Superleague Formula? No thanks

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Autosport have interviewed the man behind Superleague Formula, Alex Andreu, who’s unsurprisingly confident about the prospects for his motor racing-cum-football league championship, due to get the green light/kick off at Donington Park later this year.

Andreu said:

We did some research, and then we went to the top football clubs in Europe – Juventus, FC Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester … we did qualitative research, and the reaction from the fans was absolutely amazing. They went mad for it. And then once they had seen the car, they went mental.

Well I for one am not going ‘mental’. It was a rubbish idea in 2002 and it’s still a rubbish idea in 2008.

Ordinarily I like to give new racing categories a try – a lot of people were down on A1 Grand Prix when it started in 2005 but I’ve kept an eye on it and it’s had some very good races.

Superleague Formula is using almost exactly the same approach as A1GP – a single specification of chassis and engine built to keep the racing close and exciting. So what’s my problem?

Superleague’s ‘unique selling point’ (to use hideous business language) is that the teams are branded by football clubs. I’m a proud fan of motor racing, and I hate cheap, condescending marketing tricks like this. They are trying to squeeze more money out of football fans by getting them to go to racing circuits in the off-season.

Motor sport has millions of fans – it does not have to be ‘sold’ to people by dressing it up like other sports. Look at GP2, look at the reformed IndyCar series, look at A1 and even the overlord itself, Formula 1 – these are all exciting racing championships that get could achieve far more with better marketing.

I also think Superleague Formula appeals to people’s baser instincts. I appreciate motor racing for what it is – a sport that demands peak physical fitness and sustained mental effort and discipline. It is dramatic, unpredictable, fast and exciting. I am sure there are many people who feel the same way about football or, for that matter, golf or tennis.

There’s something tragic about the idea that some fans could be so blindly devoted to a football brand that they’ll watch any sport that has their team’s crest stuck onto it. Are Borussia Dortmund’s players going to be driving the cars? No. Is this all just a cynical marketing con? Yes. What’s next – a Manchester United NASCAR team? The New York Knicks cricket XI?

Having said this, many racing series could learn something from Superleague’s excellent blog which uses all the modern avenues of promotion on the internet that most racing series ignore.

But if Superleague has the style, true motor racing has the real substance. On the weekend it starts off you’ll find me at Brands Hatch watching some of the world’s top touring car drivers in the DTM, and Nico H?âãÆ?é??lkenberg and other likely future Formula 1 racers in the Formula 3 Euro Series.

The full interview is here, but you’ll need an Autosport subscription.

Below: Superleague’s team roster and calendar as seen at Autosport International 2008. Since then an two further teams have been added.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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6 comments on “Superleague Formula? No thanks”

  1. i’ve written a few posts about the superleague formula with the same conclusion.
    the cars are superb looking, no doubt, but i doubt that their research should have shown that kind of support..
    the most interesting part is just as mentioned the really great blog they use as website. fun things, great pics and a great tone in the writing.
    something to keep in mind discussing the sleepy f1.com

  2. If Superleague is that great, it shouldn’t need football money to create its product.

    Otherwise, that car does look pretty, and looks oddly like they’ve decided to buy the Panoz chassis that Champ Car was using… Oh, wait, it -is- a Panoz chassis… Did somebody say V12?

    I don’t like the reversed grid concept anywhere it’s done, but I like the team-above-driver competition format… Guess we’ll have to see it in practice.

  3. Hi, Where can you see this type first class racing at a price to suit race fans and not only for the well off. SUPERLEAGUE FORMULA. This is for the real petrol heads.
    Those in the Know will know the name Heidimarie. she is behind this sport 100%

  4. The superleague is great fun. Why those of us who like car racing, cannot be interested in other sports? Well I am, and I prefer to see a car with the Sevilla logo on , that with just plain painted color. My emotions can relate more with this competition. Why do you think we pay to see a race? To feel something. Superleague increases my emotions towards cars, racing teams and pilots

  5. “the football clubs pays nothing”, also if u visit the website, u will find some of the race tickets are up for grabs for free, its only in its first year, give it a try man, you can read all about it here – http://www.f1gpcorner.com/70/what-why-and-how-will-superleague-formula-work/

  6. Simon Rodrigues
    24th November 2008, 15:24

    you forget that most of these teams represent other sports also. I’m an FCPorto fan, and I know that they also have a skate hokey team, basketball team, andebol team, futsal team, etc.

    I prefer football but I also like F1 and other motor sports, like rally, and watch when I can. I think this is a great competition and I’m very curious to see if it takes off.

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