Renault and Gauteng Provincial Government strategic alliance on track

The strategic partnership between the Gauteng Provincial Government and the ING Renault F1 Team announced in January this year is firmly on track following today's announcement that the launch of the ‘Ultimate Grand Prix Drive Competition' is entering its next phase.

The competition will see one lucky South African given the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a 2007 R27 ING Renault F1 Team car and sample its power on the Stowe Circuit at Silverstone. To set the scene for this unique competition, 24-year old Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi, the ING Renault F1 Team's third driver thrilled the crowds in Kyalami with an on-track performance in a Renault R26 RS.

Calls for the public to enter the competition will air on radio and television from today with the competition culminating on 31st July when the winner becomes an F1 driver for the day. The whole competition will be filmed to create a 13-episode ‘Ultimate Grand Prix Drive' television series, tracking the progress of the applicants as they seek to win this exceptional prize.

A Roadshow Simulator, together with a pre-registration process, will be the first stage of the ‘Ultimate Grand Prix Drive Competition', travelling to 15 locations throughout the nine provinces between April and May. Successful entrants will be invited to compete in the next stage of the competition where the elimination process will begin. This will create a shortlist of candidates who will take part in the round one audition at Kyalami - where filming of the television series will commence.

In line with Gauteng Provincial Government's objective to profile the province as a top destination, Gauteng and all that it has to offer tourists and investors alike, will form the backdrop to the different locations throughout the series, which will air on Sunday nights on SABC 3 from late May onwards.

"Gauteng already has a competitive advantage in terms of motorsports and our involvement in this strategic alliance with the ING Renault RF1 Team stems largely from our desire to stimulate the competitive sports sector of Gauteng's economy," explains Paul Mashatile, MEC of the Department of Finance and Economic Affairs of the Gauteng Provincial Government. "This, we believe, has enormous potential to contribute towards increased tourism, job creation and higher economic growth."

Each stage of the competition will focus on important aspects relating to Formula 1 including fitness, reflexes and clarity under stress. The competitors will learn that there is a lot more to becoming an F1 driver than they might have imagined.

Renault already has a strong presence in the region, and has recently announced that the new Renault Sandero will be produced in South Africa from 2009. This partnership will undoubtedly further strengthen the brand in this important market.

The television series will also feature the Gauteng Provincial Government ING Renault F1 Team Roadshow which takes place in Sandton on Sunday 27th July 2008, building on the success of last year's event in Johannesburg where the ING Renault F1 Team performed in front of a 80,000 capacity crowd.