Durban gears up for A1 GP
25 January 2006
Durban, "South Africa's Monaco", hosts the South African leg of the A1 Grand Prix series on 29 January. The Durban leg, one of 12 events on the A1 calendar, will be the only street race of the series.
"Durban is South Africa's own Monaco, and it is appropriate that the event should take the form of a Monaco-style street race along one of the most beautiful beachfronts in the world," KwaZulu-Natal premier S'bu Ndebele said at a press conference in Durban in October.
Although 25 countries are taking part in the revolutionary World Cup of Motorsport, only 12 are hosting a round of the series.
"It is of great significance that South Africa is one of them," Ndebele said. "This event will benefit both the province and the city."
The cost of staging the event, including broadcasting to at least 14 countries around the world, creating a street track in eThekweni and all other infrastructure and management costs, will be around
R91.6-million.
Simpson boost for Durban organisers
The event organisers got a surprise boost at the Dubai leg of the series on 11 December when South African driver Stephen Simpson sprinted to third place in the feature race.
Pressure had been mounting at home for a top result, something that neither Simpson nor his more experienced teammate, Tomas Scheckter, had managed to deliver since Simpson's sixth place in the feature race at the series-opening meeting at Brands Hatch in September.
Simpson said after the race that he had been hoping simply to get into the top 10 in order to score A1 Team South Africa's first points since Scheckter collected a single point for 10th place in the sprint race at Estoril in October.
"This result would have been brilliant in any race," Simpson said, "but to do so in the build-up for our own race in Durban is sure to help boost the crowd."
'Grand Prix of
Nations'
A1 Team South Africa chairperson Tokyo Sexwale, also speaking at the October press conference, said the Durban event would spark immense business confidence in the province and attract major investment locally and internationally.
"This is the Grand Prix of Nations, the World Cup of Motorsports, driver versus driver, with high-octane excitement in technologically advanced motor racing cars," Sexwale said.
"A1 Grand Prix is more than just a sport. It unites nations and encourages patriotism. We therefore see this as an opportunity to generate great excitement, passion and pride among South Africans."
Street race
The organisers reckon the Durban track, created specially for the event, will be one of the fastest the A1 GP has seen so far.
At 3.283 kilometres in length, it will feature nine corners and five straights - the longest straight being 700 metres - and is situated just 800 metres from Durban's
city centre and 300 metres from the city's famous North Beach coastline.
"This will be A1 Grand Prix's only street race, and the first race of its kind to be staged in the city," eThekwini mayor Obed Mlaba told journalists at the press conference.
The city estimates that at least 100 000 spectators will attend the event, with half of these being from outside the province and the country.
"Durban is South Africa's playground for world class sporting events," Mlaba said, adding that the people of the city had always "shown a deep passion for sport, whether it be soccer, rugby, cricket or other sports codes."
"We see long-lasting economic benefits from this event, and appreciate the confidence in our province that has been expressed by A1 Grand Prix South Africa."
Programme, directions
The practice rounds take place on Friday 27 January, the qualification rounds on the Saturday and the main race on Sunday.
To get
there approaching from the north/N3, take all signs to "Beaches". Once you reach the beachfront, follow the A1 signs.
From the North Coast/N4, take the offramp to Blue Lagoon, then follow the A1 signs.
From the south, take the offramp to the Victoria Embankment. Follow this road until you reach the signs to the North Coast. Turn left into Stanger Street until you reach the exit to Argyle Road. Turn right and follow the A1 signs.
Tickets are available via Computicket, with prices ranging from R85 for general admission to the circuit to R515 for the main grandstand.
SouthAfrica.info reporter and BuaNews
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