the Super Final. For sure we’ll be better prepared at the Zolder races.
Corinthians: Antonio Pizzonia (BRA)
“It was a surprise to get into the Super Final when the Spurs car had a problem and couldn’t take the start. The entire weekend has been pretty good for us. However, in race one I lost time at my pit-stop when a wheel gun malfunctioned. In race two, I struggled on my first set of tyres. Qualifying had been good – we just need to make sure these little problems don’t happen”
Magny Cours, France – Super Final Results available

www.superleagueformula.com

Liverpool FC claimed first blood in the Superleague Formula by Sonangol when Spaniard Adrian Vallés comfortably won the opening race at Magny Cours in France today (28 June).

Vallés went into the lead on lap five and even retained his lead during the mandatory pit-stop for tyres.

Dutchman Yelmer Buurman in the Anderlecht car, despite being involved in an opening lap multiple car accident, came home second after successfully defending from the Tottenham Hotspur car of Britain Craig Dolby – the pair separated by less than a second at the chequered flag.

The pole-starting SC Corinthians car of Antônio Pizzonia (BRA) ultimately finished fourth after reigning GP2 champion Giorgio Pantano dropped from fourth to 12th place after spinning his AC Milan car at high speed with less than five minutes remaining.

A second 45-minute race, with the 18-cars lining up in the reverse of the opening race finishing order, plus a new three-lap non-points scoring “shoot out” for the top-three in races one and two, are staged later today.

Liverpool FC: Adrian Vallés (SP)

It was a good race – pretty comfortable. My only problem was that at the start I had to switch the gearbox to manual mode at the start so for the opening two laps I was getting used to that. But I got in to a rhythm, caught up the Corinthians car again and overtook him. It was a good race and a great way to start the SLF season.”

Anderlecht: Yelmer Buurman (NED)

“The start was difficult as the pole-starting Corinthians car seemed to back off just before the green light at the start line and the Tottenham car overtook me at the first corner. But then I was hit further around the opening lap, causing me to spin and damaging the bodywork. Despite being unsure about the level of damage, I continued. It was a good fight with the Tottenham car in the closing stages and I’m very happy with second place.”

Tottenham Hotspur: Craig Dolby (GB)

“We started on ‘old’ tyres but I got around the outside of the Liverpool and Anderlecht cars at the start before Liverpool got me back going into turn 2. I didn’t stop exactly right in my pit box for the tyre change which delayed us. But on new tyres I was able to push hard and recover the places I’d lost due to the stop. I pressed the Anderlecht car hard for second place but came up a little short. Nevertheless I’m very proud to give Spurs a rostrum finish on my debut for the London club.”

www.superleagueformula.com

The Brazilian club’s car driven by Antônio Pizzonia (BRA) netted the fastest time in today’s (27 June) two-car Qualifying Final against the Liverpool FC machine of Adrian Vallés (ESP) staged in hot and humid weather conditions.
Pizzonia, aged 28, set a time of 1min 26.555secs around the 4.41km Circuit de Nevers circuit in the final – 0.299-secs faster than Vallés (23) as the pair battled for supremacy at the culmination of the qualifying knock-out competition.
In semi-final one Pizzonia, who finished second in the final race of the SLF inaugural season, beat Craig Dolby’s Tottenham Hotspur car despite a lock-up at the Adelaide hairpin when the Briton himself spun at Chateau d’Eau. In the second semi, Vallés swept aside Anderlecht (Yelmer Buurman) by eight-tenths.
French drivers Tristan Gommendy and Nelson Panciatici start the opening 45-minute race from sixth and 15th places respectively in their FC Porto and Olympique Lyonnais cars. Meanwhile defending Superleague Formula champion Davide Rigon (Italy) put the Olmpiacos car eighth on the grid while the AC Milan car of reigning GP2 champion Giorgio Pantano (Italy) starts from 16th place on the 18-car grid after failing to register a timed lap when his car suffered a gearbox gremlin.

