Scuderia Playteam Sarafree’s two V12, 750- horsepower cars will feature the colours of international football club Galatasaray SK on one car, and the popular magic red and black colours of AC Milan on the other.
Both cars will make their race debut at the start of the season this weekend on August 30-31, 2008 at Donington (UK) after an ultimate test session on the British track scheduled prior to the event. 25-year-old Dutch driver Robert Doornbos will race in the prestigious red and black colours of AC Milan, while Italian Alessandro Pier Guidi will gear up for action at the wheel of the Galatasaray SK car together with rookie driver Turkey Jason Tahinci.
Robert Doornbos commented: "I am very pleased that the race time is now here. It has been almost one year now since I last drove a car in a proper race. Even if we did a lot of kilometers testing, an official test session never duplicates the feeling of a real race. I just can’t wait to drive for the AC Milan team at the first race.
For me it is a really exciting moment and I can’t wait for the start. The team has certainly progressed every day since the first test. It was an incredible challenge with everyone - team, mechanics and engineers at Scuderia Playteam Sararee working so hard with such discipline to be ready on time.
I have wished so strongly this moment to happen since I’ve always been a huge AC Milan fan since my childhood. I hope we will be able to produce a good show for the fans and I hope the spectators at the Donington track will enjoy our first race."
Alessandro Pier Guidi who will be driving the Galatasaray SK car commented: "I am really proud to be driving in this series. We did a good job with the team working on and developing the car in Barcelona at the test session. We will work for a last day on Thursday in Donington in order to finalise the ultimate set up details and optimize everything on the car as well as becoming familiar with the idiosyncrasies of track.
It will be a final and very rewarding effort. I have now a better idea about the names of the other drivers competing in this high level and very challenging series. Also the qualifying format for instance or the way the grid will be reversed will be interesting.
I really hope it makes for a good show for the spectators. The fast drivers will have a hard time recuperating their advantage from the back of the grid. In the light of the results of our team work and good preparation, I am looking forward to the first weekend of racing. I can’t wait to drive the car and show that I am competing for the best team."
Jason Tahinci: "To be participating in such a championship with the team I have been supporting since I was a little kid is a very proud moment for me. Galatasaray SK is a very big label in Turkey and Europe and being associated with them will be an incredible experience for me and the whole team. A few month ago, it was still a dream. Now it is the last step before the first ever race - a bit of a historical moment from my view point.
I am hoping that my team mate and I will perform to our maximum abilities in order to make Galatasaray SK champions in the Superleague Formula. I really can’t wait to get in the car which will be painted in the famous red and yellow colors. I will also have my helmet painted to suit the team colors. Let the show begin!"
Scuderia Playteam Team owner and founder Giambattista Giannoccaro commented: "Establishing yourself in a new championship is not easy. You have to know the rhythm and all of the formula specific rules. Even simple things are difficult when you are new to a championship. Discipline and hard work are the only way to achieve results in a record time. It is all about finding the working rhythm for everyone in the team.
It’s a real challenge for us all in order to reach reliability for the cars. We’re very pleased to have signed Robert Doornbos and Alessandro Pier Guidi as the team’s first line drivers because of their extensive motor racing experience and talent.
They are both a real asset to us in this new adventure with AC Milan and Galatasaray SK. I have gotten to know Jason Tahinci since the presentation at the club, and am certain that we will develop excellent teamwork together." In the Superleague Formula each football club will fight it out for 1 million Euros prize money at each of the six championship rounds. Each round will feature two races – one with a completely reverse grid.
As an added attraction for the team, Franco Baresi, one of the most popular Italian youth team coaches and a former defender with A.C. Milan, acknowledged as one of the greatest defenders ever to play the game will be guest of the AC Milan team for the first event of the season at Donington.
All of the Scuderia Playteam Sarafree are looking forward with interacting with this legend of international soccer especially Robert Doornbos who is driving the red and black A.C. Milan car and has been a lifelong fan of the team.
www.scuderiaplayteam.com
- Agnès Carlier- photos Scuderia Playteam & Superleague
