SPANISH DRIVERS KEEN TO REPRESENT SEVIILA
 The
unveiling of Superleague Formula's first Spanish club in Sevilla
this week has proven to be a major success with the fans,
footballers, the local media and some of Spain's hottest young
racing drivers voicing their support for the championship.
The club's 750 horsepower, V12-powered Superleague Formula
car was revealed to the local media on Thursday and the fans
had their turn tonight at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán
Stadium. Sevilla fought out a tough 1-1 draw over major rivals
Barcelona FC.
Sevilla's red and white Superleague Formula car has been
a winner at newsstands across Spain, with the car featured
on the front page of major newspapers AS, El Diario de Sevilla
and El Mundo.
Leading drivers are excited at the possibility of driving
the Elan Motorsport Technologies-built, Menard Competition
Technologies-powered machine.
Andy Soucek and Borja Garcia have been key contenders in
the GP2 championship in recent years. The Spanish pair drove
for DPR and Durango respectively in the Formula 1 support
series last year and both are keen to represent Sevilla in
Superleague Formula.
"Well I heard about the Championship a few years ago
and I had some chats with Alex Andreu - it all looks really
exciting," Soucek said.
"It has been a very big boom now here in Spain, everybody
is talking about it and I was called to be a possible and
future driver for the Championship. I believe it's a very
good idea after finishing my GP2 season to start with Superleague
Formula.
"It's a big car with a big engine and it's also very
good training for me, it'll be a big show for everybody who's
going to look at the races.
"The good thing about the car is that it has no traction
control or power steering so it makes it even more difficult
for the driver. It's going to be really exciting to drive
the car and to watch the races because we will see a lot of
power sliding and good overtaking.
"I am from Madrid so Real Madrid is my favourite club
but Sevilla absolutely is a very equal club in Spain. There
is a big fight between Madrid and Barcelona but Sevilla is
really loved by everybody in Spain so absolutely, I would
love to defend the colours of this club."
Both drivers took the opportunity to climb aboard the Sevilla
car at Thursday's launch. Superleague Formula will hit the
track for the first time next month when testing begins at
England's Donington Park circuit – the venue for the
opening round of the championship in August.
"I believe it's an interesting competition, to join
football and formula cars, I think it will be a good introduction
to motor racing for new fans," Garcia said.
"It would be great to get the opportunity to drive this
car because I am Spanish and Sevilla is Spanish - I think
it would be great to fight with these colours and this club.
"It will be important to get good results because the
fans of Sevilla of course want to push to win the championship."
While Sevilla has claimed major silverware in Europe in recent
years with its pair of UEFA Cup titles, the southern Spanish
club will compete in Superleague Formula against other leading
European teams including AC Milan, Olympiacos, FC Porto, PSV
Eindhoven, RSC Anderlecht, Borussia Dortmund, FC Basel, Galatasaray
SK plus Brazilian rivals Flamengo and Corinthians.
In total, 20 football clubs will be represented on the grid,
fighting it out for 1 million Euro prizemoney at every race
weekend.
Superleague Formula President and CEO, Alex Andreu, was delighted
with the response to the Sevilla launch.
"We knew Sevilla was excited about the opportunity to
join Superleague Formula but the response has really exceeded
our expectations," Andreu said.
"The media reaction on Thursday was incredible and the
fans are very passionate and keen to see their car challenge
for the title.
"The grid is filling fast and we have some very exciting
announcements in the weeks ahead – we feel a real sense
of momentum at the moment. Everyone is also very keen to see
the car run for the first time. Donington will be a perfect
venue for that because it is also the site for our first race."
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