Pizzonia, aged 28, set a time of 1min 26.555secs around the 4.41km Circuit de Nevers circuit in the final – 0.299-secs faster than Vallés (23) as the pair battled for supremacy at the culmination of the qualifying knock-out competition.
In semi-final one Pizzonia, who finished second in the final race of the SLF inaugural season, beat Craig Dolby’s Tottenham Hotspur car despite a lock-up at the Adelaide hairpin when the Briton himself spun at Chateau d’Eau. In the second semi, Vallés swept aside Anderlecht (Yelmer Buurman) by eight-tenths.
French drivers Tristan Gommendy and Nelson Panciatici start the opening 45-minute race from sixth and 15th places respectively in their FC Porto and Olympique Lyonnais cars. Meanwhile defending Superleague Formula champion Davide Rigon (Italy) put the Olmpiacos car eighth on the grid while the AC Milan car of reigning GP2 champion Giorgio Pantano (Italy) starts from 16th place on the 18-car grid after failing to register a timed lap when his car suffered a gearbox gremlin.
Corinthians: Antonio Pizzonia (BRA)
“I knew it would be tough. I suffered problems with brake temperatures in my first runs but managed to sort it for the Final. I’m extremely happy for the [Alan Docking] team – they’ve worked very hard just to get the Corinthians car ready having got it just over a week ago. The last time I drove here was in 2003 so it took me sometime to remember the track. It’s a good start for us but this is only the start of the weekend and I hope I can keep up the momentum. Last year I was close to a couple of wins so hopefully I can win a race and fight for the championship.”
Liverpool FC: Adrian Vallés (SP)
“Qualifying was quite good.I was fastest in the semis – on ‘old’ tyres – the car was working well. In the final I struggled a little with tyre temperatures causing me to ‘lock up’ in many places but Antonio was very fast. Last year I won two races for Liverpool and I believe that I have a good and strong race car for tomorrow – hopefully it will be my hat-trick for the Reds!”
Anderlecht: Yelmer Buurman (NED)
“I struggled a little in free practice but once we had new tyres the car was good. The temperatures on the front tyres were not correct causing me to ‘lock up’ too easily and this problem ultimately caused me to go off in my quarter-final – just after the second chicane, I went wide and in to the dirt and the gravel – which I was mad about. But then I saw the FC Porto car going in to the pit-lane so I thought I’d better finish my lap despite my mistake. We were later told FC Porto had been disqualified so I was through to the semi against Spurs – I was lucky. We will make changes to improve the car overnight.”
Tottenham Hotspur: Craig Dolby (GB)
“Things had gone very well for me up until the semi-final when I spun. I’d actually backed off my speed because Antonio [Pizzonia] had outbraked himself in the Corinthians car. I braked early but the back end just snapped out and away from me. But these things happen and we have a very fast car for the race so I’m extremely optimistic for the races and we’re definitely in with a chance of scoring a win for Spurs.”

www.superleagueformula.com

Liverpool FC opened the scoring as this year’s ‘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 Europe’s 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 tomorrow’s 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 year’s Superleague Formula by Sanangol on Sunday morning

www.superleagueformula.com

Liverpool FC opened the scoring as this year’s ‘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).
The pace was set by two of last year’s front-runners with Adrian Valles powering the Liverpool FC entry to the top of the time sheets, the Spaniard lapping fractionally faster than local French hero Tristan Gommendy in the FC Porto car. Causing an early upset, Kasper Anderson was third quickest for FC Midtjylland, the ambitious Danish club is new to the series.
A total of 15 cars took the track today among them several late driver signings including Ho-Pin Tung representing Athletico Madrid and Duncan Tappy in the Galatasaray entry. Several drivers tipped for the top in 2009 including ex-F1 stars Giorgio Pantano (AC Milan) and Enrique Bernoldi (Clube de Regatas do Flamengo) only completed a handful of shakedown laps and therefore did not set competitive times.

Superleague Formula by Sonangol – Friday test session:
1- Adrian Valles, Liverpool FC – 1m 27.758s
2- Tristan Gommendy, FC Porto – +0.237s
3- Kasper Anderson, FC Midtjylland – +0.287s
4- John Martin, Glasgow Rangers – +0.376s
5- Antonio Pizzonia, FC Corinthians PTA – +0.381s
6- Craig Dolby, Tottenham Hotspur – +0.669s
7- Ho-Pin Tung, Athletico Madrid – +1.707s
8- Pedro Petiz, Sporting Clube de Portugal – +2.352s
9- Miguel Molina, Al-Ain FC – +2.527s
10- Max Wissel, FC Basel – +2.572s
11- Enrique Bernoldi, Flamengo – +3.568
12- Dominique Muermans, PSV – +3.909
13- Giorgio Pantani, AC Milan – +4.045
14- Duncan Tappy, Galatasaray SK – +5.003
15- Davide Rigon, Olympiacos – No time

