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Second Brazilian club joins Superleague Formula |
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Wednesday, 30 January 2008 |
Popular Brazilian club and
former FIFA World Club Champions Corinthians are the latest team to join
Superleague Formula – the new championship featuring the colours of the world's
leading football on 750 horsepower single seaters.
The Sao Paulo-based squad is the 11th team to secure its place on the
Superleague Formula grid. Corinthian's black and white Menard V12-powered Panoz
car will form a fierce rivalry with the red and black machine of Rio de Janeiro
opposition, Flamengo.
Corinthians becomes the second club announcement of
the week after Spain's Sevilla was revealed as a Superleague Formula entrant on
Monday.
Corinthians earned the FIFA World Club Championship crown in
2000, taking the first ever title awarded when they toppled Vasco da Gama on
penalties (4-3) at Rio's Maracana Stadium.
The club has four Brazilian
Serie A titles to its credit, the most recent being in 2005. They also won the
Brazilian Cup in 1995 and 2002 and the Brazilian Supercup in 1991. On their home
turf in Sao Paulo – Corinthians have earned the state championship on 25
occasions.
With football and motorsport hugely popular in Brazil, the
rivalry between the Rio and Sao Paulo-based clubs is expected to be a highlight
of the Superleague Formula championship which kicks off at Donington Park in the
UK in August.
With eight world drivers championships and five FIFA World
Cup victories – Brazil provides a perfect mix of prowess from both sports, an
ideal mix for Superleague Formula.
Corinthians join AC Milan, PSV
Eindhoven, Olympiacos, FC Porto, Borussia Dortmund, RSC Anderlecht, Flamengo, FC
Basel, Galtasaray SK and the newly announced Sevilla on the 20 club
grid.
"We witnessed an amazing reception when we launched the Flamengo
entry in Brazil," Superleague Formula CEO and President Alex Andreu
said.
"That reaction really convinced both Corinthians and Superleague
Formula that having a major Sao Paulo-based club would be hugely beneficial for
the championship and the club itself.
"We now have the two most popular
clubs in that region of the world – a huge fan base who will be very keen to see
their team take on Europe's best at race tracks around the world.
"We are
very much looking forward to heading back to Brazil prior to the commencement of
the championship to officially unveil the Corinthians entry for their
fans."
With 11 clubs already on board, a Spanish-based team has also been
signed and will be the next club officially confirmed. Superleague Formula has
also agreed terms with additional clubs from the UK, France, Mexico, Korea,
Portugal and the United Arab Emirates and these are scheduled to be announced
during the coming weeks.
At each of the six rounds, the leading football
teams will fight it out for 1 million euro prizemoney. Each race weekend will
feature two separate races with one being a complete reverse
grid.
“Corinthians is delighted at the opportunity to expand our sporting
endeavors into an entirely new competition,” Corinthians Chairman Andrés Sanchez
said.
“Corinthians is delighted at the opportunity to expand our sporting
endeavors into an entirely new competition,” Corinthians Chairman Andrés Sanchez
said.
“Superleague Formula is a great chance for Corinthians to do battle
with some of the other leading names in world football – our chance to fight it
out on the world stage.
“The people of the city and state of Sao Paulo
are not only follow football with passion, but are also huge motorsport fans as
well.
“Our region of Brazil has an enormous motorsport history and
Corinthians is looking forward to adding to that.
“For our club,
participating in this championship makes perfect sense. It expands our brand
onto the world stage, we will get to compete with leading European clubs and we
are especially looking forward to continuing our rivalry with Flamengo in an
entirely new competition.”
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