Villeneuve drives F1 in London (well that was news to me)
Villeneuve drives F1 in London (well that was news to me)
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FourWheelDrift

Original Poster:

91,932 posts

308 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
www.crash.net/news_View~t~Villeneuve-brings-F1-back-to-London-~cid~1~id~131986.htm

Crash.net said:

1997 F1 world champion, Jacques Villeneuve brought Formula One back to the streets of London on Tuesday, when he drove last season's BMW Sauber C23B on a custom-built track near Hyde Park.

While the turn-out for the 'Intel London Grand Prix' was not spectacular, several hundreds of people gathered to watch the Canadian as he performed demonstration runs in the C23B, powering past the Albert Hall and Albert Memorial.

"It is great to be able to get the fans close to the car and close to the action, which is impossible at the race track. So it is nice to do it at a venue like this," said JV.

"[As for] the driving part there is not much you can do as it is not that fast. You can do a few donuts, which is fun but apart from that it is more just to get the fans close to the car."

Villeneuve was joined at the event by World Touring Car champion, Andy Priaulx, who did several runs in his BMW 320si and Michael Patrizi who drove a Formula BMW car. ITV F1 commentator and former grand prix ace, Martin Brundle was the other 'big' name at the event keeping the public and corporate guests up to speed on the day's action.

The event, which also featured the 'Intel Power Paddock', with race simulators and other attractions, mirrored that held in Regents Street back in July 2004, although admittedly it was on a much more modest scale.


I'm not suprised the turn out was not spectacular, I never knew it was happening and I think many others didn't know it was on either. Who did hear about it? Was there any mention anywhere or had Red Ken's stasi-police kept it quiet?

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Tuesday 13th June 19:02

Gemm

1,833 posts

239 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
Yes, I knew about it. It was a news item for quite a few websites. I would have gone if I could. But probably it was better that it wasn't too crowded. Remember Regent Street a few years ago....

The Londoner

3,964 posts

262 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
It was a news item that it was going to happen on LBC at about 11 this morning. Had I not been heading out of London to an appointment at the time I would have gone!

Frik

13,664 posts

267 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
They did mention it during the GP on Sunday.

Heard nothing about it apart from that though.

nerf

991 posts

255 months

Wednesday 14th June 2006
quotequote all
they had it up on the ITV F1 site last week. but with regent street in mind, i gave it a miss. i think JV had about 200 yards to go back and forth in.. ooooooo!

rubystone

11,254 posts

283 months

Wednesday 14th June 2006
quotequote all
I'd heard about it - but understood it was an Intel led promotion and thus unlikely to involve anything that spectacular.

Lingering by the BMW Sauber F1 car at the BMW Sauber "experience" (or whatever they call it) at the British GP, I was struck by just how sculpted these latest generation F1 cars are at the rear and just how much effort has gone into the smallest of aerodynamic detailing on areas such as the bargeboards and inside the diffuser.

Edited by rubystone on Wednesday 14th June 09:11

LongQ

13,864 posts

257 months

Wednesday 14th June 2006
quotequote all
rubystone said:
I was struck by just how sculpted these latest generation F1 cars are at the rear and just how much effort has gone into the smallest of aerodynamic detailing on areas such as the bargeboards and inside the diffuser.



But Sauber have the latest and greatest windtunnel (or two?) don't they. Got to justify it somehow.

jamieboy

5,923 posts

253 months

Wednesday 14th June 2006
quotequote all
Crash.net said:

1997 F1 world champion, Jacques Villeneuve brought Formula One back to the streets of London on Tuesday, when he drove last season's BMW Sauber C23B on a custom-built track near Hyde Park.
Last season's Sauber Petronas (Ferrari) C23B, surely?