One of Australia’s most promising young racing drivers John Martin has been signed up to race for newly crowned Scottish champions Rangers FC in this year’s Superleague Formula. The 24-year-old from Queensland graduates to Superleague Formula after a meteoric rise through junior championships. Since winning the Australian Formula Ford 1600 title in 2006, Martin has come to international prominence competing in the British F3 Championship and representing Team Australia in the A1 Grand Prix series.

“We are excited to have a driver of John’s talents racing for Rangers in this year’s Superleague Formula,” confirmed Martin Bain, Chief Executive of Rangers Football Club.

“Everyone at the Club wishes John all the best for the new season and now we’ve won the SPL title, it would be great to start enjoying similar success on the race track”.

Although newly graduated to Superleague Formula, the Aussie ace has already experienced the thrill of driving one of the V12-powered 750 horsepower single-seaters that are raced by all the competing football clubs.

He recently took part in a special test at Magny-Cours in France set up to test the more powerful 2009 specification engine which will propel all the cars when this year’s series kicks off next month at the former home of the French Grand Prix.

“After doing that test I know it’s a great car to drive. That’s why I’m really excited to be given this opportunity, which also takes me another step closer to my dream of Formula 1. With its V12 engine, the Superleague car is definitely the most powerful car I’ve raced so far. What’s more it’s by far the best sounding!” enthused Martin who has been doing his homework on the club he’ll be representing. “Rangers are a very successful team in Scotland; therefore the pressure’s on me… but there’s nothing wrong with that. I know the team who are running the car really well, which gives me confidence we’ll go to the first round and be pretty quick.”

As in 2008 the Rangers team will be managed by Silverstone-based Alan Docking Racing – a team with more than 30 years experience in motor sport.

“We’re thrilled to be managing the Rangers car again in 2009. Last season our best result was fourth – I’m sure we can better that this year,” vowed Team Principal Alan Docking. “We’ve already got a good relationship with John having run him in both Formula 3 and A1GP since he’s been in Europe. He had a lot to learn when he first came over here from Australia but he’s getting stronger by the day and I know he’s really looking forward to racing one of these powerful Superleague machines.”