www.superleagueformula.com

The final countdown has begun: there are now just days before the spectacular 2009 ‘Superleague Formula by Sonangol’ race series kicks off this weekend (27/28 France) at Magny-Cours in France.
The former home of the French Grand Prix not only will witness the start of what promises to be an even more dramatic second season for the ground breaking Superleague Formula series – that combines the gusto and exhilaration of premier league motor sport with the passion and obsession of football – but also will witness several significant evolutions for the dynamic championship.
Major new developments for 2009 include the arrival of three new soccer clubs, a thrilling new race format, the introduction of upgraded and more powerful V12 engines, the addition of three famous new venues, even more top class drivers as well as the advent of a new title sponsor following confirmation that Angolan-based multinational oil giant Sonangol has entered into an important two-year partnership with Superleague Formula.

As well as the three Superleage Formula headline races (see Super Final below), this weekend’s busy track schedule includes rounds of both the Euroseries 3000 and popular MitJets championships.
However, as always, there is far more to a Superleague Formula event than on-track action. Adding an extra fun dimension to each race weekend, meetings include a programme of off-track entertainment with festival activities for all ages to add extra value to the admission ticket. At Magny-Cours fans can enjoy a wide range of amusing entertainments including: stunt moto displays, slot car racing, minikarts, Playstation contests and many more.

An ‘open-to-all’ philosophy also allows fans to get access to the paddock, to the rear of the pit garages and to meet their football and racing heroes. Adding to the excitement, in the final build up to the opening weekend at Magny-Cours there will be a spectacular demonstration featuring the Olympique Lyonnais, Liverpool and AS Roma cars on the streets of the local city of Nevers. This dazzling street show is being organised by Superleague Formula, Magny Cours and the city hall.
Three new clubs:
The majority of those internationally renowned soccer clubs contesting the inaugural Superleague Formula are back for more action in 2009. This time, though, European champions such as AC Milan and Liverpool FC are joined on the 18-car grid by three ambitious rookies: FC Midtjylland, Olympique Lyonnais, and Sporting Clube de Portugal. Olympique Lyonnais is the series’ first French club and sure to be the ‘fans favourite’ this weekend at Magny-Cours.
New Super Final climax:
Magny-Cours will witness the introduction of an exciting new race format. As in 2008, race day will feature two 45-minutes showdowns, the second with a reverse starting grid taken from the finishing results of the first. However the action-packed schedule will now reach its thrilling climax with a third race for the top three finishers from the first two races. This special six-car ‘shoot-out’ will decide the overall ‘Weekend Winner’. Extra championship points will not be on offer but the final results will determine the distribution of each event’s €333,000 prize fund.
More powerful V12 engines:
Specially designed and manufactured exclusively for the series by Menard Competition Technologies in Oxfordshire, England, the advanced 4.2-litre V12 is fitted to all the single-seater racers that represent many of the world’s top football clubs on the vibrant Superleague Formula grid. Since its introduction in 2008, the high-tech 750+ horsepower engine has received widespread acclaim for both its power and reliability as well as for delivering stirring sounds, which have added greatly to the football-inspired fervor in the grandstands. Now, with a year’s racing experience successfully completed, MCT has introduced several significant upgrades aimed at increasing both power and durability. Notable new developments include an improved water system plus revisions to the oil system to reduce oil surge in high g-force corners.

www.superleagueformula.com

Superleague Formula enters a significant new era after concluding a two-year partnership with African oil giant Sonangol for title sponsorship of the prestigious race series that combines the very best of international motor sport action with the passion and fervor of world-class club football. The 2009 season kicks-off at Magny-Cours in France this weekend (27/28 June) and will be renamed ‘Superleague Formula by Sonangol’.
Sonangol is a global company responsible for petroleum and natural gas production in Angola. Following Angola’s independence from Portugal in 1975, Sonangol, the state owned company was formed in 1976 with a mandate to manage the country’s substantial oil and natural gas reserves. Despite having the government as the sole shareholder, Sonangol has always been governed as a private company and is under strict performance standards to ensure efficiency and productivity.

