[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

22 July 2008

Following Nelson Piquet's outstanding performance at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim last Sunday, South African fans can expect a spectacular on street performance from him this Sunday, 27 July at the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) Renault F1 Team Sandton roadshow.

The ING Renault F1 team road show team thrilled more than 80 000 spectators during their South African debut in July 2007 and to the delight of F1 enthusiasts, returns on Sunday 27 July and Fredman Drive and West Street will reverberate to the sound of the Renault R27's 19 000 rpm.

An international event, since its launch in 2003, the roadshow has thrilled in excess of two million people worldwide and it returns to our shores as a result of a strategic partnership between Gauteng Department of Economic Development and Renault F1 (RF1).

While access to the Gauteng Renault F1 Team roadshow is free to the public, due to the demand from a number of F1 fans wanting a bird's eye on the day, RF1 and GPG have agreed to the erection of a limited number of grandstands. Priced at R250 and R300, tickets are available through Computicket.

On roadshow day, first up on the grid in the cockpit of the Renault R27 F1 race car will be Nelson Piquet, ING Renault F1 team driver. Lucas DiGrassi, the team's third driver will take over the controls later in the day with both drivers expected to reach speeds of up to 270 kph. Fans will also get to see Piquet and DiGrassi at a more realistic speed when they are chauffeured around the circuit in a convertible.

While the circuit officially opens at 10h30, to secure prime viewing positions the public is advised to get to Sandton early. A number of support acts including on-track karting will kick start the event and at intervals during the day, spectators will enjoy action aplenty courtesy of Renault's Mégane Class T Production Car, Mégane Trophy car as well as two Formula Renault cars.

The public is advised that a park and ride bus shuttle service will run at 30 minute intervals between 08h00 and 13h00 on Sunday, 27 July. Pick-up points are Inanda Club, Forrest Road, Sandton, the Wanderers club, North Road, Illovo and Sandown High School.

Drop-off points are in West Street and the corner of Fredman Drive and Rivonia Road and return services to the pick-up points will operate between 15h00 and 17h00.

Fredman Drive and West Street will be closed from 20h00 on Friday, 25 July through to Monday, 28 July at 06h00 and partial road closures will also affect Alice and Gwen Lanes and Maude and Bute Streets in the Sandton CBD during this period. From tomorrow, various road closures will affect the outer lane of Fredman Drive and West Street but cross roads will be accessible and control flows will be indicated along various sections en route.

On Sunday 27 July, the opening ceremony takes place at 11h15 and will set the scene for a fun filled day of entertainment and action that will continue through to 15h30. The entertainment line up includes Soweto born "natural diva" Sibongile Mngoma, the French choir, two local marching bands and drum majorettes while the Azuma Cultural Group and Lesedi Cultural Village dance troupe will be on tap to provide a touch of local fare and flair.

A show sequence not to be missed will be that of top international stunt driver Terry Grant who is expected to thrill fans with his dare devil, high speed antics and Ultimate Car Control performances, both inside and outside of his car!

Also on track will be professional stuntman Julien Piguet. Piguet has performed in movies such as The Bourne Identity, Ronin and the James Bond series and will perform several stunt sequences behind the wheel of the Renault Mégane RS and Mégane Trophy.

The Expo Village and Paddock area on Nelson Mandela Square will be open to the public from Friday 25 July and spectators will have the opportunity to view the technical set-up of a Formula 1 paddock area complete with two ING Renault R27 F1 race cars and a full technical crew. Between Friday and Sunday, the RS27 V8 engines will be powered up at regular intervals by the crew and ear plugs are highly recommended!

The R27 in brief
The RS27 engine was designed by a team led by Axel Plasse under the supervision of Rob White.
Capacity: 2400 cc
Architecture: 90 V8
Weight: 95kg
Max revs: 19 000 rpm
Spark plugs: Champion
ECU: Magneti Marelli Step 11
Fuel: Elf
Lubricant: Elf

Coupled to a seven speed gearbox and reverse gear. At 18 000 rpm, the RS27 generates 150 firings per cylinder per second. The RS27 is made up of over 4 000 parts 1 500 of which are moving parts.
200: The number of ingredients that go to make up the fuel supplied by Elf to feed the RS27's engine.
300: The number of revolutions the piston makes per second to produce an engine speed of 18 000 rpm

For more information on the GPG Renault F1 Team Roadshow, the public is invited to log on to http://www.gautengRF1.co.za

For further information:
Margie Gawith
Cell: 082 881 3636
Tel: 011 678 2907
E-mail: margie@qwantani.com

Issued by: Department of Economic Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
22 July 2008
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.ecodev.gpg.gov.za/)