03/10/2010
NEWS STORY
The residents of Seoul enjoyed a taste of F1 action today as the Renault F1 team took to the streets of the South Korean capital to stage a spectacular series of demonstrations.
Jerome D'Ambrosio drove last year's car, the R29, on a specially constructed 0.5km circuit along Se Jong Road in central Seoul. A huge crowd lined the streets to watch the show and witness the unique sight and sound of a Formula 1 car up close.
Donuts and burnouts were the highlight of the day as Jerome lit up the rear wheels of the R29 to demonstrate the immense power of a modern F1 car. Later on, the team revved up the engine for a special V8 rendition of the South Korean National Anthem.
Today's demonstrations mark the beginning of a landmark week of motorsport for the country, with the inaugural Korean Grand Prix set to take place in Yeongam in three weeks time. Judging by the turnout of fans in Seoul, the Renault F1 Roadshow has already captured the public's imagination for F1 and served as a taster for the Grand Prix on 24 October.
Speaking at the end of the demo, D'Ambrosio said: "Today has been a lot of fun. It's my first time here in Seoul, and my first time driving an F1 car on city streets. It's always exciting to visit a new country, especially a place like South Korea, which is getting ready for its first Grand Prix. You could really feel the enthusiasm the public already have for Formula 1 and I'm sure it will be the same for the race. I did my best to put on a good show for the fans and I hope everybody enjoyed seeing the car."