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F1 festival coming to Johannesburg

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Valtteri Bottas and the Mercedes W11 during the day 1 of the formula 1 testing, on 19 February 2020, in Barcelona, Spain. Picture: Eric Alonso/MB Media/Getty Images
Valtteri Bottas and the Mercedes W11 during the day 1 of the formula 1 testing, on 19 February 2020, in Barcelona, Spain. Picture: Eric Alonso/MB Media/Getty Images

South African Formula 1 fans have a reason to be excited. F1 is coming to Johannesburg ... Well, part of it at least.

F1 has announced that it is bringing the sport in the form of an immersive fan festival on March 29.

The F1 Joburg Festival will feature Mercedes AMG Petronas’ Valtteri Bottas who was last year’s World Championship runner-up and F1 legend David Coulthard tearing up the streets of Sandton.

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and Renault F1 teams will be part of the festival.

Ellie Norman, F1 director of marketing and communications, said they remain committed to bringing to Gran Prix back to South Africa.

South Africa has a very special place in F1 history and we remain committed to returning to South Africa in the future
Ellie Norman, F1 director of marketing and communications

“We are excited to announce that F1 will be heading to South Africa this season. South Africa has a very special place in F1 history and we remain committed to returning to South Africa in the future,” Norman said.

The festival, which will broadcast on pay channel SuperSport, promises to be a fun day for all. Activities will included a fan zone featuring interactive activations such as “Pirelli Pit-Stop” challenge. There will also be supercars displays, SA Karting and historic single-seaters.

The F1 live track action starts at 1.30pm with the main F1 live car run starting at 3.30pm. Then there’ll be live music from 5pm.

Jody Scheckter, president of SA GP and the only South African F1 driver to have won a race said the festival promises to be an amazing spectacle on the streets of Johannesburg.

“The festival will provide a chance for fans to get up, close and personal with the sport,” Scheckter said.

This year’s F1 starts on March 15, with the teams bringing the heat to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix. The year promises to be an exciting season, especially with the contracts of some of the most exciting drivers – Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, Red Bulls Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Bottas – coming to an end.

The drivers will be looking to impress to ensure that they have seat next year.


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