“We are delighted to be announcing this new relationship with Sonangol which comes on the eve of the start of our second season and will play a major part in the on-going development and growth of Superleague Formula,” said Alex Andreu, Superleague Formula President. “Sonangol is an ambitious company with global aspirations, so it’s a perfect match for Superleague Formula, which has very similar objectives. Over the next two years we will work closely together to develop both of our brands.”
Since its formation Sonangol has focused its resources on diversifying and expanding its business activities into new markets. Prioritizing the management of hydrocarbons, environmental protection and industrial safety, Sonangol has created a diversified business that is centered around oil. With headquarters in Luanda, Sonangol is proud to be a company with representations in the whole country. Overseas the company has offices in Democratic Congo, Sao Tome e Principe, Cape Vert, USA, England, Singapore and Chine. More than 10 subsidiaries and over 25 joint venture companies are now part of Sonangol Group.
“With a mixed economic status, Sonangol has expanded its core business into other activities and today is a self-made multinational company” explained Mr. Rosa Santos, Sonangol’s spokes person, “We are confident this important new relationship with Superleague Formula will provide us with the perfect platform not only to promote our current international status but also to help us to continue growing our global business in the future. The mix of premier league motor sport and famous football brands has immense appeal and huge potential. We are proud to be part of such an innovative sporting series and are looking forward to the first round of the 2009 ‘Superleague Formula by Sonangol’ in France on Sunday.” 

www.superleagueformula.com

GU Racing geht erneut für den FC Basel und CFP Olympiakos an den Start."Wir haben in der Winterzeit hart und mit extremen finanziellen Einsatz an den beiden Fahrzeugen gearbeitet" so GU Teammanager H.G.Wissel.Nachdem Max bereits seit langem als Fahrer für den FC Basel feststand war Teamchef Günther Unterreitmeier lange auf der Suche nach einem Topfahrer für das Olympiakos Team." Ich bin seit wochen mit unterschiedlichsten Fahrern im Gespräch aber es ist nicht einfach einen Konsenz zu finden.Trotz der schwierigen Lage ist es uns gelungen einen absoluten Siegfahrer zu verpflichten!"so G.Unterreitmeier.

Hiermit lüften wir das Geheimnis: " Es ist der Vorjahreschampion Davide Rigon !"

Wir hoffen mit Ihm und Max zusammen um Siege und Podeste fahren zu können.

www.gu-racing.net

El día 28 se inaugura la temporada de la Superleague Formula en el circuito francés de Magny Cours.

Adrián acudirá a esta carrera para defender los colores de los Reds de la ciudad de los Beatles, con los que fue el gran animador de la pasada temporada.

Veremos a los impresionantes monoplazas V12 de 750 BHP representando a clubs como el Milán y la Roma italianos, el Atlético de Madrid, los brasileños del Flamengo y Corinthians y el propio Liverpool, entre los 17 bólidos que conforman la parrilla 2009.

El sábado, se disputarán las clasificatorias, con el apasionante formato de duelos bólido contra bólido y la gran final por la pole entre los dos mejores.

la mañana del domingo, se disputarán tres carreras con el nuevo formato. Las dos primeras a 45 minutos con parrilla inversa en la segunda de ellas y la novedosa tercera carrera entre los tres primeros de las dos anteriores. Seis ganadores cara a cara, al sprint, durante quince minutos.

Adrián Vallés:

“Vamos a disfrutar de un fin de semana apasionante. El formato que ha creado la Superleague consigue mantener la tensión durante todas las carreras.

La tercera carrera al sprint va a ser todo un espectáculo, una salida floja o cualquier error te pueden dejar sin posibilidades, por muy bien que hayas hecho las dos carreras anteriores.

El monoplaza es todo un espectáculo, grande, potente y con un rugido que impone.”

    Rafael C. de Bustamante        www.adrianvalles.com

The opening round of the 2009 Superleague Formula – staged at Magny-Cours, France on Sunday 28 June – will witness the introduction of an exciting new race format. As in 2008, race day will feature two 45-minute showdowns, the second with a reverse starting grid taken from the finishing results of the first. However the action-packed schedule will now reach its thrilling climax with a third race for the top three finishers from the first two races. This special six-car ‘shoot-out’ will decide the overall ‘Weekend Winner’. Extra championship points will not be on offer but the final results will determine the distribution of each event’s 333,000 € prize fund.

