Kyalami day two

At the conclusion of the second day of the Altech South African F1x2 Charity Grand Prix, and with the formal passenger-ride part of the three-day programme at a close, the attention of the Minardi F1x2 team now turns to final preparations for tomorrow's F1x2 "double header", the first time two races have ever been scheduled on the same day. The two-seater events will form the centrepiece of a packed day of on-track activities at the Kyalami International Raceway, near Johannesburg.

In the course of Saturday and Sunday, 61 passengers have been given a view of the famous Johannesburg circuit that they will never forget, as they have experienced F1 performance first-hand. The list of "chauffeurs" who have provided the high-speed thrills over the last two days includes Nicolas Kiesa, Alan van der Merwe, Patrick Friesacher, Toni Vilander and Gabriele Lancieri.

Monday, however, will mark a very different day, as the full compliment of Grand Prix stars, past, present and future, converge on Kyalami. In the course of the day, they will bring to the South African track, for the first time since 1993, the breathtaking sights and sounds of F1 cars being driven in anger.

Drivers arriving at the track today included Minardi F1 test driver, Bas Leinders, and former Minardi star, Christian Fittpaldi, who came straight to the circuit after arriving in Johannesburg on a flight from Miami. After a seat-fitting and a quick run-through with the controls of the F1x2 car, the popular Brazilian took to the track for some familiarisation laps, only to discover the circuit layout had changed somewhat since the last time he had raced at Kyalami. He quickly recovered from the ensuing off-course excursion and soon re-acclimatised to the environment of a Formula One car.

Drivers due to appear on Monday include Johnny Herbert, Marc Gené, Alex Wurz, Gianmaria Bruni and Ralph Firman. In addition, South Africa's 1979 Formula One World Drivers' Champion, Jody Scheckter, will make a special appearance, demonstrating his title-winning Ferrari 312 T4 to what is predicted to be a sell-out crowd of enthusiastic South African motorsport fans. The event organisers have also promised one or two surprises during the course of the day.

The Altech South African F1x2 Charity Grand Prix is the most ambitious programme ever undertaken by the Minardi F1x2 team. It is also shaping up to be an event to remember.

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