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Turkish delight for Superleague Formula |
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Monday, 19 November 2007 |
Superleague Formula has added 16-time Turkish
League champions Galatasaray SK to its roster of major international
football clubs that will line up on the grid for the championship’s
debut in August next year.
Galatasaray SK will take its place on a 20-strong grid alongside
AC Milan, FC Porto, Olympiacos, PSV Eindhoven, Borussia Dortmund,
RSC Anderlecht, Flamengo and FC Basel in the new Superleague Formula
championship that features 750 horsepower, V12-powered single seaters
bearing the colours of the world’s leading football clubs.
Launched in April this year, the championship will kick off in 2008
with an initial six races staged at major circuits across Europe.
Graduates of a prestigious high school – with roots stretching
back to 1481 – established Galatasaray SK in 1905.
Throughout its first 100 years, Galatasaray SK has acted as the
country’s ‘gateway to the west’ – it is
the only Turkish football club to achieve success in the international
arena.
The Istanbul-based club won the UEFA Cup and Super Cup titles in
2000 and has regularly taken part in the European Champions League
- competing ten times to date.
“Superleague Formula plans to welcome the best football clubs
from right across the globe and we are thrilled to add Galatasaray
SK to our grid,” Superleague Formula President and CEO, Alex
Andreu said.
“The club has a fantastic record and finished the last millennium
with four consecutive league championships in Turkey.
"These are exciting times for the club – Galatasaray
SK has a new stadium about to be built and now motor racing has
been added to the club’s wide range of sporting endeavours
including football, basketball, volleyball, water polo, rowing,
swimming and athletics.
“The club has a huge impact in Istanbul. Not only in sport,
but also in education with primary and secondary schools and a university
bearing the Galatasaray name.
“Our dream for Superleague Formula is for these eternal football
rivals to meet on track - aiming to score in a totally new sporting
environment.”
Three major club launches are scheduled for Flamengo in Rio, Brazil;
RSC Anderlecht in Brussels, Belgium; and FC Basel in Switzerland
in the next three weeks.
Additional club signings are set to be announced early in the new
year.
Galatasaray SK has been historically ranked among the top 20 clubs
in terms of revenues generated from the Champions League tournament.
During the UEFA Cup Final of 2000, Galatasaray SK enjoyed the second
highest television viewing figures in the history of the Cup, further
demonstrating its status as a global football brand.
“With a fan base consisting of approximately 40 per cent of
the population - estimated to reach 77 million by 2010 - Galatasaray
SK will continue to remain Turkey’s leading global football
brand name,” club President Mr. Ozhan Canaydin said.
“Having introduced many of the Olympic sports to Turkey since
the club’s foundation, Galatasaray SK continues to compete
successfully in a total of 12 sports divisions.
“Given the age range and educational profile of its exceptional
fan base, Galatasaray SK was compelled to get involved in motorsports,
one of the fastest expanding sports globally."
Galatasaray SK striker and club captain Hakan Sukur is eagerly awaiting
the chance to see the club's Superleague Formula car at speed on
the track. Sukur knows all about being fast – he holds the
record for the fastest goal in FIFA World Cup history – scoring
for Turkey after only 11 seconds against Korea in 2002.
“Galatasaray SK will be proud to represent Turkey in Superleague
Formula, where it will enjoy the privilege of competing with the
world’s most admired names in football," Sukur said.
"My team-mates and I look forward to playing football against
some of these top international clubs and we will all be keen to
see our car race against these clubs as well."
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