Superleague Formula’s Competition Director Robin Webb explains the rationale behind this exciting new development. “The fans have really responded to our unique Superleague Formula race format – particularly the reverse grid race which always produces some dramatic battles as the faster drivers fight their way through the pack from the back. But, while this double-header structure lets two different clubs celebrate success, it doesn’t provide us with an outright winner on the day. Now the introduction of this ‘six-car’ shoot-out will not only produce an overall victor but also provide race-goers and television audiences with a thrilling conclusion to the on-track action. We are always looking for new ways to entertain our fans and we believe this rousing finale will prove to be another hugely popular Superleague Fo rmula innovation.”
The exhilarating new three-race format will run at four of this season’s six Superleague Formula race meetings; those events at Magny Cours, Donington, Estoril and Jarama. There will be a ‘Weekend Winner’ at both Zolder and Monza but this time awarded to the club scoring the most championship points in the two 45-minute races.
Superleague Formula has also confirmed that 17 of the world’s most renowned soccer clubs will be represented on this year’s grid. Three new clubs – Olympique Lyonnais, FC Midtjylland and Sporting Clube de Portugal – are replacing Al-Ain, Beijing Guoan FC, Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla FC in the final 2009 line-up.
“We are significantly increasing the spectacle and excitement for the fans by investing more of our resources into the on-track entertainment in 2009 and are confident that a 17-car grid plus the revised race format will deliver even more excitement and unpredictability than in our highly successful inaugural season. This can only be to the benefit of the clubs, teams, drivers, sponsors and, most importantly, the millions of global fans who’ve already experienced the power and passion of the Superleague Formula,” said Webb.

Superleague Formula
Superleague Formula is the fusion of the two of the world’s most popular sports – capturing the passion of football with the thrill and excitement of motor racing. The new concept features a field of evenly matched V12-powered, 750 horsepower single seater racecars bearing the colours of the world’s leading football teams. Traditional rivals on the pitch are doing battle at some of the world’s greatest racetracks. The series kicked off in 2008 with 12 ‘double-header’ races staged at six of Europe’s premier venues. Underlining the competitive nature of Superleague Formula, no fewer than eight soccer clubs (AC Milan, Al-Ain, Beijing Guoan FC, BVB Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool FC, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla FC) experienced race victories during what was a dramatic inaugural campaign. Building on this success, a slightly revised grid featuring three new clubs (Olympique Lyonnais, FC Midtjylland and Sporting Clube de Po rtugal) will contest the 2009 championship, which starts at Magny-Cours in France on 27/28 June.
2009 Superleague Formula Clubs
AC Milan, Italy
AS Roma, Italy
Athlético Madrid, Spain
Corinthians, Brazil
FC Basel, Switzerland
FC Midtjylland, Denmark
FC Porto, Portugal
Flamengo, Brazil
Galatasaray, Turkey
Liverpool FC, England
Olympiacos, Greece
Olympique Lyonnais, France
PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands
Rangers FC, Scotland
RSC Anderlecht, Belgium
Sporting Clube de Portugal, Portugal
Tottenham Hotspur, England

www.superleagueformula.com

Swiss high flyers FC Basel are banking on stability to produce top results in this year’s Superleague Formula, kicking off at Magny-Cours, France on 27/28 June. As in 2008, German teenage star Max Wissel will be in the hot seat of the 750bhp FC Basel single-seater racing car, which, once again will be managed by GU Racing.

“We had a lot to learn in 2008,” admitted Wissel. “I had to drive on numerous tracks that were new to me and we suffered from several technical failures. However, we were also able to gather many valuable experiences and, overall, the progress we made met my expectations. Our preparations for the 2009 season are currently being carried out at a high level and we are looking forward to an exciting season.”

The 19-year-old is certainly looking to improve on his best 2008 race result of fourth position as well as building on his relationship with the club. “The collaboration with FC Basel has been very understanding and friendly. So, on the one hand, it’ll bring stability to the team and, on the other, it provides me with further motivation. I hope there will be a victory or two to report,” he confirmed.

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With less than a month to go before the Superleague Formula show is back on track, the scene is set for an even more enthralling season of high-speed sporting action and intrigue. Alex Andreu, Superleague Formula President, answers questions about overcoming the global recession, the growing appeal of his championship and changes planned for the forthcoming season which features even more clubs and star drivers.
What impact have the current global economic conditions had on your plans for Superleague Formula?
“We have to bear in mind that SF has reached an important level of awareness and positioning with only six rounds in its first year. This is our main asset and all we have to do is to continue delivering a very good spectacle and product. This is what people want. We have a full grid in 2009 plus a star-studded driver line-up now including the reigning GP2 champion Giorgio Pantano.

