Formula 1 glamour comes to Dubai

In an amazing feat of engineering, large parts of Emaar's Downtown Burj Dubai development will be transformed into a race demonstration platform to welcome the Renault F1 Team. For the two days April 10-11th, the highly popular and fast-emerging downtown city area will be home to the French racing team's first stop in an exclusive 2009 four-show programme that will be travelling around the world.

The Renault Roadshow is a free public event and since being formed in 2003, has attracted two million spectators all wanting the chance to experience F1 cars and celebrities up close and personal. 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 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. Mr. Ben Sulayem is something of a legend in the regional motor sports community, given his unstinting support for all things automotive and his personal racing pedigree that has seen him win the Middle East Rally Championship an incredible 14 times.

For the UAE Renault Roadshow, the lake and waterfront areas facing The Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar will be specially adapted to host the Renault Formula 1 Team paddock. A Renault Village 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.

Mohamed Bennani, Managing Director of Renault GCC, is clearly excited by the arrangement, which looks to demonstrate Renault's lead in performance motoring and to place Downtown Burj Dubai at the forefront of enthralling entertainment for the region.

Speaking yesterday, he said:

"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."

"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," added 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," he added.

The Roadshow is just one of the French company's forthcoming activities for the region. Renault GCC will be launching a brand new model two days after the show, the Koleos, which is the company's first 4x4 crossover vehicle. A model will be displayed in The Dubai Mall's Catwalk area, alongside a second Renault Formula 1 show car and will be officially launched at a ceremony at Ski Dubai. Renault's line-up for the GCC now extends from compact hatchbacks to SUVs, with recent models introduced including the Logan and Symbol, as well as the Saffrane, which is exclusive to the Gulf region.

The Renault Roadshow commences at Downtown Burj Dubai on Friday April 10th for two days, with entrance to special viewing areas around Souk Al Bahar and The Dubai Mall waterfront area being free for the public. More details on the event will be announced shortly.