ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR F1x2 IN SOUTH AFRICA
The action begins in earnest today (11/11) at the Kyalami circuit, near Johannesburg, as this weekend?s second annual Altech South African Grand Prix gets underway. Over the next two days, the Minardi F1x2 Team will be providing more than 80 passengers with high-speed rides around the challenging track, which was formerly home to the South African Grand Prix. Come Sunday, though, and the team will focus on final preparations for the twin 10-lap demonstration races that will provide one of the main highlights of the weekend?s activities.
As a taster of things to come, the streets of Johannesburg yesterday echoed to the scream of V10 racing engines being worked hard as a pair of Minardi F1x2 cars driven by former Grand Prix winner, Johnny Herbert, and up-and-coming South African driving star, Alan van der Merwe, thrilled lunchtime crowds in the Sandton area of the city. The duo blasted their Minardi two-seaters around a specially constructed street circuit, with the intrepid passengers on this occasion being winners in a competition run by Johannesburg radio station, Jacaranda FM.
Aside from helping to fulfil the Minardi F1x2 Team?s longstanding commitment to bring motor racing closer to the fans, the primary purpose of Thursday?s programme was to raise public awareness of the Altech South African Grand Prix, the proceeds of which will once again benefit the Nelson Mandela Children?s Fund and Unite Against Hunger charities.
Aside from Herbert and van der Merwe, the international driver line-up this year consists of Marc Surer, Gianni Morbidelli, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tarso Marques, Zsolt Baumgartner, Bas Leinders, Patrick Friesacher, Matteo Bobbi and David Saelens. The F1x2 racers and their passengers will share the bill with the inaugural Grand Prix Masters event, the combination ensuring a thrilling weekend of motor sport for the sell-out crowd expected to pack the track.
Source: Minardi
Minardi F1x2 at Kyalami
Moderators: cmlean, Ed, The Qualiflyer, The Heretic
DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS READY FOR ALTECH SOUTH AFRICAN F1x2 GRAND PRIX
The Minardi F1x2 Team today (12/11) completed its individual passenger runs for the Altech South African Grand Prix, and began final preparations for Sunday?s two demonstration races. Saturday?s F1x2 drivers were Marc Surer, Bas Leinders, Alan van der Merwe, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Patrick Friesacher, the latter?s lap of 1 min 34.884 secs being the fastest two-seater time recorded over the last two days at the Kyalami circuit.
?It was great fun to be driving an F1 two-seater again. I really enjoyed it,? commented Friesacher, after completing nine passenger rides during the Saturday morning session. ?I like this track a lot, and combined with the great organisation here, this is just a terrific event. I particularly want to thank Paul Stoddart and the F1x2 Team for making it possible to be here again in South Africa.
?One interesting thing for me is that, so far this weekend, my best lap time in the two-seater is about two seconds slower than last year. I think this could be down to the higher track temperature, which has reduced grip levels, and a gusty wind that has been blowing for much of the time. Even so, I think we have still been able to give the passengers a good impression of F1 performance!?
The team also confirmed the line-up for the first of tomorrow?s F1x2 races, with Friesacher, Leinders, Hunter-Reay and van der Merwe being joined on the starting grid by Johnny Herbert, Matteo Bobbi, Gianni Morbidelli and David Saelens.
Source: Minardi
The Minardi F1x2 Team today (12/11) completed its individual passenger runs for the Altech South African Grand Prix, and began final preparations for Sunday?s two demonstration races. Saturday?s F1x2 drivers were Marc Surer, Bas Leinders, Alan van der Merwe, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Patrick Friesacher, the latter?s lap of 1 min 34.884 secs being the fastest two-seater time recorded over the last two days at the Kyalami circuit.
?It was great fun to be driving an F1 two-seater again. I really enjoyed it,? commented Friesacher, after completing nine passenger rides during the Saturday morning session. ?I like this track a lot, and combined with the great organisation here, this is just a terrific event. I particularly want to thank Paul Stoddart and the F1x2 Team for making it possible to be here again in South Africa.
?One interesting thing for me is that, so far this weekend, my best lap time in the two-seater is about two seconds slower than last year. I think this could be down to the higher track temperature, which has reduced grip levels, and a gusty wind that has been blowing for much of the time. Even so, I think we have still been able to give the passengers a good impression of F1 performance!?
The team also confirmed the line-up for the first of tomorrow?s F1x2 races, with Friesacher, Leinders, Hunter-Reay and van der Merwe being joined on the starting grid by Johnny Herbert, Matteo Bobbi, Gianni Morbidelli and David Saelens.