“As we know the global economic climate has changed considerably over the past six months and, like so many others, we’ve had to revisit our financial plans. Internally we have revised our shareholding structure to secure our financial future for both 2009 and 2010 but there will be no changes to the way that the series is run aside from substantial reductions in our overheads and operational expenses to reflect the economic changes. We are very conscious of the current situation and we are adapting to it. However, we have received a significant endorsement and support from race teams, circuits, suppliers, TV networks, etc. and this is not only helping us immensely to deliver 2009 season with very acceptable standards but encourages us to continue developing SF to reach the level and quality that everybody is expecting. Preparations are nearing completion and, with three new venues on the calendar plus three new clubs on the grid, I’m predicting even more drama and entertainment in 2009.”
How happy are you with the six event 2009 Superleague Formula calendar?
“I’m very pleased both with the schedule and with the huge change in the attitude circuits are displaying towards Superleague. Twelve months ago we were having a fight just to hold our races at certain venues and in just six races we have turned that around. As a result we are now being offered money to bring Superleague to circuits. Formula 1 is pricing itself out of Europe and organisers are seeking realistic alternatives. Magny-Cours, for example, has given us its traditional Formula 1 date at the end of this month.”
The Superleague Formula grid includes clubs from South America, the Middle East and Asia, are you looking to expand the series into those markets?
“Yes, our business plan has always taken us outside Europe… but only when the right financial conditions exist. We were offered a chance to race in Marrakech this year and have promoters in both Brazil and China knocking on our door. They are coming to us because they know we have a spectacular event with famous brands, great value and real passion which, at the end of the day, is what people want. Also we have had approaches from various cities interested in holding street races and we are exploring these possibilities that will take the racing to the people as well as a potential race in the US where soccer is a growing sport. We are broadening our horizons, in other words.”
Are you expecting more football clubs to join the existing Superleague Formula grid in 2009 and beyond?
“We have recently announced the addition of Olympique Lyonnais, FC Midtjylland and Sporting Clube de Portugal – all three are significant additions to our 2008 portfolio. Olympique Lyonnais is our first French club and, adding to the excitement, it will make its race debut on home soil at Magny-Cours. FC Midtjylland is not only our first Danish club but also the first from Scandinavia – an area that has a rich tradition in both football and motor sport. Lining up alongside FC Porto, Sporting is our second club from Portugal and that’s significant as Estoril was one of our best venues in 2008. Though, in the light of the current economic situation, we are looking to consolidate our business in 2009, we are also in negotiations with other football clubs around the world that clearly are impressed with our championship concept and keen to join the series.”
Will there be any technical changes to the cars in 2009?
“Our engine partner, MCT, has produced an upgraded version of the V12 SF engine that powers all our technically identical single-seater race cars and thus provides us with a level playing pitch. This year it will produce slightly more power and provide even more reliability. I’m pleased to report the revised engine was successfully tested recently at Magny-Cours and will be available for all our teams in good time for the opening race in France.”
Are all your race teams and drivers confirmed for 2009?
“I believe most of the teams and drivers are confirmed though not all have announced their plans yet. It’s already clear, though, that Superleague is now attracting an even higher caliber of driver. Last year’s grid featured former F1 drivers such as Antonio Pizzonia and many established single seater stars including Tristan Gommendy and Adrian Valles. This year’s line up is even more impressive with the addition of reigning GP2 champion Giorgio Pantano and more ex-F1 drivers such as Enrico Bernoldi. Moreover Superleague’s status is also attracting the next generation of top drivers: future stars such as John Martin and Pedro Petiz. I’m sure you will agree, it’s a great mix of youth and experience.”
What changes will you be making to the race format in 2009?
“For starters we will continue to work with many of the most respected names in motor sport including MCT, Elan Motorsports Technologies, Michelin and Hewland to deliver the very best on-track action. We will be announcing one exciting change to our race day programme but are sticking to the hugely successful reverse grid format used for the second race in 2008. It produced some really exciting racing and helped 13 of the 18 competing teams to reach the top three podium. In fact, no fewer than eight soccer clubs (AC Milan, Al-Ain, Beijing Guoan FC, BVB Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool FC, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla FC) all experienced race victories during a dramatic inaugural campaign before Chinese club Beijing Guoan finally was crowned as the first Superleague Formula champions. This needs to happen to keep the fans entertained, so we will be sticking to the same concept in 2009. Commitment from our investors is underwr iting a total prize fund of $2m which remains one of the largest on offer in motor sport with a prize fund of $333,000 at each event.”
Can you confirm which television networks will be screening Superleague Formula races in 2009?
“Our main target is to establish live broadcast agreements with national terrestrial broadcasters in those countries where either we have competing football clubs or races on the calendar. This route will provide us with the widest possible audience and thus meet the commercial expectations of our partners. We are also experiencing an increased demand for high quality digital sporting products and this isn’t just limited to those countries with direct Superleague links. The series has awakened interest in places such as Japan, Australia and eastern European markets. On top of this we finalising contracts with international broadcasters and production companies for our Newsfeed to be included in sports magazine programmes for worldwide distribution.”
What other new developments are in the pipeline?
“We are always looking at new initiatives to recruit and excite new fans. For example, we are working on a state-of-the-art computer game that could be ready later this year and we have also introduced our own official pages on Facebook and YouTube.”

