Dubai - Renault F1 Roadshow
Renault F1 comes to Dubai Autodrome 

Dubai Autodrome is on itinerary for the forthcoming Renault F1 Roadshow which takes place in the city this next week. On Thursday, 9 April, the circuit will come alive with the thrilling sound of Formual 1 when ATCUAE President and FIA Vice President Mohammed Bin Sulayem will drive the ING Renault F1 car in a "shootout" against a selection of supercars.  Dubai is the first stop in an exclusive 2009 four-show programme that will be travelling around the world. Also on the Renault Roadshow agenda is a unique performance of the Renault F1 in Downtown Burj Dubai area on 10 and 11 April.

The Renault F1 car will be at the circuit from 11.30 am until 3pm with Bin Sulayem taking to the track at 1.00 pm. Members of the public are invited to attend the event which will enable them to get up close the real deal. ON hand will be Renault F1 third droiver Romain Grosjean who is not stranger to Dubai Autodrome where he won GP2 Asia races at the circuit on route to winning the 2007/2008 GP2 Asia Championship.

This year, Dubai has been selected as the inaugural event, with the show being held under the patronage of Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA vice-president for sport, and president of the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE. For the two days, 10 and 11 April, the lake and waterfront areas facing the Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar will be specially adapted to host the Renault Roadshow as well as the company’s Formula 1 Team paddock.

A Renault Village, at the Dubai Mall area, will also be put in place, which will display models from the company’s range as well as host a number of activities for visitors. The normally tranquil outdoor environment will undergo a temporary change of ambience, buzzing to the high-octane sounds of revving engines and screeching tyres, as a number of tuned performance vehicles are put through their paces during the two-day, six-demo programme.

As an introduction to the main Formula 1 show, a team of professional stunt drivers will be pulling off stunning car tricks in a variety of cars on the demo platform that is being specially constructed; including the new 2009 Renault Megane Trophy - the latest incarnation of the company’s 360hp V6 hot hatch. Winners from pre-arranged raffle draws will be able to experience first-hand the thrill of what this car is capable of, as they will get to have a white-knuckle ride in one as it performs donuts, wheelspins and other exhilarating manoeuvres.

The event has travelled to the capital cities of Johannesburg, Kiev, New Delhi and Sao Paulo, proving to be a huge hit with petrol heads of all nationalities. “This is a major achievement for both Renault and its partner, Emaar Properties, as it will be the first time that F1 comes to the city,” said Mohamed Bennani, managing director of Renault GCC. “It is a huge operation, with all the logistics and special construction that is involved, but when you are prepared to put in such a vast amount of time and hard work, the rewards are that much greater,” he added.

“Many people are just not aware of how loud a Formula 1 car really is”, said Nicolas Gondard, head of Renault’s regional motorsport activities. “Hearing the Renault F1 car revving up sends tingles down the spine – it really is an incredible sound. We have spent months planning this event inspecting venues, adapting the event for Dubai and making sure F1 safety and running standards are achieved. Downtown Burj Dubai emerged as the ideal setting, due to its central location and its being home to the high traffic venue of The Dubai Mall. We’re expecting a full-house with residents and visitors coming to see the show and I can assure you, they won’t be disappointed.”

There will be six shows in total each lasting one hour. The schedule is:
Friday, 10 April - two shows - 4.30pm and 7.00pm
Saturday, 11 April - four shows - 11.00am, 2.00pm, 4.30pm and 7.00pm

Click here to download the invitation