August 3, 2004
By Jonews Reporter
ADRENALINE junkies are preparing for a sensational line-up at Kyalami as the first-ever two-seater Formula One Grand Prix on African soil gets into motion over the long weekend starting on 6 August.
The Altech Formula One Two-Seater Grand Prix will feature eight V10-powered cars, driven by top name drivers, and promises passengers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the thrill of a real-life Formula One event.
The highlight of the programme - back-to-back 10-lap races in the two-seaters - takes place on Monday, 9 August, the first time this has ever happened.
The cars will be sponsored by Paul Stoddart, owner of the Minardi Formula One team, who, in addition to giving South African motorsport fans a drool-worthy spectacle is also helping charity in a big way. Gate money will benefit the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and crisis food relief programme Unite Against Hunger, and local businesses are invited to get involved by sponsoring a car for the race weekend or supporting the many hospitality packages on offer.
Stoddart has also prompted his colleagues in Formula One to make the trip to South Africa, and retired Formula One star Johnny Herbert, who now drives for Audi, has already been confirmed his place. The former Benetton, Lotus, Sauber, Stewart, and Jaguar driver contested 160 grands prix during his career, winning three of them, and finished fourth in the F1 Championship in 1995. Herbert is also a hugely successful sports car driver and a former Le Mans winner.
Also winging their way to South Africa will be current Williams-BMW test driver Marc Gene, former Ferrari, Jaguar and Jordan F1 driver Eddie Irvine, and West McLaren Mercedes third driver Alex Wurz. Irvine and Wurz will be special guests and are not currently scheduled to drive the F1x2 cars.
In addition to drivers like Nicolas Kiesa, Gianmaria "Gimmi" Bruni and Bas Leinders, one man who is sure to attract plenty of local support is current British F3 champion Alan van der Merwe. He proved very popular with the Kyalami crowd in June when he drove one of the two Formula One two-seaters paraded at the circuit.
"This event is a chance to give something back to the sport in which it competes, while allowing the people who really matter - the fans - the opportunity to get closer than normal to the cars and drivers they support," said Stoddart.
"I think that South Africans are in for the ride of their lives as Formula One fever moves up a gear in the coming months."
Besides a festival of motorsport action, there will plenty of other attractions, including an international extreme-sports competition and a music spectacular, to wow the expected 100 000-strong crowd.
Tickets are available through Computicket, with costs for the Grand Prix weekend ranging from R165 to R380.
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