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Superleague Formula racer Kasper Andersen is a man of many talents. The promising 24-year-old Dane not only is competing for his local FC Midtjylland club in this year’s championship, but he has also designed the livery that will adorn the club’s V12-powered single-seater race car when the club makes its SF debut at Magny-Cours in France later this month.

“I’ve raced lots of cars but this one is definitely going to be the most special. It’s a great honour for me to be representing FC Midtjyland in Superleague Formula and even more exciting as I’ve been given the chance to design the car’s racing colours,” said Andersen who warmed up for the forthcoming Superleague Formula season in spectacular style by winning a Formula Master race recently at Valencia in Spain.

“As all the Superleague cars are identical in terms of their design and technology, it was important to create a livery that both stands out from the pack and is easily identifiable to those FC Midtjylland fans following the on-track action,” continued Andersen. “Luckily I love working with the clever design software on my computer and the club’s black and red colours are very distinctive – they lend themselves to the racing car’s sleek bodywork. I’m very pleased with the results and I hope the fans will like what they see.”
FC Midtjyland President Bo Olesen is certainly impressed. He enthused: “Our racing colours look great. What’s more the crowd gave Kasper’s artwork a big ‘thumbs-up’ when we unveiled the car before a recent home match. Now we are hoping it goes as fast as it looks! We may be a small club but we have big ambitions.”

Superleague Formula
Superleague Formula is the fusion of the two of the world’s most popular sports – capturing the passion of football with the thrill and excitement of motor racing. The new concept features a field of evenly matched V12-powered, 750 horsepower single seater racecars bearing the colours of the world’s leading football teams. Traditional rivals on the pitch are doing battle at some of the world’s greatest racetracks. The series kicked off in 2008 with 12 ‘double-header’ races staged at six of Europe’s premier venues. Underlining the competitive nature of Superleague Formula, no fewer than eight soccer clubs (AC Milan, Al-Ain, Beijing Guoan FC, BVB Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool FC, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla FC) experienced race victories during what was a dramatic inaugural campaign. Building on this success, an expanded grid will contest the 2009 championship, which starts at Magny-Cours in France on 27/28 June.

PROFILE

Kasper Andersen

Age: 24 (born 3 August 1984)

Home town: Silkeborg, Denmark

Lives: Silkeborg, Denmark

Height: 1.73m

Weight: 63kg

Interests: Computing, motor sport, fitness

Website: www.kasperandersen.info

Superleague Formula Club: FC Midtjyland, DK

Favourite Football moment: ”The 1998 World Cup quarter final match between Denmark and Brazil. Though Brazil won 3-2, it was a great match to watch.”

Favourite All-Time Footballer: “Both Michael Laudrup and Peter Schmeichel were great players who represented Danish football on the international stage.”

Can You Play Football? “I stopped playing as I wasn’t very good at it and I went go-kart racing instead! It will be interesting to see if we can manage some football during the season with the guys from FC Midtjyland.”

On-Track Career:
• After three years racing karts, Kasper graduated to the Formula Renault 2.0 Nordic Championship in 2003 winning the title at his second attempt in 2004. Thereafter he competed with some success in both Renault Eurocup and German series.
• In 2007 Andersen won two races in Formula Masters and took two podiums in the Italian F3000 Championship.
• Andersen represented Olympiacos in the first six races of the inaugural Superleague Formula championship posting top ten finishes in both Belgium and Portugal. He also contested selected Formula Master events before switching to Superleague Formula.
• In 2009 Andersen will return to Superleague racing for his local Danish club FC Midtjyland

