Durban proudly unveils A1 racetrack

Durban hosts A1 Grand Prix in january 2006.

The eThekwini Municipality and the KwaZulu-Natal cabinet had done South Africa proud in ensuring that Durban had pipped two other contending cities in the country to host the A1 Grand Prix Series next year.

A1 South Africa Chairman Tokyo Sexwale officially announced that Durban would host the South African leg of the A1 Grand Prix, scheduled to take place on January 29.

Sexwale, KZN Premier S'bu Ndebele and eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba also took the opportunity to unveil the much-awaited location of the street race track.

The track will be 3.7km long and will start in NMR Avenue, run to Argyle Road, to Natal Command, then to the back of the Suncoast Casino, under the M4 and back to NMR Avenue.

Sexwale said the city was bringing something exclusive for itself, the country and the continent. "Durban thus far will be the only street race in the A1 Grand Prix Series, although Indonesia is also bidding to host one."

Unlike Formula One, said Sexwale, the A1 Grand Prix, promoted as the World Cup of Motorsport, touched the hearts of the people because of the number of participating nations.

He said he was filled with pride that South Africa, through Durban, would be representing Africa. "Our car, Vulindlela, represents the whole continent of Africa in this global showpiece."

(Source: The Independent Online / October 22 2005)