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Sevilla FC unveil Superleague Formula entry |
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Thursday, 07 February 2008 |
Superleague Formula's first
Spanish football club was officially launched today with two-time UEFA Cup
champions Sevilla FC unveiling the 750 horsepower, V12-powered machine that will
carry the hopes of the club's fans in the new championship.
The red and white machine was unveiled by club coach Manolo Jiménez and
President José María del Nido with a selection of key players in attendance at
Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.
The Spanish media were given an advance
look at the car that will be presented to the fans on Saturday night at
Sevilla's match against FC Barcelona.
Sevilla joins other leading
European clubs including AC Milan, Olympiacos, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Borussia
Dortmund, RSC Anderlecht, FC Basel and Galatasaray SK plus Brazilian rivals
Flamengo and Corinthians.
When Superleague Formula kicks off at Donington
Park in the UK in August this year, a total of 20 leading teams will be
represented – each fighting it out for 1 million euro prizemoney at each of the
six championship rounds.
“That’s an initiative that all the fans are
going to love, because it combines the main features of the sports: the emotion
and the feelings," said Sevilla FC Coach, Manolo Jiménez.
"To combine
motor sports and football it’s a very, very interesting thing and it has all the
ingredients to become a success”.
Sevilla enter this week's home game
against Barcelona on a high after scoring a 2-1 away victory Recreativo
Huelva.
The Sevilla announcement comes at an exciting time for
Superleague Formula. Sevilla and Corinthians were announced as the latest
signings last week and the first Menard Competition Technologies design and
built engine is due to be installed into the first Elan Motorsports Technologies
Panoz chassis in the next few weeks.
Sevilla FC's fans are not going to
be the only passionate supporters of the club's Superleague Formula entry, the
club's players are also eagerly awaiting the debut of the car.
“Football
is my job, but I have loved motor sport always," club captain Javi Navarro
said.
"I have always loved driving, and the idea of putting together
football and motor sport on a track is like a great cocktail, a cocktail which
promises strong emotions.”
Sevilla is eargerly awaiting the challenge
against Barcelona on Saturday night after scoring a pair of draws in Copa Del
Rey competition in January. Barcelona were also the club Sevilla defeated to
claim the UEFA Super Cup in 2006 – claiming a 3-0 victory in
Monaco.
“Super League Formula has all the ingredients to be attractive to
the fans," said right wing, Jesús Navas said.
"Knowing how the Sevilla
fans are, they love everything related with their club, I´m sure they will throw
themselves into the races. Compete against other powerful clubs from Europe and
from all around the world will make people follow the championship.”
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