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Sporting Lissabon, einer der erfolgreichsten Fußballklubs Europas, feierte am vergangenen Sonntag die offizielle Enthüllung des Rennwagens, mit dem der Klub in der kommenden Saison an der Superleague Formula teilnehmen wird. Der Lissaboner Verein präsentierte seinen Fans den Einsitzer, der im einzigen Wettbewerb der Welt an den Start geht, der die Leidenschaft des Fußballs mit der Spannung des Motorsports bei über 300km/h vereint. Bei dem Anlass wurden außerdem über 1000 Athleten aus den verschiedenen Sportarten präsentiert, in denen der Klub vertreten ist.
Das José Alvalade Stadium war zum Bersten voll mit Fans, die ihre Mannschaft im letzten Spiel der Saison gegen „National“ unterstützen wollten. Während sie zur Halbzeit die Möglichkeit hatten, den Boliden auf dem Rasen zu bestaunen, wurde das spektakuläre Auto anschließend aus dem Stadion geschafft, damit tausende Fans nach dem Spiel den Wagen aus der Nähe bestaunen konnten. Am Ende des Abends wurde der Wagen in Sporting‘s Fanshop gebracht, wo er bis zur Präsentation des Fahrers besichtigt werden kann.

Nachdem Sporting 1906 in der portugiesischen Hauptstadt Lissabon gegründet wurde, stieg der Verein zu einem der bekanntesten und renommiertesten Klubs im Internationalen Fußball auf. Seitdem konnten 18 nationale Meisterschaften, 15 Ligapokale und der UEFA Cup gewonnen werden. In der Saison 2009 der Superleague Formula reiht sich der Gigant der Portugiesischen Liga neben dem bereits siegreichen FC Porto ein, um als zweiter großer Klub des Landes seinen Ruhm auf der Rennstrecke zu vergrößern. Bei der Startaufstellung 2009 werden außerdem die Rookies vom FC Midtjylland aus Dänemark und der mehrfache französische Meister Olympique Lyonnais mit an den Start gehen.
Diese drei Neulinge reihen sich in das bestehende Feld aus 18 identischen Einsitzern im Stile der Formel1 ein, die von V12 Motoren angetrieben werden und die viele der besten Fußballklubs der Welt repräsentieren. Wie hart umkämpft die Rennserie bereits ist, verdeutlicht die Tatsache, dass insgesamt 8 Fußballklubs – AC Mailand, Al-Ain, FC Beijing Guoan, BVB Borussia Dortmund, FC Liverpool, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven und FC Sevilla – in der dramatischen Eröffnungssaison im Jahr 2008 ein Rennen gewinnen konnten. Sporting wird ab dem Eröffnungsrennen am 28 Juni in Magny Cours in Frankreich alles dafür tun, um seinen Namen in dieser beeindruckenden Gewinnerliste einzutragen.
„Wir sind alle absolut begeistert darüber, dass Sporting der Superleague Formula 2009 beitritt“ sagt der Präsident der Superleague Formula Alex Andreu. „Es gibt nur wenige Fans, die sowohl Fußball als auch Motorsport mit solcher Leidenschaft verfolgen wie die Portugiesen. Daher ist es fantastisch, dass die beiden besten Fußballklubs des Landes ihre traditionelle, sportliche Rivalität auf der Rennstrecke austragen werden. Mit dem FC Porto und Sporting am Start, wird das Rennen im portugiesischen Estoril garantiert einer der Höhepunkte der Saison. Letztes Jahr kamen über 25.000 Zuschauer nach Estoril – für 2009 erwarten wir jetzt natürlich eine noch bessere, heißblütige Atmosphäre.“
Genauso begeistert äußerte sich Pedro Afra, der Geschäftsführer von Sporting, über das neue Projekt seines Vereins: „Wir haben die erste Saison der Superleague Formula mit großem Interesse verfolgt und waren schwer davon beeindruckt, was wir sahen. Wir halten immer nach neuen, attraktiven Geschäftsfeldern Ausschau, die unsere Anhänger begeistern können. Die Geschwindigkeit und das Spektakel der Superleague Formula wird sie mit Sicherheit ein Kreuzchen hinter den wichtigen Feldern machen lassen… umso mehr, da eines der Rennen in der kommenden Saison mit Estoril in der Nähe von Lissabon ausgetragen wird. Nachdem die Fußballstadion nun vorbei ist, haben wir etwas Neues und Packendes, um unsere Fans auch während des Sommers zu unterhalten.“
Superleague Formula Rennkalender 2009:

27/28 Juni      Magny-Cours, Frankreich

18/19 Juli       Zolder, Belgien

01/02 August     Donington Park, Großbritannien

05/06 September      Estoril, Portugal

03/04 Oktober      Monza, Italien

07/08 November      Jarama, Spanien

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