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Superleague 'best F1 alternative'

Superleague Formula chief Robin Webb believes the football-themed series is now the best international single-seater option outside Formula 1

The championship will start its fourth season this year, and over its formative seasons it has attracted various drivers with F1 experience, including Narain Karthikeyan, Sebastien Bourdais, Antonio Pizzonia and Robert Doornbos.

Webb reckons Superleague ultimately benefited from space in the marketplace created by the collapse of A1GP in 2009, making it attractive to both drivers trying to get to F1 and seeking an alternative single-seater career.

"When the rumours of difficulties regarding A1GP were at their height, I said that it would be bad if A1 failed," said Webb.

"Initially everybody assumed that SF would go the same way. It was sad to see, but now with the benefit of hindsight, it helped us.

"What it did was to take away some confusion and a competitor out in a market where we both wanted to position ourselves. From my perspective I can see that there is no longer any confusion (or doubt) in the market now about SF.

"We had a change of ownership, in as much as an existing shareholder took over 99 per cent of the business and also our sponsor, Sonangol, is very happy with progress.

"So I have to say SF has benefited. We are now the only real global single-seater alternative destination to F1."

He feels Superleague has now proved its detractors wrong.

"Sure, there are people who want to knock it but I haven't detected a queue of race teams, drivers, or football clubs wanting to leave us at the end of every year," said Webb.

"And that ex-F1 drivers and future F1 drivers are perfectly happy to race in SF - we give them a great racecar - has probably been my most satisfying observation."

Webb reckons that within five years Superleague will be a firmly established part of the international motorsport scene.

"In five years' time SF will be 'establishment'," he said. "That's important. Every event, competition or new product takes time to establish itself. In commercial terms they call it heritage and you can't buy it, that intangible thing that gives you credibility and value.

"If we are smart and don't make too many mistakes (but also be prepared to take the odd risk here and there) then I expect SF to have its own identity and, to be commercially viable and successful."

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