Star drivers test new Superleague Formula video game 14.08.2009: Giorgio Pantano, Craig Dolby, Max Wissel, Davide Rigon and Enrique Bernoldi were among the star Superleague Formula by Sonangol drivers to try out the series’ brand new video game during the recent race meeting

Giorgio Pantano, Craig Dolby, Max Wissel, Davide Rigon and Enrique Bernoldi were among the star Superleague Formula by Sonangol drivers to try out the series’ brand new video game during the recent race meeting at Donington Park.

Featuring a grid of powerful 750bhp single-seater racing cars, Superleague Formula by Sonangol is the only competition in the world to unite premier league-quality motorsport with some of the world’s most famous football clubs. Supporters of those clubs and motorsport fans worldwide will soon get the chance to drive their own team’s car when the exciting new video game is launched in September.

“The game is really cool and I think football and motorsport fans will love it,” said Dolby, who kept Tottenham Hotspur in the title race at Donington with fifth place in race 1 and fourth in race 2, before netting a €70,000 prize fund for finishing second in the Super Final. “The lap times we did on the game were actually pretty close to the ones we set for real on race day. That means the fans can watch us race on a Sunday and then try and beat our times when they get home!”
 
Ex-Formula 1 drivers Pantano (AC Milan) and Bernoldi (Flamengo) also enjoyed their digital thrash around the British circuit on the game designed by Media Game and Image Space Incorporated, whose portfolio of video games already includes rFactor, F1 Challenge and NASCAR Thunder.

“I played it on Saturday before qualifying and I really liked the game,” said Pantano who took fourth place in race 1 at Donington before being knocked out of race 2 on the opening lap. “It’s very realistic and on the demo version we were driving my AC Milan car which was really nice!”

Bernoldi also emphasised the realism of the game after trying it out before a race day which unfortunately saw him post two DNFs. “We drove the Donington circuit and the braking points are almost exactly the same as in real life. The graphics are also really good and the view from the cockpit is very similar to what you actually see when you’re sat in the car for real. The fans are going to love it.”

Italian Rigon, who helped Chinese club Beijing Goan to win the inaugural Superleague Formula title last season before transferring to Greek giants Olympiacos for 2009, commented, “The game was great and I think the Olympiacos fans will really enjoy racing their car against all the other great teams we have in Superleague Formula” .

Perhaps the biggest endorsement should be reserved for FC Basel driver Wissel, who was the star of the weekend on track at Donington. He won race 1, a first Superleague triumph for the Swiss club, before finishing third from the very back of the grid in race 2 and netting another podium in the Super Final. “It’s really good and very close to reality,” he said. “I was watching the revs and speedometer on the game as I was playing and it’s pretty much exactly the same as real life. I already knew Donington quite well, but for some other circuits it could be quite useful for us drivers as the track layouts are so lifelike.”


The exciting new PC game will be released in September and will be distributed online from the official Superleague Formula website: www.superleagueformula.com.

 
-Albert Roch-  photo Superleague Formula