Superleague Formula: Rangers Racing Towards More Championship Success
May 06, 2008
Superleague Formula
After claiming a place in this year’s UEFA Cup Final, leading Scottish Premier League side Rangers now have their sights set on major success in an entirely new sport - Superleague Formula.
The Glasgow club’s entry into the new motor racing championship that features the colours of the world’s leading football clubs was unveiled today by members of the coaching and first team staff at Ibrox Stadium.
With 51 titles already to their credit (a world record), Rangers have now reached their first European final since 1972 - beating Italian club Fiorentina 4-2 on penalties last Thursday - and The Light Blues will now play Russian side Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester on May 14.
In what will be a huge seven days for the Club, today’s launch for the media will be followed by an unveiling of the car for the supporters at Ibrox Stadium tomorrow night when the Rangers fans welcome home their UEFA Cup heroes.
The 750 horsepower, V-12 powered Superleague Formula car will be presented to the fans prior to the game against Motherwell.
Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain commented: “We are delighted to be the sole Scottish representative in Superleague Formula and look forward to competing against some of the biggest names in football in this new sporting endeavour.
“Rangers Football Club will benefit through sponsorship, television and spectator revenues while the project will help promote the Club throughout the world.”
Rangers Captain Barry Ferguson added: “Rangers Football Club is built on success and we all hope our car will be in pole position come the first race of the season at Donington Park. We were the first team in the UK to sign up for Superleague Formula and all the players will be following the car’s progress throughout the racing calendar.”
Rangers striker Nacho Novo commented: “Many of the players at the Club are huge fans of motorsport so we will all be cheering on the Rangers Superleague Formula when the season begins in August. Our supporters are very passionate about their Club and I am sure they will get right behind our new racing team as well.”
Rangers will be one of 20 leading clubs on the grid when the championship kicks off in the UK at Donington Park near Nottingham on August 30/31.
Their rivals will include European clubs AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto, Olympiacos, Borussia Dortmund, FC Basel, RSC Anderlecht, Sevilla and Galatasaray SK, plus Brazilian rivals Flamengo and Corinthians.
Negotiations are currently being finalised to complete the grid that will also include an English premier league team.
