Durban — Formula 1 fans get revving. KZN is in for full-throttle fun when Max Verstappen’s Red Bull championship-winning car goes on tour this week.
Members of the public have a chance to take pictures and see the car that entrenched Verstappen’s title as Grand Prix king in 2022. According to Red Bull Racing, this is a replica of the RB18, designed by Adrian Newey and which dominated in that season.
“It powered Max Verstappen to his second consecutive Drivers’ Championship title and secured Red Bull Racing’s fifth Constructors’ Championship, their first since 2013,” the company’s PR team told Sunday Tribune this week.
The RB18 replica is scheduled to be on display from Wednesday until Tuesday, July 30. Members of the public will have a chance to see the championship-winning car and experience Red Bull Racing up close.
“The aim is to ignite a full-blown F1 experience and get the nation's motorsport passion roaring into high gear in the lead-up to the Red Bull Showrun taking place in Johannesburg this October with none other than David Coulthard,” Red Bull said.
The manager of Monty’s First Stop, Koushik Maharaj, said he encouraged Red Bull to bring Verstappen’s car to Pietermaritzburg so that the government would consider reviving Formula 1 locally, which played a valuable role in the city in the 1960s. He said the local Roy Hesketh Circuit, named after a South African racing driver, was located on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg.
“It would be an honour having Verstappen’s car at Monty’s First Stop as he is the sport's youngest race winner and he is also the youngest person to start an F1 race.”
Maharaj said Formula 1 would have many financial benefits to the city. “It is estimated that although Las Vegas spent around $500 million (R9 billion) on its 2023 Grand Prix, the benefit due to tourism from the race was an estimated $1.2 billion coming in the form of expenditures at hotels, restaurants and other local businesses. Pietermaritzburg should also have this opportunity and we invite F1 organisers to bring this event to Pietermaritzburg and engage with the city in respect of this intent,” Maharaj said.
For those wanting to see Verstappen’s winning wheels, the car will be on display at the following places:
PNP Knowles at 45 Old Main Rd, Hilldene, Howick from July 24 to 28.
Caltex On The Run (Monty’s First Stop) at 268 Ohrtmann Road, Willowton, on July 29.
Northway Engen, corner of Otto’s Bluff and Dr Chota Motala roads, Woodlands, Pietermaritzburg, on July 30.
From Pietermaritzburg, the car will be heading to other provinces to build anticipation for the Red Bull Showrun in Johannesburg.
Sunday Tribune