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Superleague Formula

"Superleague Formula logo"
Category	Single seaters
Country or region	International
Inaugural season	2008
Drivers	18
Teams	18
Constructors	Élan Motorsport Technologies[1]
Tyre suppliers	Michelin
Last Drivers' champion	Davide Rigon
Last Constructors' champion	Beijing Guoan Zakspeed
Official website	superleagueformula.com
Current season

Superleague Formula is a new motor racing formula, which started in 2008, at Donington Park in the United Kingdom. The league introduced team sponsorship by association football clubs. It goes by the saying 'The Beautiful Race: Football at 300km/h'.

The first season was won by Chinese club Beijing Guoan, driven by Italian FIA GT Championship racer, Davide Rigon. The season contained a calendar of six double-headers, featuring 18 clubs, and also brought victories for Liverpool F.C., A.C. Milan, PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto, Sevilla FC, Al Ain FC and Borussia Dortmund.

History

League format

Galatasaray SK Superleague Formula Racing Car in the pitlane, 2008

Superleague Formula Racing Car demonstrated at Donington Park, 2008

Continuing the concept of Premier 1 Grand Prix, the Superleague Formula was announced in 2005, receiving the full approval of the FIA in December 2005.

The goal is to have a starting grid of twenty teams, each of which will have one car. Much of the sales, marketing and technology work will be handled centrally by the league, thus affording a considerable cost-savings to the teams.

Race format

Superleague Formula’s race format will incorporate a Saturday qualification and two Sunday races, one with a reverse grid. For each round, the competing teams will compete for a 1 million Euro prize purse, plus points in a yearly championship.

• Saturday: Free testing and qualifying
• Sunday: Two races (one with reverse grids)
• One-hour race format
• One million Euros prize money per race weekend

Scoring

The championship is decided by points, which are awarded according to the place in which a driver classifies at each grand prix. The points are allocated as follows:

Unlike in Formula One, the driver does not need to finish the race in order to collect points but does have to start. The same points are awarded for Race 1 as Race 2, despite Race 2 having a reverse grid with the slowest given the advantage at the front.

Champions

Season	Number of Rounds	Number of Teams	Number of Drivers	Football Clubs
				Number of	Champion	Second	Third
2008	6	11	25	18	Beijing Guoan (Davide Rigon)	PSV Eindhoven (Yelmer Buurman)	A.C. Milan (Robert Doornbos)
2009	8	-	-	-	TBA	TBA	TBA

Television

Fans are able to view the championship on:

• UK: Setanta Sports
• Sweden: Viasat Motor
• Spain and Andorra: Cuatro
• Italy: Sky Italia
• Portugal: TVI
• Brazil: Sportv
• France: Direct 8
• Netherlands: RTL7
• Greece: Alpha TV
• Cyprus: MiVision
• Turkey: Show TV
• UAE & Middle East countries: Abu Dhabi Sport

For all the remaining European countries, Eurosport 2, provides live coverage of the race weekend as well as a specific magazine in prime time on Tuesdays.

In addition Superleague Formula is also broadcast on many of the participating club's own networks including:

• AC Milan: Milan Chanel
• Borussia Dortmund: BVB TV
• PSV: PSV TV
• FC Basel: FCB Internet TV
• RSC Anderlecht: RSCA TV
• Galatasaray: Galatasaray TV
• Liverpool FC: LFC TV
• Rangers FC: Rangers TV
• Sevilla FC: Sevilla TV
• Corinthians: Corinthians TV
• Flamengo: Flamengo TV
• Olympiacos C.F.P.: Sport TV

Superleague Formula's debut race was seen in 62 countries across the globe with a potential audience reach of 100 million people.

Future

The organisers of Superleague Formula are looking to expand and evolve the sport very quickly with up to 17 races by 2012 and the possibility of a separate street race series so the fans can get up close to the cars and drivers. Their original plan was to have:

The organisers have since said that there are going to be just eight races in Year 2 (2009). The first season was very successful with a total amount of 100,000 people relishing six races of Superleague Formula and 34,000 fans attending the last race in Jerez that was broadcasted live in 70 countries.^[2] In January 2009, they revised the plan by stating:^[3]

Technology

The Rangers F.C. Superleague Formula car sits on display at Donington Park.

The PSV Eindhoven Superleague Formula car

The car has been built by Panoz under the Élan Motorsport Technologies banner and offically named the Panoz DP09. It will be powered by a 750bhp 4.2-litre V12 engine designed by US-owned Menard Competition Technologies. Élan manufactured the Panoz DP01 for Champ Car, as well as cars for other championships.

The chassis is built on a two-metre wide track with entertainment in mind, using under-body aerodynamics to create the needed conditions for increased overtaking opportunities. The cars have been subjected to the latest FIA safety tests, and the car has continued under development during 2007.

Car Details

• Carbon fibre tub for extreme strength / lightness
• Under-body aerodynamics to facilitate nose-to-tail driving/overtaking
• Hewland 6 speed LSFA gearbox with Hewland semi-automatic system
• Pi “SIGMA” based dashboard / data logging system
• ‘Slick’ racing style tyres with no grooves or tread

Engine Details

• No of Cylinders: 12
• Capacity: 4.2 Litres
• Configuration: 60 degrees V formation
• Weight: 140kg (308lb) Dry
• Peak Power: 750bhp (560kW) @ 11,750 rpm
• Maximum RPM: 12,000
• Peak Torque: 510N·m (376ft·lb) @ 9,500-10,500

References

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (August 2008)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Superleague Formula

• Superleague Formula Official Website
• Brazilian Reference WebSite
• Superleague Formula Fan Site
• Portuguese Reference WebSite

Related links