Gauteng partners with Renault F1
Brad Morgan
24 January 2008South Africa's Gauteng province has signed a one-year contract with the ING Renault Formula One team, with the option of another two years, aimed at increasing tourism and investment and promoting the province as a destination for competitive sport.
Formula One is the world's most expensive sport and has one of the highest profiles, with television broadcasts in about 200 countries. Clearly, it provides excellent opportunities for sponsors.
"This partnership will enable us to showcase our competitive advantages to a wider audience, and to add further impetus to some of our strategic automotive and related manufacturing sectors," Gauteng Finance MEC Paul Mashatile said in a statement on Tuesday.
Although it is the smallest province in South Africa, taking up only 1.4% of the land area, Gauteng is the country's economic powerhouse, contributing 33% to the national economy and a phenomenal 10% to the GDP of the entire African continent. Johannesburg, the country's financial capital, is the financial and commercial driving force of the region.
Renault roadshow
Renault SA managing director Xavier Dupeyron said the partnership was the start of more exciting things to come.
"South Africa has long been marked to play a significant role in Renault's global plan," Dupeyron said, adding that "our decision to invest in local production underscores our commitment to and confidence in South Africa."
In 2007, Renault brought their roadshow to the streets of Sandton, Johannesburg, where over 80 000 people were thrilled by the devastatingly fast racing machines. With the deal between Gauteng and Renault in the bag, Renault F1 will again bring their roadshow to the province in July.
Chance of a lifetime
The F1 team's partnership with the province will also include a competition, the logistics of which have not yet been finalised, which will
afford the winner an opportunity to drive a Renault Formula One car.
Entrants will be required to pass a physical fitness test, as well as a test of their driving skills, before they are deemed eligible to take part.
After 12 finalists have been determined, they will be flown to France for testing. After that the winner will be selected.
It is a prize that is sure to be a thrilling but shocking experience for the winner.
Fearsome F1
Formula One cars are capable of speeds well over the 300 km/h mark, while the G-force in corners can reach as high four Gs. Acceleration is astounding, with 100 km/h being reached in a fraction in over two seconds.
Deceleration, thanks to brakes that have to deal with temperatures of up to 1 000 degrees celcius, is unbelievable - like hitting a brick wall - with the car able to go from 300 km/h to standstill in about four seconds!
It takes less than five seconds to go from zero to 160 km/h and back to standstill.
Driving a Formula One car is, in a word, extreme.
Gauteng's F1 ties
Gauteng province has ties with Formula One that go back many years. It hosted the South African Formula One Grand Prix from 1967 to 1980, 1982 to 1985, and in 1992 and 1993.
South Africa hosted a domestic Formula One championship from 1960 to 1975. The leading cars were made up of recently retired cars from the world championship, which competed against locally built or modified machines.
Source: SAinfo reporter and Bua News
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