International Football Champions Galatasaray Joins Superleague Formula Racing
Nov 19, 2007
Superleague Formula
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. “
