Formula 1
Fantastic weekend for Minardi at Kyalami
MINARDI SWEEPS THE BOARD FOR CHARITY Watched by a crowd approaching 60,000 people, the Minardi F1x2 team yesterday staged what was, without a doubt, its most spectacular event ever. The Altech South African F1x2 Charity Grand Prix featured ...
Edited: Aug 12, 2004, 2:17 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
MINARDI SWEEPS THE BOARD FOR CHARITY
Watched by a crowd approaching 60,000 people, the Minardi F1x2 team yesterday staged what was, without a doubt, its most spectacular event ever. The Altech South African F1x2 Charity Grand Prix featured a "double-header" programme with three hours separating the two 10-lap races.
Minardi F1x2 in Johannesburg: The Minardi F1x2 in Johannesburg in the Nelson Mandela Square.
Photo by Minardi Formula 1.
It marked the first time this format has been employed in a Minardi two-seater event, and judging by the reaction of the hugely enthusiastic South African crowd, it won't be the last.
The first race was won by regular Minardi F1 driver, Gianmaria Bruni, with passenger, Patrick Wharton-Hood on board. The Italian stormed to the front after leader, Johnny Herbert, spun, and second-placed Christian Fittipaldi lost a small amount of time with a gear selection problem during his pit stop.
Second place went to Minardi test driver, Bas Leinders, with Jason Evans in the passenger seat, while the final place on the victory rostrum was claimed by F3000 star, Patrick Friesacher, and his passenger, Robby Wray.
At the conclusion of the second race, it was up-and-coming young South African star, Alan van der Merwe, who claimed a convincing win with Ruben Goldberg sitting behind him. He was chased to the chequered flag by Herbert and passenger, Gugu Zulu, with Bruni again scoring a podium finish, this time taking the chequered flag in third place with an ecstatic Colin Moss aboard.
"Over the years, the Minardi F1x2 team has staged a lot of events at various high-profile venues around the world," commented Minardi F1 Team Principal, Paul Stoddart at the conclusion of the Kyalami programme. "Nothing but nothing, however, comes anywhere close to the fantastic weekend we have just experienced here at Kyalami."
"Performing to a capacity crowd approaching 60,000 people in stunning weather, the Minardi F1x2 team staged two fantastic races to thrill the enthusiastic South African fans, who clearly love their F1 racing. All nine drivers deserve the highest praise for performing faultlessly throughout the event, which drew a total crowd of nearly 100,000 over the three days."
"My heartfelt thanks go out to the entire team of nearly 200 people who made this event happen, many of whom gave up their summer break to be here. Today, F1 did return to South Africa!"
-minardi-
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article BAR/Button contract acknowledged by CRB
Next article Hungarian GP: Jordan preview
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Gianmaria Bruni
Bruni to race JDC-Miller Porsche in IMSA after factory departure
IMSA
IMSA
Bruni to race JDC-Miller Porsche in IMSA after factory departure
Friday favourite: The Ferrari partners that conquered GT racing
GT
GT
Friday favourite: The Ferrari partners that conquered GT racing
Proton welcomes Mustang Sampling for 2024 IMSA Porsche 963
IMSA
IMSA
Daytona December testing
Proton welcomes Mustang Sampling for 2024 IMSA Porsche 963
More from
Minardi
Alpine may be F1’s best ‘worst team’ of all time
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alpine may be F1’s best ‘worst team’ of all time
Alonso showed championship credentials in first F1 race - ex-Minardi boss
Formula 1
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Alonso showed championship credentials in first F1 race - ex-Minardi boss
Top 10 Minardi F1 drivers ranked: Alonso, Webber, Badoer and more
Formula 1
Formula 1
Top 10 Minardi F1 drivers ranked: Alonso, Webber, Badoer and more
Latest news
Jorge Martin: “I don’t feel I will struggle anymore” in MotoGP title run-in
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
53 min
Jorge Martin: “I don’t feel I will struggle anymore” in MotoGP title run-in
"Extremely difficult": Calendar clashes threaten Marco Wittmann's DTM future
DTM
DTM DTM 59 min
"Extremely difficult": Calendar clashes threaten Marco Wittmann's DTM future
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe