20/06/2005
NEWS STORY
Cape Town, 20 June
International statesman Nelson Mandela welcomed four A1 Grand Prix National Seat Holders to his home in Cape Town, South Africa last week along with A1 Grand Prix chief executive Tony Teixeira and executive
director Brian Menell.
Brazilian international Ronaldo (A1 Team Brazil), Real Madrid's Luis Figo (A1 Team Portugal) and businessmen Tokyo Sexwale (A1 Team South Africa) and Atul Gupta (A1 Team India) met Mandela while in South Africa to promote the A1 Grand Prix series.
The event combined promotion of A1 Grand Prix, the World Cup of Motorsport, with activity for Mandela's own worldwide music-led campaign to raise awareness about HIV and Aids, funding the fight against the pandemic in South Africa. Mandela named both Ronaldo and Figo as ambassadors for the '46664 - Give one minute of your life to Aids' programme.
Commenting on the meeting, Tony Teixeira said, 'A1 Grand Prix is a common denominator uniting countries by giving them the opportunity to race competitively on a level playing field. By removing financial advantages and ensuring all nations have the same chance of winning, A1 Grand Prix is building relationships between countries. We have already received the endorsement of Prime Ministers and Presidents and now, through Nelson Mandela A1 Grand Prix has brought four more countries closer together.'