Sulayem says UAE club have platform to build on in racing battle with football giants
Andreas Zuber gave Al Ain a solid start to the new Superleague Formula season before his car was pushed off the circuit in race two at Donington Park
Mohammed Ben Sulayem is confident Al Ain can build on the promising start they have made to the first season of Superleague Formula motor racing in which they’re battling against some of world’s top football clubs.
Austrian driver Andreas Zuber recorded a fine sixth place at the wheel of the Al Ain single seater in the first of two races that marked the launch of Superleague Formula at Donington Park, England on Sunday.
After Zuber was pushed off the circuit on the first lap of race two, Al Ain finished the opening weekend of the series lying in 11th position, ahead of a cluster of top football clubs, including 2008 UEFA Cup runners up, Rangers, Olympiacos of Greece, Turkish club Galatasaray, Corinthians from Brazil, Anderlecht of Belgium and Italian giants AC Milan.
"It was a good start for Al Ain, and they now have a platform to build on," said Sulayem, president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, who is acting as an expert advisor to the UAE Club.
"Andreas Zuber did not have a chance to test the car before the first race, so to finish in the top six was a great effort. He was unlucky to be nudged off the track in race two, but overall this was a promising start for Al Ain."
In dry, perfect conditions for the 28-lap first race, Zuber took the Al Ain car up to fifth place at one stage before eventually having to settle for sixth, after being hit by Borussia Dortmund’s Nelson Philippe.
Victory went to Beijing Gouan’s Davide Rigon, ahead of the AS Roma car driven by Enrico Toccacelo and Tottenham Hotspur’s Duncan Tappy.
Zuber’s challenge in race two came to an end in pouring rain as his car was pushed out of the race after an aquaplaning incident with Tristan Gommendy in FC Porto’s car. The race was won by Sevilla FC driver Borja Garcia from Flamengo’s Tuka Rocha and Liverpool’s Adrian Valles.
Said Zuber: "It was the first time I have taken a rolling start. It worked pretty well because I overtook two cars at the start of race 1. Then Borussia Dortmund crashed into me and that broke the rear diffuser. So it was a pretty difficult race for me. But the speed was there.
"After being pushed off in the first lap of the race two there was nothing I could do to continue. Despite this, I would like to thank the team for doing a great job and the Al Ain club for supporting me so strongly."
Superleague Formula leading positions after 1st round:
1. Beijing Gouan FC 79pts
2. Tottenham Hotspur 72
Liverpool FC 72
4. Sevilla FC 68
5. AS Roma 63
6. PSV Eindhoven 59
7. Flamengo 52
8. FC Basel 46
FC Porto 46
10. Borussia Dortmund 44
11. Al-Ain 37
12. Rangers FC 33
- Tony Lewis, Total Communications Dubai - photo Superleague
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