FORT MILL, S.C. (Oct. 16, 2014) — While racing and soccer may seem like polar opposites, Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C. is bringing them together for its “What'Cha Got“ promotion.
The campaign brings together six Major League Soccer (MLS) players getting behind the wheel of a 2014 Lamborghini with some instruction from TUDOR United SportsCar Championship driver Townsend Bell.
Continental Tire, the official tire for both MLS and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), said it will bring these two sports together in a seven-part series that begins airing Oct. 19 as part of ESPN FC across the ESPN family of networks.
The six soccer participants include Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo), Graham Zusi (Sporting KC), and Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire) from the Eastern Conference, and Chandler Hoffman (Los Angeles Galaxy), Stephen Keel (FC Dallas), and Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA), from the Western Conference.
The players will go through the coned, autocross course in the parking lot of an MLS stadium as fast as possible, Conti said. In the end, two were left standing to contend for the chance to win a year-long lease of the Lamborghini.
“We are happy to launch our first season with Major League Soccer and Continental Tire,” Mr. Bell said.
“It was a great experience to share my racing passion with these athletes. I'm excited for soccer fans as they watch some of the best athletes in the sport take on the challenge of driving at the limit. With a supercar on the line for the fastest driver, they really go for it.”
Beginning Oct. 19, every Sunday episode will feature a different player, with the finale airing Dec. 7. Each episode will give fans a peek inside the player's personal garage. Conti said the final episode will feature the fastest player from the East and the West squaring off for the grand prize.