for Superleague Formula
AC Milan has looked close to home in selecting its team for the inaugural season of Superleague Formula entrusting the Milan-based Scuderia Playteam with the responsibility of putting the red and black colours on track.
Scuderia Playteam join's Belgium's Team Astromega in becoming the second race team to complete its two-car roster for the 2008 season. While Astromega will run its local squad RSC Anderlecht and Brazilian team Flamengo, Scuderia Playteam will run the cars for AC Milan and Turkish favourites, Galatasaray SK.
In preparation for the August debut of the championship, Scuderia Playteam have been taking a close look at a number of drivers "on trial" aboard Formula 3000 machine while also casting a close eye at the testing of the Superleague Formula prototype being undertaken by British race team, Hitech Racing.
"We are very proud to represent AC Milan in the new Superleague Formula challenge. We talk, in fact, about the Italian football club among the most prestigious and famous in the world. Being our local team also adds a wonderful aspect to the upcoming season," team owner Giambattista Giannoccaro.
"The shared Italian background will be an added incentive for us. From now fans from all over the world will have an additional reason to be proud of the red-black colours. We will repay our fans' confidence in the team by fighting as hard as we can to win."
AC Milan were one of the original four teams to join Superleague Formula when it was unveiled 12 months ago. The current club rosters also includes PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto, Olympiacos, Borussia Dortmund, RSC Anderlecht, Flamengo, FC Basel, Galatasaray SK, Sevilla, Corinthians and Rangers.
In total, 20 football clubs will do battle for 1 million euro prize money at each Superleague Formula race weekend.
"Scuderia Playteam and AC Milan really do make a perfect combination for our series," Superleague Formula Competitions Director, Robin Webb said.
"Being based in Milan, all the Scuderia Playteam guys already support the club which means they will be tackling the championship with a lot of passion. However, the weight of expectation from the fans is going to be quite intense they know they have a very big responsibility."
The six race Superleague Formula championship will be fought out at Donington Park (UK), August 30/31; Nurburgring (GER), September 20/21; Zolder (BEL), October 4/5; Estoril (POR), October 18/19; Vallelunga (ITA), November 1/2; and Jerez (Spain), November 22/23.