Source: Minardi
Last edited by Ed on Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
F1x2 WINS FOR LEINDERS AND HERBERT AT KYALAMI
For the second year in succession, the Minardi F1x2 Team staged a pair of thrilling demonstration races in front of an enthusiastic, sell-out crowd at today?s (13/11) Altech South African Grand Prix. In near-perfect weather conditions, the drivers and their passengers contested two 10-lap events as part of Sunday?s programme at the famous Kyalami circuit, near Johannesburg.
It was Belgian drivers to the fore in the first race, with Bas Leinders and passenger, Robert Wray, taking the chequered flag in front of fellow countyryman, David Saelens, and Graham Johnson, with Johnny Herbert and Sasha Martinengo taking the final podium spot. The only casualty of the race was Gianni Morbidelli, who spun at Sunset Corner, thus ensuring his passenger, Gary Formato, a never-to-be forgotten moment.
The second race saw Florida?s Ryan Hunter-Reay lead impressively from start to finish, but the Champ Car driver was penalised at the end of the race for not making his mandatory pit stop. This elevated the irrepressible Herbert and passenger, Fred Coetzer, into first place. Alan van der Merwe and Sarah Jane Trutter claimed second, with Patrick Friesacher and Nick Williamson taking the final podium spot. There were two retirements, the car of David Saelens and Linda Bam pulling out on the third lap with an electronics problem, and Zsolt Baumgartner and passenger, Claudio Piazza Musso, spinning out of the race at Tabletop Corner.
BAS LEINDERS, Winner Race 1
?We had a great start and were up to third by the end of the first lap, and then we overtook Matteo (Bobbi) and pushed hard to the pit stop. David (Saelens) was ahead of us after the stop, but we managed to pass him before the chequered flag and score a great victory here in South Africa. It?s been a lot of fun, but best of all, it?s been for a good cause.?
JOHNNY HERBERT, Winner Race 2
?We mustn?t forget that, first and foremost, all the F1x2 drivers are here this week to support the charities that benefit from this event. From my perspective, the nice thing about today is that my passengers in both races had good runs. We overtook several cars, so they had an opportunity to get a real sense of what it?s like when you?re racing. I had fun today, and I?m sure they did as well, so you?d have to say it?s been another successful weekend for F1x2.?
Source: Minardi
For the second year in succession, the Minardi F1x2 Team staged a pair of thrilling demonstration races in front of an enthusiastic, sell-out crowd at today?s (13/11) Altech South African Grand Prix. In near-perfect weather conditions, the drivers and their passengers contested two 10-lap events as part of Sunday?s programme at the famous Kyalami circuit, near Johannesburg.
It was Belgian drivers to the fore in the first race, with Bas Leinders and passenger, Robert Wray, taking the chequered flag in front of fellow countyryman, David Saelens, and Graham Johnson, with Johnny Herbert and Sasha Martinengo taking the final podium spot. The only casualty of the race was Gianni Morbidelli, who spun at Sunset Corner, thus ensuring his passenger, Gary Formato, a never-to-be forgotten moment.
The second race saw Florida?s Ryan Hunter-Reay lead impressively from start to finish, but the Champ Car driver was penalised at the end of the race for not making his mandatory pit stop. This elevated the irrepressible Herbert and passenger, Fred Coetzer, into first place. Alan van der Merwe and Sarah Jane Trutter claimed second, with Patrick Friesacher and Nick Williamson taking the final podium spot. There were two retirements, the car of David Saelens and Linda Bam pulling out on the third lap with an electronics problem, and Zsolt Baumgartner and passenger, Claudio Piazza Musso, spinning out of the race at Tabletop Corner.
BAS LEINDERS, Winner Race 1
?We had a great start and were up to third by the end of the first lap, and then we overtook Matteo (Bobbi) and pushed hard to the pit stop. David (Saelens) was ahead of us after the stop, but we managed to pass him before the chequered flag and score a great victory here in South Africa. It?s been a lot of fun, but best of all, it?s been for a good cause.?
JOHNNY HERBERT, Winner Race 2
?We mustn?t forget that, first and foremost, all the F1x2 drivers are here this week to support the charities that benefit from this event. From my perspective, the nice thing about today is that my passengers in both races had good runs. We overtook several cars, so they had an opportunity to get a real sense of what it?s like when you?re racing. I had fun today, and I?m sure they did as well, so you?d have to say it?s been another successful weekend for F1x2.?
Source: Minardi