28 February 2001

 THE SUN IN POLE POSITION WITH F1 DREAMTEAM

The Sun Online (www.thesun.co.uk) this week launched the newspaper’s hugely successful fantasy Formula One game on the web. 

The game – called F1 Dream Team and with £100,000 in prizes – has run in The Sun for the last five years and is now online for the first time at www.f1dreamteam.com. 

News Group Digital has also formed a strategic partnership with Granada Broadband, which gives all www.itv-f1.com users access to the game.

News Group Digital Director Mark Maydon said: “As far as I am aware, Dream Team is the only fully-integrated offline-online fantasy game out there.

“And no-one comes near in offering our level of prizes – we’re giving away £75,000 in cash and a further £25,000 in VIP trips to Grand Prix races.

“Punters can register for £100,000 F1 Dream Team either via the phone (09015 60 40 20, calls cost 60p/min) or on the web for £5 at www.F1Dreamteam.com. Anyone who registers by phone can log on to check their progress easily via the website. And of course, web users can use the phone to do the same should they wish.

“What’s more, anyone who is too busy to log on or phone in can have the game updates sent to their mobile phone via SMS.  It’s a terrific set-up.”

F1 Dream Team is the second of The Sun’s fantasy games to be web enabled after the football game was launched online last August. The closing date for entries is noon GMT on March 2, two days before the first Grand Prix race of the season in Melbourne.

Maydon continued: “We were overwhelmed by the online take-up to the football Dream Team and F1 looks like going the same way. Web-enabling these games gives them a whole new dimension – allowing entrants to check a raft of facts and figures we never previously had the space to publish in the paper.

“F1 Dream Team contains so much information it provides a complete Formula One site - ideal for all race buffs.”

For further details, please contact:-

 Meri Marrone at News Group Digital tel: 0207 782 1367 email: meri@news.co.uk or Jane Blackburne at Granada Broadband Press Office