Taupo given shot at hosting Superleague Formula

Tottenham Hotspur could be battling it out with Real Madrid in New Zealand later this year - in super race cars each backed by the football teams.
Taupo's international circuit has a provisional agreement to bring the Superleague Formula, one of the most keenly followed in motorsport, here around November.
"It's tentative at this stage, there is great deal of water to flow under the bridge before we can say it will happen, including finance," Taupo Motorsport Park chief executive Geoff Langham said.
"But the most difficult part is getting the championship organisers to consider New Zealand, and we've achieved that and more."
It was Langham's vision, experience in motorsport and many local and international contacts which have brought this to reality.
Langham said his brief had been to bring a large event to Taupo and the race circuit.
"The leading executives of Superleague Formula will be here in the next few weeks to meet with us, inspect Taupo Motorsport Park and our facilities, and generally get the lie of the land."
The circuit is rated international Grade Two - the standard required by Superleague Formula.
"This formula is one of the best-kept secrets in motor racing, at least in this part of the world," Langham said.
"To get New Zealand on their radar is quite a coup, the event has not been contested any further south than China until now.
"Everything about the championship is extraordinary, with single-seaters that perform like Formula One cars, using 750bhp V12 engines.
"It's raced at some of the world's most famous circuits including Monza, Nurburgring and Donington Park.
"After Formula One it's one of the biggest titles in the world, and definitely the most innovative with the football club involvement - that's the really attractive part, the thing that draws so many fans worldwide," Langham said.
"Each car carries its club's colours - and it's not just putting their name to a sponsorship, the clubs take a real ownership role and get heavily involved with their teams."
Twenty big football outfits are involved, including AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Liverpool, and Basel.