BELGIAN ROYALTY JOINS SUPERLEAGUE FORMULA CHAMPIONSHIP
 Superleague
Formula has been joined by royalty – Belgian royalty
to be precise – with Royal Sport Club Anderlecht the
latest team to join the motorsport championship that features
the colours of the world's leading football clubs.
RSC Anderlecht joins 2007 Champion's League winners AC Milan,
PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto, Olympiacos and the recently announced
German club Borussia Dortmund in the new championship which
will kick off in August next year.
Like many of their Superleague Formula rivals, RSC Anderlecht
enjoyed another successful season in 2006/07, winning its
29th Belgian first division championship.
The club is now targeting success in motorsport to continue
its rich trophy winning history that also includes eight Belgian
Cups, one Belgian League Cup, seven Belgian Supercups, two
European Cup Winner's Cups, a UEFA Cup and two European Super
Cups.
RSC Anderlecht's purple, silver and white livery which will
be used on the 750-horsepower V12-powered Superleague Formula
chassis was presented today at the club's annual press day
at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.
"We are very excited and proud about our partnership
with Superleague Formula," said Herman Van Holsbeeck,
General Manager of Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht.
"Proud because Anderlecht is the only participating
Belgian club in this competion with the biggest football clubs
in the world and excited because we know that our fans will
be very eager about this competition and particularly excited
about the car in purple and white."
Launched in April this year, Superleague Formula will feature
more than 20 of world football's leading rivals doing battle
on top class race tracks through Europe.
For its debut season, six championship rounds will be staged
with each race weekend featuring two races – one with
a complete reverse grid.
The addition of the second new club to the championship in
less than a week was warmly welcomed by Superleague Formula
President and CEO, Alex Andreau.
"Our negotiations with football clubs throughout the
world have gone exceptionally well," Andreau said.
"Having a club like Anderlecht join our championship
is perfect for Superleague Formula. Their record in the Eerste
Klasse is second-to-none and we are thrilled to have another
championship winner amongst our ranks.
"We are looking forward to presenting the club's colours
on the actual car with its 2007/08 playing squad in September.
"It has been a big week for us - Borussia Dortmund and
now Anderlecht - and lots more to follow."
The Superleague Formula championship will feature high performance
single seater cars built by Panoz/Elan Motorsports in the
US. The 750-horsepower V-12 engines are being developed by
MCT in the UK.
"Support from the football clubs for the Superleague
Formula championship has been extremely rewarding," said
Operations Director, Robin Webb.
"We actually expect to have some challenging decisions
to make as final negotiations have taken place with more than
30 clubs, but our entry will close with a maximum of 20 for
the debut season.
"It will be a case of first come, first served, however
we will have a small number of spots reserved for clubs from
a couple of key strategic markets.
"Everybody involved in Superleague Formula has been
working extremely hard behind the scenes over the past few
years. It is now extremely rewarding to be able tell the world
which clubs will be joining us for our first year."
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