ROVERS are on the fast track back into Europe - and a pre-season tournament in France.

But it will be more a case of foot on the pedal than foot on the ball when the club's colours go on show in Croix-en-Ternois in June.

For the star is a car - the BRFC racing car to be precise and driver John Batchelor reckons his Rovers-sponsored vehicle is geared up for success.

"No one will need to check where we come from, that's for sure," says John. "To have got this support from the club is just marvellous - it's given us an extra incentive to do well."

The eye-catching Ford Fiesta XR2i has a race engine and gearbox capable of high levels of performance - 0-60 in five seconds and a top speed of 145 mph.

It has been entered in this year's British Racing and Sports Car Club Super Road Saloon Championship and John, a self-confessed Roverite, says: "The championship is rated one of the top events in world club racing and there are 15 rounds. As well as France we will appear on Anglesey and at venues like Oulton Park, Donington Park and Brands Hatch."

Greyhound Ford also have an involvement and sales director Paul Haslam says: "We are delighted to be associated with Rovers in supporting John and his team. We are totally committed to motorsport and hope the Fiesta has the same outstanding results as Colin McRae's Focus.

John and his manager, Stuart Isherwood, are keen Rovers fans and Alan McColgan, the Ewood Park's business development manager, adds: "We are always receptive to novel ways of extending brand awareness and this is certainly a little different. The car looks stunning and we wish the team every success."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.