| Johannesburg: A1 Grand Prix at Kyalami |
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From Friday, 20 February 2009
To Sunday, 22 February 2009
Every day
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Hits : 149
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The glorious sound of Ferrari V8 racing engines is about to break out around the historic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand as the fifth round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport comes to the home of South African motor sport for the first time this weekend (February 20 to 22).
More than 20 nations including South Africa will contest A1GP Gauteng on Sunday (February 22), with the day’s programme made up of two races – a Sprint race at 11.00 and a Feature race at 15.00. There will also be demonstrations at 09.10 and 16.40 on race day of the Ferrari FXX, a limited edition racing version of Maranello’s finest. Michael Schumacher was given the last one built, number 30, when he retired at the end of 2006. The FXX is an evolution of the Enzo and is powered by a 6,3-litre V12 mid-mounted engine and develops 800,9 bhp.
Other events on Sunday’s full programme are a Supercar parade at 09.50, a Shelby CanAm sports car race at 11.50 and a Formula Ford race at 12.30.
Friday’s programme includes the two-part A1GP rookie and developing nation drivers practice session at 10.45, A1GP second practice at 14.00 and practice sessions for the supporting Shelby CanAm sports car and Formula Ford races.
A third A1GP practice session at 11.00 on Saturday is followed by the four-part A1GP qualifying session at 14.15 that determines the starting grid order for Sunday’s Sprint and Feature races. In addition, there are three Ferrari FXX demonstrations, two Supercar parades, qualifying for the support races and the first of two Shelby CanAm and Formula Ford races.
Race fans who have yet to buy tickets are being urged to do so without delay to avoid disappointment. Three of the eight Gold graded grandstands, all of which have great views of the circuit and the giant screens that have been specially erected, are sold out, two only have 20 to 30 seats left and the remaining three are selling quickly. The organisers, Gauteng Motorsport Company, are considering building an additional 1 500 Gold grandstand seats and have ordered a fifth, 30 m2 big screen to add to the two 30 m2 and two 40 m2 screens already on order for the event, to ensure the fans enjoy a first class experience.
"We have seen the typical ‘late buyer’ surge in the ticket sales for Sunday, as we had expected," said Stephen Watson, CEO of Gauteng Motorsport Company. "I am pleased to say that, through studying this trend from previous events, we have prepared for it and our grandstand construction contractors and concessionaires have all been on standby to deliver additional capacity within the last 10 days before the event if we require it. We certainly want to ensure that we accommodate as many race fans as possible, but must urge the fans not to leave it until the day before the race weekend as you may be disappointed." |
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Location: Kyalami Racetrack, Midrand, Johannesburg
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