Race teams takes delivery of first Superleague Formula Cars

Elan Motorsports Technologies have released the first batch of Superleague Formula chassis to the championship's race teams with German squad GU Racing the first to collect their new machine.

While the chassis and components are constructed at Elan's base in Atlanta, Georgia in the USA, the final assembly is taking place at the headquarters of Norfolk headquarters for renowned Formula Ford constructor, Van Diemen - also an Elan owned company.

The first ten chassis are now ready for collection - each team able to collect their first car.

Development of the Superleague Formula prototype chassis has been undertaken by reigning British Formula 3 Champions, Hitech Racing.

With test sessions at Donington Park, Monteblanco, Estoril and Magny-Cours – the definitive spec of the car has now been finalised.

Test driver Bruce Jouanny recently completed several race distance runs witht the final spec, 750 horsepower, V12 Menard Competition Technologies engine at Magny-Cours.

A final three day test will take place at Estoril in Portugal from June 2-4. The ten Superleague Formula race teams will gather together for the first time on July 9-10-11 at Monteblanco.

Each of the ten race teams will run two football clubs each. GU Racing will split their efforts between FC Basel and Olympiacos - the respective championship winners in Switzerland and Greece.

"Our team is very excited to collect our first car - we are really looking forward to running the cars for the first time in July," GU Racing owner Gunther Unterreitmeier said.

"I am really impressed with the car. The attention to detail and the fit and finish of the Panoz chassis is quite outstanding.

"Having seen the prototype run, I am really excited about getting our cars on track in the colours of FC Basel and Olympiacos – the V12 makes an incredible sound and it will be brilliant to see 20 of these cars on track."

The complete line up of Superleague Formula race teams will be announced next Friday at the Nurburgring in the lead up the Nurburgring 24 Hour.

The German venue will host round two of the inaugural season of the Superleague Formula championship.

The complete championship calendar will include Donington Park (UK), August 30/31, Nurburgring (GER), September 20/21; Zolder (BEL), October 4/5; Estoril (POR), October 18/19; Vallelunga (ITA), November 1/2; and Jerez (Spain), November 22/23.

Each round of the championship features two, 50-minute races – each with a pit stop.

The unique part of the series is that at half time (after race one), the teams change sides – race two will feature a complete reverse grid.

The football clubs and race teams are not just fighting it out for the prestigious silverware – 1 million euro prize money is up for grabs at every race weekend.

Thirteen football clubs have been announced for the championship with the final seven entrants set to be revealed in the lead up to the July Monteblanco test.

The lineup includes AC Milan (Italy), Olympiacos (Greece), FC Porto (Portugal), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), RSC Anderlecht (Belgium), FC Basel (Switzerland), Flamengo (Brazil), Galatasaray (Turkey), Corinthians (Brazil), Sevilla (Spain), Rangers (Scotland) and Al Ain (United Arab Emirates).

The additional entrants will represent clubs from England, Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Asia.

- Paul Ryan-