After visits to Johannesburg, Kiev and most recently Lisbon, the Renault Formula One team travelled to New Delhi in India at the weekend to demonstrate their cars as part of their 2008 Roadshow programme.
Following several weeks of preparation in close collaboration with Renault India, the demonstration saw Nelson Piquet and Renault third driver Lucas Di Grassi take to the streets of the Indian capital in a first for the team and for the residents of New Delhi, who showed great support for the event.
The show started with sky divers from the army floating down from 6,000 feet above the ground level.
And then rolled in the cars. A variety of Renault sports cars, including Megane Trophy, sped past and then formed various formations. After half an hour zoomed past the Formula-1 R-27, which can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just two seconds, with Piquet in the driver’s seat. The smoke and majestic sound filled the air, bringing the traffic around Rajpath to a standstill.
“It has been an amazing evening for us. We had first planned other things for our weekend, but when we got to know about this Roadshow, we came here,” said Ravish Tarway, who came with his friends to watch the show.
At the end of the demonstration, Nelson Piquet commented: “It was my first visit to India and I have to say that I have been really amazed. I hope that our demonstration entertained the fans and that they enjoyed the day as much as I did. I’m really happy to have been involved with this event, which was important for Renault, for ING and for India, which is becoming more and more interested in Formula 1.”
Lucas Di Grassi added: “It was also my first trip to India and even though I have not been able to see an awful lot of the country, I have to say that I’ve really enjoyed being here. We have been really warmly welcomed and I hope that the public now have a better understanding of the true potential of a Formula 1 car.”
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