SUPERLEAGUE FORMULA TO GIVE DONINGTON RACE FANS A TASTE OF “THE BEAUTIFUL RACE”Race fans and football supporters will get the chance to get a sneak preview of the new Superleague Formula championship at Donington Park next month during round three of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.
Superleague Formula test driver Bruce Jouanny will complete demonstration laps on Sunday of the race weekend aboard the 750 horsepower, V12-powered machine. The BTCC round will be staged on Donington’s National circuit on May 3-4.
Superleague Formula – the beautiful race - will return to the historic Midlands circuit for the opening round of the championship on August 30-31.
The championship features the colours of the world’s leading football clubs aboard the purpose-built Panoz chassis, Menard-powered cars.
Leading Scottish club Rangers are the latest to sign for the championship that will feature 20 international rivals doing battle.
They will be joined by European clubs AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto, Olympiacos, Borussia Dortmund, RSC Anderlecht, FC Basel, Galatasaray SK and Sevilla, plus Brazilian rivals Flamengo and Corinthians.
Negotiations are currently being finalised to complete the 20-car grid that will also feature a leading UK Premier League team.
Testing and development of the Superleague Formula package actually kicked off at Donington Park in March with Jouanny behind the wheel of the Hitech Motorsport prepared prototype.
Donington Park is actually a happy hunting ground for the Frenchman - his final race start in Formula 3 took place at the former Formula 1 circuit. Jouanny enjoyed a successful weekend, winning the pole, taking fastest lap and a race victory.
“I am really looking forward to getting back to Donington with the Superleague Formula car,” Jouanny said.
“When we first ran the engine was only on its initial spec, the Menard guys have really turned things up and now we have 700 horsepower available.
“It is going to seem like a completely different track – the straights are going to go by a lot quicker.
“It is going to be a great weekend and I am sure the fans are going to love the sound of this car. The BTCC weekends are always brilliant and we hope give their fans a bit of a bonus show.
“It will also give everybody an idea of what to expect when the series returns in August – 20 of these cars on track at once is going to be incredible.”
After kicking off at Donington Park on August 30/31, the Superleague Formula championship will continue at the 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. Each round of the championship features two, 50-minute races – each with a pit stop.
The unique part of the series is that at half time (after race one), the teams change sides – race two will feature a complete reverse grid.
The football clubs and race teams are not just fighting it out for the prestigious silverware – 1 million euro prize money is up for grabs at every race weekend.
